U-M researchers ID gene involved in pancreatic cancer

March 03, 2009

ANN ARBOR, Mich. - Researchers from the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene that is overexpressed in 90 percent of pancreatic cancers, the most deadly type of cancer.
Expression of the gene, Ataxia Telangiectasia Group D Complementing gene, called ATDC, is on average 20 times higher in pancreatic cancer cells than in cells from a normal pancreas. What's more, the gene appears to make pancreatic cancer cells resistant to current therapies.

"One of the challenges in pancreatic cancer is that it is biologically aggressive and it does not respond well to chemotherapy or radiation. We found that ATDC not only causes the cancer cells to grow faster and be more aggressive, but it also makes the cancer cells particularly resistant to chemotherapy and radiation. By targeting this gene, we may be able to make cancer cells more sensitive to the therapies we already have in hand," says senior study author Diane Simeone, M.D., director of the Multidisciplinary Pancreatic Cancer Clinic at the U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Results of the study appear in the March issue of Cancer Cell.

The researchers injected into mice tumor cells expressing ATDC and compared that to a separate group of mice injected with tumor cells in which ATDC was suppressed. In the ATDC-expressing group, tumors grew in all the samples and were significantly larger and starting to metastasize, or spread. In the group in which ATDC was not expressed, only minimal signs of tumor growth were seen after 60 days.

"This particular gene promotes the biologic aggressiveness of the cancer," says Simeone, who is also Lazar J. Greenfield Professor of Surgery and Molecular & Integrative Physiology at the U-M Medical School.

In addition, the researchers found that ATDC is most highly expressed at the point when pre-cancerous cells become malignant. ATDC was also linked to increased levels of a signaling protein called beta-catenin, which is known to play a key role in cancer development.

Researchers believe ATDC has potential as a target for developing future therapies. It could also help doctors determine when a patient has pancreatic cancer and when it's chronic pancreatitis, a diagnosis that's often difficult to make without surgery. In some cases, this may allow patients to avoid an operation.

ATDC also appears to be involved in other cancer types, including bladder cancer and lung cancer. Researchers are continuing to investigate its role. This research was done in the laboratory. No tests or therapies related to ATDC are available at this time.

Pancreatic cancer statistics: 37,680 Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year and 34,290 will die from the disease, according to the American Cancer Society

Additional authors: Lidong Wang, David G. Heidt, Cheong J. Lee, Huibin Yang, Eric R. Fearon and Mats Ljungman from U-M; Craig D. Logsdon from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center; and Lizhi Zhang from the Mayo Clinic.

University of Michigan Health System

Pancreatic Cancer: A Patient and His Doctor Balance Hope and Truth (A Johns Hopkins Press Health Book)
by Michael J. Lippe (Author), Dung T. Le (Author)

Michael J. Lippe was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2007. This is his story, and the story of pancreatic cancer, narrated by Lippe and Dr. Dung T. Le, the physician who is treating him.In telling these stories, Lippe and Le alternate chapters. Lippe writes about the early signs that something was wrong; Le continues with a description of pancreatic cancer, its symptoms, and its treatments. Lippe talks about his prognosis, contemplates the prospect of death, and describes how he began to cope; Le explains the importance, for both doctor and patient, of balancing hope and truth. Lippe speaks frankly about the toll the disease takes on his marriage and family; Le offers a general picture of what most patients can expect with their illness. The book concludes with Lippe and Le’s...

Pancreatic Cancer: It's a Family Affair
by Lisa M Strahs-Lorenc (Author)

This is not another book about cancer. The 22 contributors from 20 families who have contributed their stories, their feelings and their advice have done so in order to help others feel that they are not alone. They represent spouses, siblings, adult children and patients themselves. There are 4 survivors as of the writing of this book. In addition, all proceeds from the sale of this book will be going to the Lustgarten Foundation and the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network that offer support and research for an eventual cure of this deadly disease.

Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Pancreatic Cancer (Johns Hopkins Medicine)
by Nita Ahuja (Author), JoAnn Coleman (Author)

The Johns Hopkins Patients Guide to Pancreatic Cancer is a concise, easy-to-follow how to guide that puts you on a path to wellness by explaining pancreatic cancer treatments from start to finish. It guides you through the overwhelming maze of treatment decisions, simplifies the complicated schedule that lies ahead, and provides valuable tools to help you to put together your plan of care. Empower yourself with accurate, understandable information that will give you the ability to confidently participate in the decision making about your care and treatment.

