Researchers at Ohio State University have developed a technique to help surgeons determine the extent of tumor spread in pancreatic cancer patients. This method uses an antibody labeled with radioactivity to detect cancer cells, potentially improving treatment outcomes and reducing harm from extensive surgery.
Researchers found that patients who received chemotherapy and radiation after surgery lived longer than those who did not. Additionally, 7% of patients had inherited mutations in the BRCA2 gene, which is linked to breast and ovarian cancer.
Researchers are testing a promising new vaccine against pancreatic cancer, which boasts one of cancer's poorest survival rates. The vaccine targets an abnormal variant of the ras gene, designed to stimulate an immune response against mutant ras protein.