Articles tagged with Pancreatic Cancer
A Dream Team led by Elizabeth Jaffee and Robert Vonderheide aims to exploit patients' own immune cells to treat pancreatic cancer. The team will use vaccination and other agents to activate antitumor immune cells and convert the tumor microenvironment into a fostered rejection environment.
Researchers at Dartmouth developed a more accurate and safer treatment for pancreatic cancer by analyzing pre-treatment CT scans. The study found that blood volume in tumors is a key predictor of treatment response, making PDT easier, faster, and more effective.
Researchers have developed a method to predict pancreatic cancer from cysts in the pancreas, detecting mucus protein with 97% certainty. The approach minimizes unnecessary operations and may enable early detection of cancer.
A large analysis of international studies suggests a time-dependent link between diabetes and pancreatic cancer. Screening programs may be necessary for patients with new-onset diabetes, particularly those without significant risk factors.
A new national analysis of trends and outcomes reveals that pancreatic cancer surgery remains under-utilized for patients with the deadly disease. Researchers identified factors associated with not receiving surgery in patients with localized pancreatic cancer, including age, race, and location.
Researchers from Imperial College London have discovered that blocking Hhat slows pancreatic cancer growth by preventing Hedgehog from stimulating nearby cells. The study found that genetic techniques could prevent the process from starting in the first place, leading to reduced cancer cell growth and ability to spread.
Researchers found a higher risk of pancreatic cancer in patients with acute pancreatitis, particularly those over 40. The study suggests that patients with acute pancreatitis should be evaluated for pancreatic cancer using esophageal ultrasound.
A new study found that each individual patient's molecular profile in pancreatic cancer is unique, with different genes and pathways disrupted compared to the group of patients as a whole. The researchers argue for personalized medicine, where treatment is tailored to each person's individual disease etiology.
Researchers developed a mouse model that simulates precursor lesions like IPMN, identifying enzyme Brg1 as key to their formation. The study also found epigenetics play a role in PDA, offering potential avenues for intervention.
A highly accurate, noninvasive test has been identified to differentiate between benign and potentially cancerous pancreatic cysts. The test analyzes fluid from pancreatic cysts for a specific biomarker, VEGF-A, with 99% accuracy indicating the cyst is benign.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London have discovered a 'cell hijack' method in pancreatic cancer where pancreatic stellate cells are recruited to aid the growth and spread of cancer. This process can be blocked to prevent tumour growth, suggesting new therapeutic strategies for treating pancreatic cancer.
A credit card-sized device has been developed to process tissue biopsies for 3-D imaging, which can provide a more complete picture of the cellular makeup of a tumor. This technology could potentially reduce diagnosis time to minutes and improve prognosis for pancreatic cancer patients.
A study found diagnostic microRNA panels in whole blood can distinguish patients with and without pancreatic cancer. The findings have potential for an early detection method, but further research is necessary.
Researchers have found a potential new strategy to selectively kill pancreatic cancer cells while sparing healthy ones, using energy supply disruption. By blocking glycolysis, they observed a toxic calcium overload and cell death in cancer cells, but not in normal cells.
Researchers develop new treatment for pancreatic cancer by using a drug that breaks down the protective barrier surrounding cancer tumours. The approach enables T cells to get through and kill cancer cells, resulting in almost complete elimination of cancer cells in initial tests.
Researchers found that K-Ras mutations allow cancer cells to survive and invade tissues without normal survival signals. The study suggests that these mutations promote invasion by subverting the mechanism of normal cell death.
Researchers found that retinoblastoma protein malfunction enables TGF-β to stimulate pancreatic cancer cell proliferation. Abnormal pathways activated by TGF-β and Wnt7b can be disrupted with drugs, providing potential therapeutic targets.
Researchers developed a new drug-delivery technique using two types of nanoparticles to effectively treat pancreatic cancer in mouse models. The dual-wave method opens up access to tumor cells, allowing chemotherapy drugs to target and kill cancer cells more efficiently.
Pancreatic cancer death rates have increased in whites but decreased in African Americans over the past few decades. The study found that while smoking prevalence has decreased in both groups, other risk factors such as obesity and low vegetable intake may be contributing to the rising mortality rates in whites.
A large prospective study found that consuming tree nuts was inversely associated with the risk of pancreatic cancer. Women who consumed two or more servings of nuts per week had a significantly reduced risk compared to those who did not.
The EORTC study found that baseline recorded health-related quality of life parameters provided additional prognostic information for survival in eleven types of cancer, including brain, breast, and colorectal cancers. The specific health-related quality of life parameters found to be predictive for survival varied by cancer site.
