Dr. Anirban Maitra is Advancing Early Detection and Cancer Interception in Pancreatic Tumors

Dr. Anirban Maitra is a Professor of Pathology and Translational Molecular Pathology at MD Anderson Cancer Center. His research focuses on the early detection and treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Originally studying pediatric pathology, Dr. Maitra’s career trajectory changed upon attending a seminar on pancreatic cancer, which motivated him to address knowledge gaps in the disease’s biology. He wanted to explore the molecular and clinical aspects of the disease for the sake of improving patient prognosis. “This is a disease where there’s an opportunity to make a huge difference,” said Dr. Maitra. 

Later, Dr. Maitra’s lab developed a pancreatic cancer liquid biopsy method, which is a non-invasive blood test that detects the presence of tumors. “There’s still a long way to go, but now we know what to look for and who to look in,” said Dr. Maitra regarding the future direction of pancreatic cancer detection. 

Additionally, Dr. Maitra, explained that since pancreatic cancer is nonresponsive to many existing therapies, knowledge of its biology and resistance mechanisms has been critical to the design of clinical studies. “The trials that are starting to show signals all have strong basic science behind them,” said Dr. Maitra. To him, understanding the biological basis for how and why a treatment is working is as important as developing the therapy itself. 

Dr. Maitra’s research, at its core, is translational. In his words, the progression of pancreatic cancer research is, “a circular path.” Advancements made in the laboratory influence the development of clinical trials, and trial results ultimately inform the direction of lab research. Discoveries in pancreatic cancer have broader implications and can help identify, “[biological] pathways common across major tumor types.” 

During his career, Dr. Maitra has collaborated with researchers across the world. “I’m lucky to be a part of teams that have done many important things,” he stated, regarding contributions made to the field over the past twenty years. Currently, Dr. Maitra is a part of the Translational and Basic Science Research in Early Lesions (TBEL) program and the Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Stromal Reprogramming Consortium (PSRC), two collaborative efforts between investigators of different research specialties. According to Dr. Maitra, “The greatest chance of success is when we pool our resources together.” 

Outside the lab, communication between investigators and the public is another component of Dr. Maitra’s work. He uses social media to share news on current pancreatic cancer research with the broad community. He thinks that science communication allows “patients to feel empowered” and fosters a community of trust essential to long-term cancer research. Dr. Maitra encourages experts to share their knowledge and voices, “Because if you don’t, then someone else is going to fill that vacuum.”