Leadership
Donate
UC San Diego
Pancreatic Cancer Program at Moores Cancer Center
Our team is dedicated to personalized and comprehensive whole-patient treatment plans. Discover the latest advances in pancreatic cancer prevention, treatment and research, empowering patients and fostering hope for the future.
Welcome!
We would like to extend a warm welcome to you from the UCSD pancreatic cancer team here at the Moores Cancer Center. As a high-risk or newly diagnosed patient with pancreatic cancer, we understand that receiving such news can be overwhelming and challenging for you and your family. We want to assure you that we are here to support you every step of the way.
As a part of our commitment to your care, this site outlines the various support services that are available to you. Use the links to navigate the resources that we have available and to ensure that you receive the care and support that you need. Our goal is to empower you with knowledge and information so that you can make informed decisions about your care and treatment.
Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions or concerns that you may have. We are here to support you and your loved ones throughout your journey with pancreatic cancer.
At your service,
The Moores Cancer Center Pancreatic Team
UC San Diego Pancreatic Cancer Program Leadership: A Collaborative Approach
Moores Cancer Center:
Diane Simeone, MD
Dr. Diane Simeone leads the UCSD Comprehensive Cancer Center, bringing her extensive expertise in pancreatic cancer research and treatment to the forefront of clinical care. A renowned pancreas surgeon with international experience in biomarker research, she is a pioneer in early detection methods for pancreatic cancer, striving to identify key biomarkers that can enable earlier, more effective interventions.
Surgical Oncology:
Andrew Lowy, MD
Dr. Andrew Lowy, brings years of expertise in advanced surgical techniques for pancreatic cancer, focusing on improving patient outcomes through precision and minimally invasive procedures. As an international expert in the pancreatic cancer field, he serves on the National Cancer Institute GI Steering Committee, Foundation boards, and spearheads a translational laboratory dedicated to developing innovative treatments that bridge the gap between research and clinical practice.
Medical Oncology:
Gregory Botta, MD/PhD
Dr. Gregory Botta, is a national leader in genomic-targeted, cellular, and novel pancreatic cancer clinical trials, combining cutting-edge research with clinical application to develop personalized treatment strategies. Through his translational research laboratory, he prioritizes comprehensive care tailored to each patient's unique genetic and molecular profile, ensuring the best possible outcomes in pancreatic cancer treatment.
Radiation Oncology:
Michael Sherer, MD
Dr. Michael Sherer, utilizes the latest radiation oncology techniques to provide both definitive and palliative treatment options for pancreatic cancer, aiming to improve tumor control and patient quality of life. He also leads clinical trials focused on radiation consolidation of solid tumors, exploring innovative approaches to enhance the effectiveness of radiation therapy in advanced cancer stages.
UCSD Inter-Disciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Resources
1
Patient and caregiver support groups are integral to our organization, providing emotional connection, shared experiences, and practical guidance to those navigating the challenges of pancreatic cancer. We recognize the critical role that mental health plays in the well-being of both patients and caregivers, which is why we offer access to counseling, stress management resources, and peer support. By fostering a supportive community, we ensure that patients and their families feel empowered, heard, and resilient throughout their journey.
2
In pancreatic cancer, maintaining proper nutrition and stable weight is critical for supporting the body’s ability to tolerate treatment and preserve muscle mass, which is often lost during the course of the disease. Due to the pancreas' role in digestion, many patients experience difficulty absorbing nutrients, making the use of digestive enzymes essential to help break down food and improve nutrient absorption. Addressing these nutritional needs can enhance overall quality of life, help manage symptoms, and potentially improve the effectiveness of cancer therapies.
3
We strongly prioritize symptom and pain control for pancreatic cancer patients, aiming to enhance their comfort and quality of life throughout their treatment journey. Multidisciplinary care teams, including oncologists, pain specialists, and palliative care experts, work together to tailor pain management strategies, using medications, nerve blocks, and complementary therapies. By closely monitoring and adjusting treatments, we strive to alleviate both physical and emotional distress, ensuring that patients have the support they need during this challenging time.
4
Diabetic management is essential in pancreatic cancer patients as it helps maintain stable blood sugar levels, which is crucial for overall health and treatment effectiveness. Uncontrolled diabetes can exacerbate complications such as infections, delayed wound healing, and poor nutritional status, which can hinder cancer treatment outcomes. Proper diabetes care also reduces the risk of secondary health issues, improving the patient's quality of life and enhancing their ability to tolerate aggressive therapies.
UCSD Pancreatic Cancer Specialty Clinics
The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection and Prevention Clinic is a collaborative group of experts dedicated to increase survival for pancreatic cancer patients by improving early detection, screening, risk modeling and prevention for those with a heritable risk for pancreatic cancer, through a novel model of collaboration and data sharing. This clinic is part of the PRECEDE consortium.
Pancreatic Cancer THRIVE Clinic
