Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and challenging cancers to treat, with a low survival rate.
A groundbreaking study led by Queen Mary University of London has identified a type of aggressive cell, known as amoeboid cells, in pancreatic cancer.
These cells play a crucial role in the spread of the disease and suppression of the immune system.
Importantly, researchers have uncovered a potential vulnerability in these cells that can be targeted using existing drugs, offering a promising avenue for pancreatic cancer treatment.
Key Findings
Amoeboid Cells in Pancreatic Cancer: The study revealed the presence of amoeboid cells in pancreatic cancer, a type of cell previously identified in other cancers such as melanoma, breast, liver, and prostate cancer.
These cells are known for their aggressiveness, invasiveness, and rapid movement, contributing to poor survival rates.
CD73 Molecule Production: Amoeboid cells in pancreatic cancer were found to produce high levels of a molecule called CD73. This molecule drives their ability to spread and weaken the immune system, promoting cancer progression.
Blockade of CD73: When researchers blocked the CD73 molecule in amoeboid cells, they observed a significant reduction in the spread of cancer to the liver and a decrease in the number of immune cells supporting the tumor.
Treatment Effectiveness: The study involved testing anti-CD73 treatment in mice over both short-term and long-term periods. In the long-term group, the treatment reduced the incidence of cancerous tumors spreading to the liver from 66.6% to 36.4%.
Potential Clinical Application: While further research involving human subjects is required to validate these findings, the study suggests that blocking CD73 could be a promising approach for treating pancreatic cancer and preventing its spread.
Notably, drugs targeting CD73 are already in clinical trials for various cancer types.
Implications and Future Research
Pancreatic cancer is associated with a very low survival rate, and current treatments have limited effectiveness.
The discovery of amoeboid cells and their link to CD73 opens up a new avenue of treatment that may prove effective, especially when applied early in the disease.
As researchers expand their investigations, breast cancer will also be a focus to determine if similar connections exist between amoeboid cells and CD73 in other cancer types.
Conclusion
The study’s findings represent a significant breakthrough in understanding and potentially treating pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest and least survivable forms of cancer.
While there is still much research to be done, targeting the aggressive amoeboid cells through CD73 blockade offers new hope for improving the prognosis and outcomes of pancreatic cancer patients, ultimately saving lives and advancing cancer treatment.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about a new method to treat cancer effectively, and this low-dose, four-drug combo may block cancer spread.
For more information about cancer prevention, please see recent studies about nutrient in fish that can be a poison for cancer, and results showing this daily vitamin is critical to cancer prevention.
The research findings can be found in Science Advances.
Follow us on Twitter for more articles about this topic.
Copyright © 2023 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