Researchers at the University of Missouri have found a more accurate laboratory method for diagnosing pancreatic cancer. The new technique uses morphological features to identify the disease with 93% accuracy, significantly improving diagnosis over traditional methods.
A preclinical study by Albert Einstein College of Medicine found that the investigational drug Zybrestat significantly reduces tumor size and circulating insulin levels in mice with endocrine pancreatic tumors. The study presents promising results for treating this less common form of pancreatic cancer.
A simple blood test detecting epigenetic alterations may reveal the earliest signs of pancreatic cancer, a disease with nearly always fatal outcomes. The test's sensitivity and specificity are 97% and 85%, respectively, offering a promising step towards reducing mortality from this cancer.
A investigational antibody-drug conjugate, MLN0264, has shown promise in preclinical models of pancreatic cancer. The drug selectively targets tumors expressing guanyl cyclase C and has been found to inhibit tumor growth when combined with traditional chemotherapy agent gemcitabine.
Researchers have identified two drug combinations that can simultaneously block two major signaling pathways downstream of the KRAS protein, which is aberrantly active in most pancreatic cancers. The combinations substantially inhibited tumor growth and reduced metastasis compared to either drug alone.
A large prospective study found that patients with a body mass index in the obese range live on average two to three months less after a pancreatic cancer diagnosis compared to healthy-weight patients. Obesity is associated with poorer pancreatic cancer survival rates, even after adjusting for age and disease stage.
A multicentre phase III study shows that the nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine combination significantly improves one- and two-year survival rates in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer compared to gemcitabine alone. This new drug combination is set to become a reference treatment for this disease.
The study found that nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine led to significantly improved overall survival and progression-free survival compared to gemcitabine alone. Participants who received nab-paclitaxel also experienced a delay in tumor growth and higher survival rates, with 35% surviving over 1 year.
Researchers at UCLA School of Dentistry validated that pancreatic cancer biomarkers reside in saliva through a study on tumor-ridden mouse models. The team demonstrated that tumor-derived extracellular RNA molecules are transported through exosome vesicles and re-processed into saliva as biomarkers.
Treatment with gemcitabine for 6 months significantly improved overall survival (22.8 months vs. 20.2 months) and disease-free survival (13.4 months vs. 6.7 months) in patients after pancreatic cancer surgery. The study demonstrated a 10.3% increase in 5-year overall survival rate.
Researchers at the University of Cincinnati have discovered a biomarker, phosphatidylserine, that can be effectively targeted to kill pancreatic cancer cells. The use of a biotherapy consisting of saposin C and dioleoylphosphatidylserine combined in nanovesicles shows promising results in animal models.
Researchers at UCLA's Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center found that mice on high-fat diets developed abnormally high numbers of pancreatic lesions, which are precursors to pancreas cancer. A normal diet was shown to have a significant impact on reducing the risk of this deadly disease.
Researchers at Henry Ford Hospital found stereotactic body radiotherapy to be a viable option for elderly patients with localized pancreatic cancer, offering a six-to-seven-month increase in lifespan and minimal side effects. The study also showed that two patients lived nearly two years after treatment.
Researchers at Penn Medicine have developed a novel immunotherapy approach that demonstrates substantial tumor regression in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. The treatment combines gemcitabine with an agonist CD40 antibody and uses real-time FDG/PET-CT imaging to monitor tumor response.
A study published in Genome Medicine has identified a specific subtype of pancreatic cancer that expresses high levels of the HER2 gene, which could be treated with existing breast and gastric cancer therapies. The research suggests using personalized medicine strategies to target this subtype, potentially improving patient outcomes.
Researchers at UTHealth discovered a novel signaling axis that promotes pancreatic cancer growth by activating a transcription factor CREB and an oncogenic miR-373, while suppressing tumor suppressor genes. The findings provide potential mechanistic insights into how a zinc transporter functions in cancer cells.
A new study found that consuming a high-quality diet is linked to a lower risk of pancreatic cancer. Participants who adhered most closely to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans had a 15% reduced risk of pancreatic cancer compared to those with poorer dietary habits.
Researchers found that flavonoids in celery, artichokes and Mexican oregano can kill human pancreatic cancer cells by inhibiting the GSK-3β enzyme. This pre-treatment approach may prolong life without curing the disease, while preventing it could reduce cancer risk with chronic flavonoid exposure.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have made a breakthrough discovery about the origin of inflammation-driven pancreatic cancer. They found that chronic inflammation in the pancreas can push acinar cells to transform into duct-like cells, which can then acquire mutations leading to further progression of pancreatic cancer. The study identified...