A special clinic dedicated to pancreatic cancer patients focuses on improving their well-being and quality of life by offering comprehensive care across the entire treatment continuum, from systemic therapies and surgery to radiation. By integrating supportive services, personalized care plans, and symptom management, the clinic ensures that patients receive holistic support to navigate the physical, emotional, and psychological challenges of their cancer journey.
A specialty clinic for pancreatic cancer patients undergoing cell therapy programs brings together a multidisciplinary team of cell therapy experts, including both outpatient and inpatient specialists, to provide comprehensive care. This collaborative approach also involves advanced practice providers, clinical research coordinators, and investigational pharmacists to ensure seamless integration of cutting-edge treatments and support throughout the patient’s journey.
Genetics Counseling Clinic
Genetic counseling for high-risk pancreatic cancer families helps identify individuals who may carry inherited mutations, such as BRCA1/2 or Lynch syndrome, which increase the risk of developing pancreatic cancer. By providing personalized risk assessments and guidance on screening and prevention strategies, genetic counselors empower families to make informed decisions about their health and cancer management.
Innovative UCSD Pancreatic Cancer
Clinical Trials: Laboratory to Clinic
1
KRAS inhibitors are emerging as a promising class of targeted therapies in clinical trials, particularly for cancers with KRAS mutations; seen in over 90% of pancreatic cancers. These inhibitors work by targeting the KRAS protein, which is often mutated and drives tumor growth in pancreatic cancers, offering potential for improved treatment outcomes. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring the effectiveness and safety of KRAS inhibitors, with some showing promising results in overcoming resistance to traditional therapies.
2
Investigator-initiated trials play a crucial role in translating promising laboratory discoveries into clinical applications, often driven by insights from basic science research. These trials allow UCSD physician-scientists to test novel therapies, biomarker strategies, or treatment combinations in patients, bridging the gap between preclinical findings and therapeutic practice. By initiating our own studies, UCSD investigators can explore innovative approaches that may not yet be prioritized by larger pharmaceutical companies, potentially accelerating advancements in patient care.
3
UCSD cell therapy trials in pancreatic cancer are exploring the use of CAR-T to selectively attack tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue, offering a potential breakthrough for this challenging cancer. Logic-gated CAR-T approaches, which combine tumor-specific and immune signals, are being investigated to enhance the precision and effectiveness of the therapy. These innovative strategies are still in early-stage clinical trials, but hold promise in improving outcomes and reducing the side effects often associated with traditional therapy.
4
Pancreatic cancer research at UCSD is focusing on making immunotherapy more effective by reprogramming the cancer microenvironment through innovative approaches like peptides, novel inhibitors, cytokines, and vaccines. These strategies aim to enhance immune system activity against tumors, overcome immune suppression, and improve patient responses to treatment. Many of these developments have been translated out of UCSD basic science laboratories within our 'Pancreatic Cancer Pipeline'
5
Irreversible electroporation (IRE) is a non-thermal ablative technique that uses electrical pulses to create permanent nanopores in cancer cell membranes, leading to cell death in pancreatic tumors. Immunotherapy, enhances the body’s immune system to recognize and target pancreatic cancer cells, improving the body’s ability to fight the tumor through checkpoint inhibitors or other immune-modulating strategies. Rebekah White, MD is a leading surgical oncologist expanding surgical options for otherwise unresectable pancreatic cancer patients.
From the UC San Diego Pancreatic Cancer Labs:
Immune Oncology
UCSD Researchers are exploring strategies to enhance the immune system's ability to fight pancreatic cancer. Immune checkpoint inhibitors and other novel cytokine and anti-suppressive therapies aim to boost the immune response and increase the effectiveness of treatment.
Novel Therapeutics
Novel therapeutic research focuses on discovering and developing innovative treatments that target the underlying mechanisms of diseases, often offering more effective options than traditional therapies. These approaches include personalized medicine, gene therapies, and immunotherapies, aiming to improve patient outcomes and address unmet medical needs.
Precision Oncology
Precision oncology involves tailoring cancer treatment to the unique genetic and molecular characteristics of a patient’s tumor. By using advanced diagnostic tools like genomic sequencing, this approach helps select targeted therapies that are more effective and have fewer side effects.
Prevention & Early Detection
Prevention and early detection of pancreatic cancer are critical to improving survival rates, as the disease is often diagnosed at advanced stages. Advances in screening technologies, genetic testing, and biomarker discovery are offering new hope for identifying high-risk individuals and detecting tumors earlier when treatment options are more effective.
Systems Biology & Artificial Intelligence
Systems and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are revolutionizing our understanding of complex diseases by integrating vast amounts of biological data and using machine learning to identify patterns that were previously undetectable. This approach enables more accurate predictions, personalized treatments, and deeper insights into the molecular mechanisms driving cancer.
UCSD Pancreatic Cancer Laboratory Research and Translation
Laboratory research is crucial for understanding the complex biology of pancreatic cancer and developing new therapies. UCSD researchers and our collaborators across California and San Diego are leading the way in translational research, bringing promising discoveries from the lab to clinical trials.

