Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common form of pancreatic cancer. It is a particularly aggressive type of cancer that originates from the cells in the pancreas responsible for producing secretions and forming tubes within the organ.
Unfortunately, this cancer is extremely difficult to treat, and survival rates are alarmingly low. Only about 8% of people diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma live beyond five years after their diagnosis.
Recently, researchers from the Francis Crick Institute have made a significant discovery that could change the way we approach treating this deadly disease.
They found that a specific protein plays a crucial role in the growth of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This protein could be a potential target for new treatments aimed at slowing down or even stopping the progression of the cancer.
The research, led by Axel Behrens and his team, was published in the scientific journal Nature Cell Biology. Their study focused on a particular group of cells within tumors known as cancer stem cells.
These cells are similar to normal stem cells in the human body, which are responsible for repairing tissues and organs.
However, unlike normal stem cells, cancer stem cells have the ability to initiate new tumors and transform into different types of cancer cells, making them particularly dangerous.
By closely examining the genetic makeup of these cancer stem cells, the researchers discovered that a protein called CD9 is present on the surface of these cells both in the early stages of tumor development and when the tumor has become more established.
This protein is not just a bystander; it plays an active role in the behavior of the cancer cells.
To better understand the role of CD9, the researchers conducted experiments in mice. They altered the levels of CD9 in the tumor cells and observed the effects.
When they reduced the amount of CD9, the tumors that formed were smaller and less aggressive. On the other hand, increasing the levels of CD9 made the cancer cells more aggressive, causing them to grow larger tumors at a faster rate.
These findings were further supported by clinical data from patients. The researchers found that patients with higher levels of CD9 in their tumor cells had a worse prognosis, meaning their chances of surviving the cancer were lower.
About 10% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have elevated levels of CD9, which could explain why their cancer is more aggressive.
This discovery opens the door to new possibilities for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
The researchers suggest that by developing treatments that target CD9, it may be possible to cut off the supply of essential nutrients, like glutamine, to the cancer stem cells. Glutamine is a key nutrient that cancer cells rely on to grow and multiply.
By starving the cancer stem cells of this nutrient, it could be possible to slow down or even stop the progression of the disease.
While this research is still in its early stages, it offers a glimmer of hope for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
The next steps will involve further studies to confirm these findings and to develop potential treatments that can be tested in clinical trials. If successful, targeting CD9 could become a new strategy in the fight against this devastating form of cancer.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about the link between dairy food and certain cancers and this common food chemicals may cause cancer.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies that plant-based diets may reduce risk of colorectal cancer in men, and Low-fat diet may help stop cancer growth.
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