New $150,000 Grant Supports Innovative Appendix Cancer Research
The Appendix Cancer PMP Research Foundation (ACPMP) has awarded a $150,000 Changemaker Research Grant to Mohammad Haroon Choudry, MD, a surgical oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center, to support research aimed at overcoming one of the major challenges in treating appendiceal pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP). The grant is dedicated in memory of Katie Centorbi and was made possible in collaboration with The Katie Centorbi Foundation.
Dr. Choudry is also a member of the Abdominal Cancers Alliance Medical Advisory Board, where he helps support the Alliance’s work to provide patients and caregivers with reliable information and connections to specialized care.
Targeting the Mucus Barrier in PMP
Pseudomyxoma peritonei is often associated with appendix cancer and can cause large amounts of thick, mucinous material to accumulate throughout the abdomen. This mucus can create a physical barrier around cancer cells, making it difficult for chemotherapy and other treatments to reach their intended targets.
Dr. Choudry and his team are investigating a novel strategy designed to address that barrier directly. Their project, “MUC2-Targeted Mucolysis and Heat-Triggered Nanotherapeutic Drug Delivery to Overcome the Mucus Barrier in Appendiceal Pseudomyxoma Peritonei,” combines a treatment designed to break down tumor-associated mucus with heat-activated nanoparticles that could help deliver therapy more directly to cancer cells.
The goal is to determine whether disrupting the mucus barrier could make it easier for treatment to reach tumor cells and ultimately improve the effectiveness of therapy for patients with appendiceal PMP. This research remains investigational, but it addresses an important biological challenge that can limit current treatment approaches.
Investing in New Possibilities for Appendix Cancer
ACPMP created its Changemaker Research Grant to support innovative scientific, clinical, and translational ideas with the potential to change how appendix cancer and PMP are understood and treated. The organization funded several research awards in 2026 as part of its broader commitment to advancing new treatment possibilities for this rare cancer.
For the Abdominal Cancers Alliance community, this award is particularly meaningful because it highlights important research being led by one of the specialists who helps guide our organization. We congratulate Dr. Choudry and ACPMP and look forward to following this work as researchers continue searching for better treatments for patients facing appendix cancer and PMP.
