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Policies favoring high-volume hospitals may disadvantage rural cancer patients

Patients with cancer who live in rural Pennsylvania counties are more likely to receive complex surgeries at high-volume hospitals due to their perceived better outcomes. However, for less complex surgeries, rural patients are less likely to opt for high-volume hospitals despite potential benefits from centralization.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalJCO Oncology Practice·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateAug 17, 2023

Sylvester Surgeon-scientist awarded center’s first Department of Defense grant to study pancreatic cancer

Researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center will investigate signaling mechanisms between myeloid-derived suppressor cells and pro-inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer. The goal is to develop a nanoengineered immunotherapy that selectively disrupts these interactions to target treatment resistance.

Stalking a silent killer

Researchers aim to treat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma by targeting amino acid transporter SLC6A14 and compensatory nutrient scavenging mechanisms autophagy and macropinocytosis. Using alpha-methyl-L-tryptophan and hydroxychlorquine, the study seeks to improve therapeutic outcomes in patients with pancreatic cancer.

Study in journal Nature Communications finds high blood glucose levels sensitizes pancreatic cancer cells to chemotherapy

Researchers discovered that high blood glucose levels make pancreatic cancer cells more sensitive to chemotherapy, which could lead to improved treatment outcomes. In a mouse model and clinical data, the study found a nearly 40% lower risk of death among patients with elevated glucose levels compared to those with normal levels.

SourceUniversity Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center·JournalNature Communications·DateJul 26, 2023

Staging pancreatic cancer early with minimally invasive surgery shows positive results in patient prognosis, Mayo Clinic study finds

A Mayo Clinic study reveals that minimally invasive surgical procedure staging laparoscopy can identify cancer spread early and determine the stage of pancreatic cancer. The research found a higher risk of cancer spread in patients with certain factors, such as age and tumor markers.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalJournal of the American College of Surgeons·DateJun 29, 2023

Expansion of cell-to-cell communication drives the early development of pancreatic cancer, new research in mice finds

A new study in mice reveals that pancreatic cancer's emergence is fueled by the expansion of cell-to-cell communication. Researchers found that plasticity and inflammation reshape cells' identities and local environments, fostering cancer growth. The study provides insights into the earliest cellular events leading to PDAC and potentia...

SourceMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center·JournalScience·TypeExperimental study·DateMay 11, 2023

AI predicts future pancreatic cancer

An AI tool has identified people at highest risk for pancreatic cancer, suggesting population screening could expedite diagnosis and improve outcomes. The model predicted disease occurrence with accuracy comparable to genetic sequencing tests, targeting those at elevated risk without relying on family history or genetic mutations.

SourceHarvard Medical School·JournalNature Medicine·TypeComputational simulation/modeling·DateMay 8, 2023

Researchers image live drug response and resistant ‘pockets’ in pancreatic cancer

A research tool developed at the Garvan Institute has uncovered unprecedented detail about pancreatic cancer drug response and resistance. The molecule AKT, a key driver of cancer growth and spread, is activated in distinct parts of the tumour, including areas of low oxygen supply where it forms pockets of resistance to therapy.

SourceGarvan Institute of Medical Research·JournalScience Advances·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 30, 2023

Implantable device shrinks pancreatic tumors

Researchers have developed an implantable nanofluidic device that delivers CD40 monoclonal antibodies to shrink pancreatic tumors, reducing treatment dosage by fourfold. The device's long-term controlled release avoids systemic side effects, offering a promising alternative for cancer patients.

SourceHouston Methodist·JournalAdvanced Science·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 13, 2023

Cancer that spreads to the lung maneuvers to avoid being attacked by “killer” T cells

Cancer cells have been found to employ a strategy to evade the immune system's killer T cells by interacting with myeloid cells and suppressing type 1 interferon production. This natural pathway is crucial for recruiting killer T cells to combat cancer spread. Researchers hope to develop new therapeutic approaches, such as forcing tumo...

Death rates from lung cancer will fall overall in the EU and UK in 2023, but rise among women in France, Italy and Spain

Lung cancer death rates are projected to decrease overall in the EU and UK in 2023, however, a concerning trend is observed among women in France, Italy, and Spain. Meanwhile, pancreatic cancer death rates are forecasted to rise among women due to continued smoking habits.

SourceEuropean Society for Medical Oncology·JournalAnnals of Oncology·TypeObservational study·DateMar 5, 2023

Chemotherapy alters immune cell landscape in pancreatic cancer

A new study found that chemotherapy alters the immune cell landscape in pancreatic cancer, reducing checkpoint molecules and increasing tumor growth. The research suggests that this may lead to resistance to subsequent immunotherapy, highlighting the need for further study on combining chemotherapy with immunotherapy.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 1, 2023

Reactive oxygen species in pancreatic cancer

Researchers detected high levels of hydrogen peroxide in pancreatic cancer cells, which makes it a critical target for cancer treatment and research. The study also showed that cancer-promoting mutations lead to suppressed genetic expression of enzymes breaking down hydrogen peroxide.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 7, 2023

A 4-drug chemotherapy regimen improves survival in stage 4 pancreas cancer

A Phase 3 clinical trial has shown that a four-drug chemotherapy regimen significantly increases overall survival and progression-free survival in patients with stage 4 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The study's results suggest that this more aggressive treatment approach may be considered for eligible patients.

SourceUniversity of California - Los Angeles Health Sciences·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateJan 20, 2023

Discovery of cancer-associated fibroblast origin gives new direction for pancreatic cancer

Researchers at MUSC Hollings Cancer Center discovered the cellular origin of normal pancreatic fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts, which play a key role in tumor progression. The findings suggest that targeting cancer-associated fibroblasts holds exciting potential for therapeutic benefits.

SourceMedical University of South Carolina·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 20, 2023