Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with survival rates remaining alarmingly low. Only 12% of men and 14% of women diagnosed with the disease survive beyond five years. Its symptoms are often vague and appear late, making early detection difficult.
Once the cancer spreads, treatment options are limited, and surgery is rarely effective. However, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet have made significant progress in developing a new treatment for this challenging disease.
The study, published in Science Advances and led by Lars Henning Engelholm, focuses on a technique called Antibody Drug Conjugates (ADC). ADC is already being used to treat other types of cancer and now shows promise for pancreatic cancer.
The approach combines precision targeting of cancer cells with minimal damage to healthy tissue, making it a groundbreaking advancement in cancer therapy.
How the ADC Treatment Works
The ADC technique uses a “Trojan horse” strategy to fight cancer. It is composed of three parts: an antibody, a chemical linker, and a strong chemotherapy drug. The antibody is designed to locate and attach to cancer cells.
Once inside, the linker decomposes, activating the chemotherapy drug and killing the cancer cell from within. This precision approach allows for targeted treatment, significantly reducing side effects compared to traditional chemotherapy.
One of the key innovations in this study is the ADC’s ability to attack cancer on multiple fronts. It not only kills cancer cells directly but also destroys the support cells that help the tumor grow and shield itself. These support cells also release toxins that can kill nearby cancer cells.
Additionally, removing these support cells weakens the tumor structure, allowing the body’s immune system to better attack and eliminate the cancer.
A Promising Development
Engelholm emphasizes that progress in pancreatic cancer treatment has been stagnant for the past two decades. This new ADC approach, however, offers hope. The precision of this treatment not only reduces the risk of side effects but also represents a significant leap forward in targeting aggressive and difficult-to-treat cancers.
To ensure the treatment is safe for human trials, the researchers have “humanized” the antibody in the ADC. This means they modified the antibody to resemble those naturally found in the human body, preventing the immune system from rejecting it. This critical step brings the treatment closer to being tested on humans.
Expanding Potential Applications
While the current focus is on pancreatic cancer, the researchers are optimistic about the ADC’s potential for treating other challenging cancers.
They are already exploring its use for triple-negative breast cancer and colon cancer, both of which have limited treatment options and high mortality rates. The hope is that this approach could pave the way for a new generation of cancer therapies.
Next Steps
The team is now working on further developing the drug and preparing it for clinical trials, which they hope to begin within three to five years. They aim to attract support from pharmaceutical or biotech companies to advance the treatment through the critical stages of development.
In the long term, the researchers believe that ADC technology could revolutionize cancer treatment. By combining precision targeting with fewer side effects, it has the potential to significantly improve outcomes for patients suffering from some of the most deadly cancers.
This breakthrough represents a beacon of hope in the fight against pancreatic cancer and other hard-to-treat malignancies. With continued research, collaboration, and funding, this innovative treatment could one day save countless lives and change the landscape of cancer care.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about vitamin D and bowel cancer, and a cautionary note about peanuts and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between ultra-processed foods and cancer, and everyday foods to ward off pancreatic cancer.
The research findings can be found in Science Advances.
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