Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest types of cancer, with very few people surviving for more than five years after diagnosis. A specific kind of this cancer, called pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is particularly aggressive and difficult to treat.
Scientists and doctors have been searching for better ways to fight this disease for many years. Now, a team of researchers from the Francis Crick Institute may have found an important clue that could lead to improved treatments.
The research team, led by Axel Behrens, focused on a special type of cell inside pancreatic tumors called cancer stem cells. These cells are dangerous because they can create new tumor cells, allowing the cancer to grow and spread throughout the body. Finding ways to stop these cells is key to slowing down the disease.
During their study, the scientists discovered a protein called CD9 on the surface of these cancer stem cells. This protein was present in the early stages of the tumor and remained even as the tumor grew larger. At first, CD9 seemed like just a marker to identify these aggressive cells, but the researchers soon realized it played a much bigger role.
CD9 was actually helping the cancer stem cells become more aggressive. To test this, the team conducted experiments on mice with pancreatic cancer. When they reduced the amount of CD9 in the tumor cells, the tumors became smaller. But when they increased the amount of CD9, the cancer cells grew faster and formed larger tumors.
To see if this finding applied to humans, the scientists analyzed data from patients with pancreatic cancer. They found that about 10% of patients had higher levels of CD9 in their tumors. Sadly, these patients had worse outcomes, meaning their cancer was more aggressive and harder to treat.
Next, the team wanted to understand how CD9 helps cancer cells grow so quickly. They discovered that CD9 allows the cancer cells to take in more glutamine, a nutrient that gives them energy. The more glutamine the cancer stem cells absorb, the more they grow and spread.
This discovery is exciting because it suggests a new way to treat pancreatic cancer. If scientists can develop a treatment that blocks CD9, it might cut off the cancer cells’ access to glutamine, making it harder for them to survive and grow.
Although it will take time to turn this research into an actual treatment, this finding is a big step forward in the fight against pancreatic cancer. Stopping cancer stem cells from getting the energy they need could be an important strategy for slowing or even stopping tumor growth.
For patients and their families, this discovery brings hope. While pancreatic cancer remains one of the toughest cancers to treat, ongoing research like this offers the possibility of better treatments in the future. Scientists will continue working to turn these findings into real therapies that can save lives.
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.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about How to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements and results showing that Empower your plate: cancer-fighting foods and recipes.
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