IU Researchers Identify Clotting Protein as Potential Target in Pancreatic Cancer

Reducing levels of fibrinogen, a clotting protein, could significantly slow cancer progression.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have uncovered a promising new avenue for treating pancreatic cancer: reducing levels of fibrinogen, a clotting protein produced by the liver. Their research indicates that fibrinogen, when deposited on pancreatic tumors, fosters an environment conducive to tumor growth. In mouse models, depleting fibrinogen led to a dramatic reduction in both primary tumor size and the spread of cancer to the liver.

Why it matters

Pancreatic cancer patients are known to have unusually high rates of blood clots, and this discovery suggests that targeting the blood clotting system, rather than simply viewing it as a byproduct of the disease, could significantly slow cancer progression. Importantly, the impact of fibrinogen was most significant at the primary tumor site, altering the behavior of cancer cells before they could metastasize.

The details

Researchers used two different methods to deplete fibrinogen in mouse models, consistently observing positive results. They discovered very little fibrin deposition in healthy pancreatic tissue, but abundant fibrin was present in tumor samples, suggesting that fibrin plays a key role in creating a supportive matrix for tumor cells and recruiting cancer-associated fibroblasts that further promote growth.

  • The study findings were published in Gastroenterology in 2026.

The players

Melissa L. Fishel, PhD

Associate professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine and lead researcher on the study.

Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center

Indiana's only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, conducting all phases of cancer research.

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What they’re saying

“It's well known that pancreatic cancer patients have some of the highest rates of blood clots. We wanted to understand whether the proteins involved in blood coagulation and clotting are driving the disease or are a byproduct of the disease.”

— Melissa L. Fishel, PhD, Associate professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine (Gastroenterology)

“When fibrin was not there, we saw a dramatic reduction in primary tumor size as well as liver lesions. When pancreatic cancer spreads to the liver the patient prognosis is grim, so we were very excited by the possibility of reducing that tumor burden, and metastasis.”

— Melissa L. Fishel, PhD, Associate professor of pediatrics at the IU School of Medicine (Gastroenterology)

What’s next

The next step is to explore combining fibrinogen-targeted approaches with existing treatments like chemotherapy or emerging pancreatic cancer therapies. The goal is to understand precisely how fibrin influences tumor behavior and leverage this knowledge to enhance treatment effectiveness.

The takeaway

This discovery suggests that targeting the blood clotting system, rather than simply viewing it as a byproduct of the disease, could significantly slow pancreatic cancer progression. By reducing levels of the clotting protein fibrinogen, researchers were able to dramatically slow tumor growth and metastasis in mouse models, opening up a promising new avenue for treating this deadly disease.