University of California Pancreas Cancer Consortium

UC Pancreatic Cancer Consortium (UCPCC) creates a highly collaborative environment to accelerate the progress and impact of work in pancreatic cancer by scientists and clinicians across UC’s five NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers.

C3 Pancreatic Cancer Research Group

Over the past several years, there has been a tremendous explosion in research activity around pancreatic cancer at UC San Diego, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Salk Institute. The C3- Pancreatic Cancer Research Group will build on the C3 collaborative agreement between UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and the NCI basic cancer centers at Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute and the Salk Institute for Biological Studies.

Canopy Cancer Collective

UCSD is a member of the Canopy Cancer Collective whose mission is to empower pancreatic cancer patients with new hope, treatments, and options. Canopy connects top medical care providers, interdisciplinary teams, cancer researchers, and philanthropic and industry partners.

NCI Comprehensive Cancer Center

Established in 1978, Moores Cancer Center is one of just 58 National Cancer Institute-Designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the United States, and the only one in the San Diego region. Such centers are prominent among the leading institutions in the nation dedicated to scientific innovation and clinical excellence. This designation — reserved for centers with the highest achievements in cancer research, clinical care, education and community contributions — makes an enormous difference to our patients. Studies show that outcomes are better at NCI-designated centers. Our cancer services were ranked #1 in San Diego, with 10 specialties ranking nationally by U.S. News & World Report in its 2023-2024 "Best Hospitals" survey View our Moores Cancer Center Annual Report for Pancreatic Cancer Patient Stories.

NCI Basic Science Centers

Sanford Burnham Prebys (SBP): Since 1976, Sanford Burnham Prebys has been dedicated to pushing biomedical discoveries faster and further toward clinical treatment and therapies that improve human lives.  As a leading nonprofit biomedical research institute, our collaborative approach and pioneering research has produced breakthroughs in cancer, neuroscience, immunology and children’s diseases. Salk Institute for Biological Sciences: We explore the very foundations of life for the benefit of all. Founded by Jonas Salk, polio vaccine developer, the Salk Institute is an independent, nonprofit organization that consistently ranks as a top 5 elite research institute and is home to some of the most highly cited scientists in the world.

Collaborating Sites

San Diego State University (SDSU): Our Partnership continues to build on the numerous unique existing resources at SDSU and UC San Diego’s Moores Cancer Center and the School of Medicine which make up key elements of the Partnership, supporting research, education, and outreach. Among these are joint multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary research projects that include faculty members from both institutions. La Jolla Institute of Immunology (LJI): By unraveling the complexities of the immune system, LJI researchers are directly tackling an extraordinarily diverse array of diseases, such as asthma, cancer, CoVID-19, type 1 diabetes, Parkinson’s, and many others.

Pancreatic Cancer Interdisciplinary Teams
Our gastroenterologists specialize in advanced diagnostic procedures like endoscopic ultrasound. They manage digestive symptoms and collaborate on targeted biopsy techniques.
Specialists utilize image-guided procedures for precise diagnosis and treatment. They perform minimally invasive biopsies and manage bile duct obstructions.
Experts address respiratory complications from pancreatic cancer. They perform specialized bronchoscopies and manage airway issues with advanced techniques.
Our multidisciplinary approach ensures comprehensive care at every stage. Each specialty contributes unique expertise to diagnosis, symptom management, and innovative treatment planning.
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer: Types, Stages, and Molecular Insights
Types of Pancreatic Cancer
Pancreatic cancer can be categorized into different types, including ductal adenocarcinoma (the most common), neuroendocrine tumors, and others. Each type exhibits unique characteristics and responds to treatment differently.
Cancer Staging
Understanding the stage of pancreatic cancer is critical for treatment planning. The staging system (I-IV) assesses the tumor's size, spread, and location. Early detection and accurate staging allow for more effective treatment options.
Molecular Insights
Scientists are uncovering key genetic and molecular changes that drive pancreatic cancer. This knowledge paves the way for targeted therapies tailored to specific molecular targets and subtypes. All patients received next-generation sequencing of their family and tumor DNA.
Current Standard Treatment Protocols: Chemotherapy and Surgical Interventions
1
Systemic & Chemotherapies
Systemic Therapies and Chemotherapies remain a mainstay in pancreatic cancer treatment. Systemic drugs are used to kill or inhibit cancer cell growth. However, response rates can vary, and research is ongoing to improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy regimens.
2
Surgical Interventions
Surgery is often employed when the tumor is resectable (removable). Different surgical procedures, such as Whipple surgery, are tailored to the tumor's location and extent. Surgical removal aims to remove the cancerous tissue while preserving surrounding healthy tissues.
3
Radiation
Radiation therapy is used in treating pancreatic cancer to shrink tumors, control local disease progression, and alleviate symptoms, particularly in cases where surgery is not feasible. It can be applied as part of a definitive treatment plan, in combination with chemotherapy, or as palliative care to reduce pain and improve the patient’s quality of life.