Your Donations in Action: John Michael “JM” Bryant, MD

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains one of the deadliest cancers, with limited effective therapies.

With support from a 2023 Fujifilm Medical Systems/RSNA Research Resident Grant, John Michael “JM” Bryant, MD, a radiation oncology resident at the University of South Florida/H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, and colleagues investigated the use of magnetoelectric nanoparticles (MENPs), as a potentially groundbreaking theranostic agent for PDAC.

According to Dr. Bryant, MENPs uniquely convert externally applied magnetic fields into localized electric fields, enabling electric field-based cell kill mechanism to selectively induce cancer cell death. By exploiting the distinct electrical properties of cancer cells, MENPs precisely target tumors.

Once activated by MRI, MENPs simultaneously enhance T2/T2*-weighted imaging contrast and deliver therapeutic treatment to the tumor. In preclinical murine models, a single MENP treatment achieved an average threefold tumor reduction as compared to sham controls, with complete tumor regression observed in one-third of mice—all without observable toxicity. These findings highlight MENPs as a safe, noninvasive, targeted theranostic modality.

This study lays the foundation for the clinical translation of MENPs, which could revolutionize oncology by integrating targeted therapy with MR imaging. MENPs may enhance tumor visualization for MRI-guided interventions, improve treatment targeting for aggressive malignancies like PDAC, and offer real-time monitoring of therapeutic responses.

“Potential applications include enhanced tumor visualization for MRI-guided interventions, improved therapeutic targeting of difficult-to-treat malignancies such as PDAC, and real-time monitoring of treatment response,” Dr. Bryant said. “MENPs may also serve as a safer, noninvasive alternative to traditional electric field-based cell kill mechanism, eliminating the need for electrode placement while maintaining therapeutic efficacy.”

Dr. Bryant noted that the Foundation grant was pivotal in enabling the critical in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrating MENPs’ theranostic potential.

“This funding not only propelled the research forward but also provided a foundation for future translational studies,” he said. “It has also helped me secure a physician scientist position with the University of Miami.”

For More Information

Learn more about R&E Foundation funding opportunities.

Read our previous Your Donations in Action story.