100 Questions & Answers About Pancreatic Cancer, Second Edition
by Eileen O'Reilly (Author), Joanne Frankel Kelvin (Author)

Whether you re a newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer patient, a survivor, or a friend or relative of someone with pancreatic cancer, this book offers help. The only text to provide a doctor s and patient s view, 100 Questions & Answers About Pancreatic Cancer, Second Edition gives you authoritative, practical answers to your questions about treatment options, post-treatment quality of life, sources of support, and much more. The authors, a medical oncologist and a nurse with 25 years of experience with cancer patients, provide a comprehensive, step-by-step discussion of what you can expect in the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer, while patient commentaries provide a real-life understanding of what these steps might mean for your day-to-day life. This book is an invaluable...

The Ride Of My Life: A Fight To Survive Pancreatic Cancer
by Bob Brown (Author)

Insightful, humorous, and inspiring memoir of self-described "regular guy" Bob Brown's courageous battle with pancreatic cancer and his journey through the medical community to save his life. In a conversational tone that feels like you're chatting with a lifelong friend, Bob shares the play-by-play of his fight to stay alive and make the right treatment decisions, affirms the difference a positive attitude can make, and celebrates the unexpected gift of a new perspective on life. What would you do upon hearing your doctor utter the words "inoperable pancreatic cancer"? If you or someone you love has been diagnosed, this amazing story of survival will move you, amuse you, and instill hope in your heart.

Surviving: How We Loved Through Pancreatic Cancer
by K. Blake Cash (Author)

"Emma was still channeling Rocky Balboa, talking about how she was going to beat cancer. She defined survival as completely defeating the disease. I defined survival as weathering the storm with grace. She was so strong, surviving on the force of her will. But her body wasn't cooperating, no matter how hard her spirit fought" "Surviving" is the story of one couple's journey with cancer, from diagnosis to death, written by the surviving member of that couple, K. Blake Cash "Beautifully told . . . honest as an arrow" -author and humorist Barry Parham "a beautiful piece of work . . . I know in my heart that she is "out and about" watching over us even now" -Dr. Harish Lavu, Assistant Professor of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University

Pancreatic Cancer (M.D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series)
by Andrew M. Lowy (Editor), Steven D. Leach (Editor), Philip Philip (Editor)

Since the previous M.D. Anderson Solid Tumor Oncology Series publication on pancreatic cancer, there have been major advances in our understanding of molecular events which underlie pancreatic cancer development, both in the sporadic and inherited forms. This book provides information on the recent progress and improvements. It brings to the forefront the most current advances that have been made in understanding pancreatic cancer development and successfully treating this disease.

Defeat Cancer: 15 Doctors of Integrative & Naturopathic Medicine Tell You How
by Connie Strasheim (Author), 13 Cancer Doctors (Author), Richard Linchitz MD (Introduction), Robert Rowen MD (Introduction)

ONE-ON-ONE WITH 15 CANCER DOCTORS:

If you traveled the world for appointments with fifteen cancer doctors, you would discover many of the cutting-edge treatments used to heal the body from cancer. You would also spend thousands of dollars on hotels, plane tickets, and medical appointment fees-not to mention the time that it would take to embark on such a journey.

Even if you had the time and money to travel, would the physicians have enough time to answer all of your questions? Would you even know which questions to ask?

In this long-awaited book, health care journalist Connie Strasheim has done all the work for you. She conducted intensive interviews with fifteen highly regarded doctors who specialize in cancer treatment, asking them thoughtful, important...

What to Eat if You Have Cancer (revised): Healing Foods that Boost Your Immune System
by Maureen Keane (Author), Daniella Chace (Author)

Fuel your body to fight cancer Cancer and cancer treatment take a toll on your body, but you can help make cancer treatment more effective and reduce its unpleasant side effects with good nutrition. What to Eat if You Have Cancer presents the best foods to fight cancer and suggests ways to keep your body strong--knowledge you need to take control of your health. A vital resource for cancer patients, this revised edition contains new recipes, new menus, and the latest research on cancer and nutrition. With the help of What to Eat if You Have Cancer, you will learn The foods to eat and the foods to avoid in your fight with cancer The proper use of supplements in nutrition therapy How to create personalized meal plans to complement different types and phases...

Pancreatic Cancer : A Simple Guide to Pancreatic cancer (Simple Solutions Presents)

Pancreatic cancer is one of the ten fastest growing cancer in America and it is important to learn about because it is a silent killer. This is because at times it is difficult to ascertain if you have this type of cancer until it may be too late. This report contains an introduction to pancreatic cancer, risks involved, signs to look out for, and some natural preventative and corrective measures that you can take. This is a simple and straightforward guide that will give you a better understanding of this deadly disease.