Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest types of cancer to treat. Among its different forms, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and aggressive.
Sadly, it has a very low survival rate, with only about 8 out of 100 people diagnosed living beyond five years. This makes finding better treatments an urgent priority for researchers and doctors.
Scientists at the Francis Crick Institute, led by Axel Behrens, have made a discovery that could bring new treatment options for this deadly disease. Their research focused on a special kind of cell in PDAC tumors called cancer stem cells.
These cells play a big role in how the cancer grows and spreads. Like healthy stem cells, which repair and replace damaged tissue in the body, cancer stem cells also regenerate—but they use this ability to fuel the disease, making it harder to control.
The researchers found that these cancer stem cells have a protein on their surface called CD9. This protein is not just a marker to identify the cells; it also helps the cancer grow more aggressively. CD9 is active in both early and late stages of the disease, making it a key player in the tumor’s progression.
In experiments using mice, the researchers discovered that when they reduced CD9 levels in the cancer cells, the tumors became smaller. On the other hand, when CD9 levels were increased, the tumors grew faster and larger.
These findings were backed by patient data showing that people with high CD9 levels in their tumors often had worse outcomes. About 10% of patients with high CD9 levels were found to have a poorer prognosis.
The team also uncovered how CD9 helps the cancer cells thrive. It allows the cells to take in more nutrients, especially glutamine.
Glutamine is a vital source of energy and building material for these cells. The more glutamine the cancer cells absorb, the faster they grow. This explains why tumors with high CD9 levels tend to be more aggressive.
This discovery points to a new way to tackle pancreatic cancer. If scientists can find a way to block CD9 or stop the cancer cells from absorbing glutamine, they might be able to starve the cancer and slow its growth.
While this approach is still in its early stages, it shows promise as a potential treatment strategy.
Turning these findings into actual treatments will take time and further research. However, every step forward brings hope to patients and their families. Pancreatic cancer is a devastating disease, but discoveries like this one could one day lead to better outcomes and save lives.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
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