Pancreatic Cancer
Research Lab

Marcus Tan is a surgeon-scientist. His general surgical training included three years in the laboratory of David Linehan at Washington University in St Louis studying the immunology of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC). His surgical oncology fellowship was at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center. He takes care of (and operates on!) patients with a variety of pancreatic diseases, especially pancreatic cancer, pancreatic cysts and pancreatitis. His research focuses on intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN), a pre-malignant form of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. In particular, he is interested in: 1. how the tumor recruits nerves into the neoplastic microenvironment. We have established that this neural infiltration occurs early, and is associated with more aggressive behavior of the IPMN. Identification of the mechanisms of tumor-nerve crosstalk may allow us to develop better ways to predict and interrupt malignant transformation. 2. the early origins of pancreatic tumors, both IPMN and PDAC. We are investigating the heterogeneity of the early pancreatic neoplastic cell population and also the influence of germline genetic variation on pancreatic phenotypes. We hope that these studies will lead to methods for earlier detection of this lethal cancer.