Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is the most common and aggressive type of pancreatic cancer. It starts in the cells of the pancreas that produce fluids and form tubes. Sadly, this cancer is very hard to treat, and only about 8% of people diagnosed with it survive for more than five years.
But a new discovery from scientists at the Francis Crick Institute may give hope to patients. Researchers found that a specific protein could be a key to slowing down or even stopping this deadly cancer.
The study, led by Axel Behrens and published in the journal Nature Cell Biology, focused on a special group of cells inside tumors called cancer stem cells. These cells are similar to normal stem cells, which help repair and maintain tissues. However, cancer stem cells are more dangerous because they can start new tumors and turn into other types of cancer cells.
The researchers discovered that a protein called CD9 is found on the surface of these cancer stem cells. CD9 appears early in tumor growth and continues to be present as the tumor becomes more serious. It doesn’t just sit there—it helps the cancer grow.
To understand this better, scientists tested how changing CD9 levels affected tumors in mice. When they lowered CD9 levels, the tumors became smaller and less aggressive. But when they increased CD9, the cancer grew faster and formed larger tumors.
This pattern was also seen in human patients. Those with higher levels of CD9 in their tumors had a worse outcome. Around 10% of people with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma have high levels of CD9, which may explain why their cancer is more aggressive.
This finding could lead to new ways to treat this form of cancer. The scientists believe that targeting CD9 might help stop the cancer stem cells from getting the nutrients they need, especially glutamine—a substance cancer cells depend on to grow.
By blocking CD9, it might be possible to cut off the cancer’s supply of glutamine, slowing down or even stopping the disease.
Although this research is still in its early stages, it brings new hope. The next step is to do more studies and begin developing treatments that target CD9. If these new treatments work in clinical trials, they could offer a new way to fight one of the most deadly types 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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