The AGA Research Foundation has awarded a $2.25M grant to support basic research in pancreatic cancer, a devastating disease with over 38,400 deaths expected in the US in 2013. Young researchers will receive $90,000 per year for three years to conduct research related to pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine have created a human-cell model of early-disease progression in pancreatic cancer using induced pluripotent stem cells. The study identified biomarkers that could be used for early detection, treatment, and prognosis.
Researchers have identified a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the activity of GSK-3 alpha, a protein that promotes oncogenic KRAS function. The study found that blocking GSK-3 alpha resulted in an anti-tumor response in mouse models, suggesting a viable treatment option.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have developed a promising method to distinguish between pancreatic cancer and chronic pancreatitis. A molecular marker obtained from pancreatic 'juices' can identify almost all cases of pancreatic cancer, with a detection rate of 75%.
A team of researchers at NYU School of Medicine has made a breakthrough in understanding how pancreatic tumor cells feed themselves. By identifying the role of macropinocytosis in delivering nutrients to Ras-transformed cancer cells, they have uncovered a potential new target for treating this lethal disease.
The Seena Magowitz Foundation has donated $500,000 to support clinical trials of the drug Abraxane, which extends survival in pancreatic cancer patients. This donation represents a decade of advocacy and fundraising efforts, aiming to make a difference in the lives of pancreatic cancer patients and their families.
The article provides an evidence-based overview of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and treatment, emphasizing the importance of surgery as a curative option. Key findings also highlight the benefits of accelerated progress in understanding the disease through partnerships between clinicians and basic scientists.
A new therapy uses radioactive Listeria bacteria to selectively infect tumor cells and deliver radioisotopes, dramatically decreasing the number of metastases in a mouse model of highly aggressive pancreatic cancer. The treatment also showed promise in reducing metastases by 90% in mice with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Dana-Farber scientists have identified a novel glutamine pathway that fuels the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer cells, which may be vulnerable to targeted drugs. The research suggests that inhibiting this pathway could make tumors more susceptible to standard treatments without harming healthy tissues.
Researchers from NYU College of Dentistry and School of Medicine will explore the role of intestinal microbiota in promoting pancreatic carcinogenesis. The study aims to determine whether endogenous gut bacteria can affect pancreatic oncogenesis and identify potential targets for prevention and treatment.
Two Indiana University researchers, Mark R. Kelley and Melissa L. Fishel, receive a $3.2 million grant to develop new therapies for pancreatic cancer. They aim to block a protein called Ref-1, which is involved in signaling between the tumor and its environment.
Researchers found that bitter melon juice restricts glucose metabolism and kills pancreatic cancer cells, cutting their energy source. The study used mouse models and showed a 60% reduction in disease development compared to controls.
A team from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has identified a molecular master switch for pancreatic cancer, which could serve as a potential predictor of treatment outcome. The researchers found that Prrx1 and Sox9 regulate the emergence of an intermediate cell type that can give rise to cancer.
A study mapping the landscape of kinases in cancerous and non-cancerous tissue identified outlier kinase expression that can be targeted with existing drugs. Researchers found promising combinations, including adding a FGFR4-inhibitor to Herceptin for HER2-positive breast cancer tumors.
A multi-center Phase III clinical trial demonstrates that Abraxane plus gemcitabine extends survival of late-stage pancreatic cancer patients compared to standard treatment. The study showed a 59 percent increase in one-year median survival rates and a doubling of two-year survival to 9%.
The 2013 Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium revealed new advances in treating and prophesizing gastrointestinal cancers. The symposium presented five important studies, including a Phase III clinical trial showing that postoperative treatment with S-1 chemotherapy reduces relapses and extends survival in patients with pancreatic cancer.
The American Cancer Society's annual report shows a 20% decrease in cancer mortality rates since 1991, with significant drops in lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers. These declines are attributed to reductions in smoking and improvements in early detection and treatment.
Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a new molecular pathway that promotes accelerated growth of pancreatic tumors, and discovered ways to disable it. The findings suggest using the drug bortezomib as a potential strategy for treating pancreatic cancer.
Researchers found an inverse association between low adiponectin plasma levels and the risk of pancreatic cancer. The study suggests that metabolism plays a role in the pathophysiology of pancreatic cancer, potentially leading to improved survival rates with early detection and therapeutic interventions.
Researchers discovered that acinar cells convert into duct-like cells that initiate tumors in pancreatic cancer. Inflammation of the pancreas promotes this conversion. The study suggests Sox9 as a potential target to prevent early tumor-initiating events.