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Largest study of its kind reveals adjuvant chemotherapy improves overall survival for pancreatic cancer patients

A nationwide retrospective study showed that adjuvant chemotherapy after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy and surgery significantly improved overall survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma, regardless of lymph node status or resection margins. The study included nearly 900 patients and was published in JAMA Oncology.

Results revealed from phase I clinical trial of the first drug to successfully inhibit the MYC gene, which drives many common cancers

Researchers have found a drug that targets the key, cancer-causing gene MYC has been able to inhibit its function safely and effectively. Eight out of 12 patients showed stabilisation of disease after treatment with OMO-103, with one patient experiencing a reduction in tumour-derived DNA circulating in the blood stream.

SourceEuropean Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateOct 25, 2022

Pitt-developed genetic test for pancreatic cancer outperforms current guidelines

A new genetic test called PancreaSeq accurately classifies pancreatic cysts as potentially cancerous or benign, improving the accuracy of diagnoses compared to current guidelines. The test distinguishes between different types of cysts with higher accuracy than traditional forms of surveillance and current pancreatic cyst guidelines.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalGastroenterology·TypeObservational study·DateOct 5, 2022

New study in JNCCN suggests way to predict outcomes with high accuracy prior to surgery for pancreatic cancer patients

Researchers at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center found that metabolic imaging, combined with traditional treatment response assessment methods, can provide critical information to guide therapy for pancreatic cancer patients. The use of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer adds significant pr...

SourceNational Comprehensive Cancer Network·JournalJournal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network·DateSep 8, 2022

A randomized study of temozolomide or temozolomide and capecitabine in patients with advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors: Final analysis of efficacy and evaluation of MGMT (ECOG-ACRIN E2211)

A randomized study of temozolomide or temozolomide and capecitabine found the combination to be effective in treating advanced pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors, with a median overall survival of 53.8 months. Patients with MGMT deficiency showed greater odds of response.

AI may detect earliest signs of pancreatic cancer

A new study indicates that artificial intelligence can accurately predict who will develop pancreatic cancer based on pre-diagnostic CT scan images. The AI tool was trained to analyze textural differences in the pancreas and achieved an accuracy rate of 86% in identifying those who would eventually develop the disease.

SourceCedars-Sinai Medical Center·JournalCancer Biomarkers·DateApr 26, 2022

Pancreatic cancer cells harness normal tissue turnover to build protective barriers

Researchers found that pancreatic cancer cells trigger the breakdown of collagen proteins, which increases arginine levels and signals stellate cells to build fibrotic meshes around tumors. This process, known as desmoplasia, creates a dense environment that promotes aggressive growth and blocks access to therapies.

SourceNYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·TypeExperimental study·DateApr 4, 2022

Distinct classes of fibroblasts in tumors play opposing roles, promoting or restraining pancreatic cancer growth

Researchers have discovered two distinct classes of cancer-associated fibroblasts that accumulate in the pancreatic tumor microenvironment and play opposing roles. The study suggests that targeting these unique cell populations may improve treatment outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients.

SourceUniversity of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center·JournalCancer Discovery·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 29, 2022

Pushing past pancreatic tumors’ defenses

Researchers discovered that cancer cells use a combination of proteins to repel T cells and protect themselves from the immune system. By disabling this protection, scientists were able to allow T cells to infiltrate and attack pancreatic tumors, leading to shrinkage or disappearance.

SourceCold Spring Harbor Laboratory·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateFeb 16, 2022

“Inflaming” cold tumors

Scientists at Technical University of Munich discovered a promising combination therapy for mesenchymal PDAC subtype, showing improved T-cell infiltration and cell cycle arrest when using nintedanib with trametinib. The treatment significantly improves the response of highly aggressive mesenchymal PDAC subtypes in mice.

SourceTechnical University of Munich (TUM)·JournalNature Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateFeb 3, 2022

Lighting up tough pancreatic cancers

Researchers have designed a nanoparticle system that can deliver fluorescent dyes to diagnose and treat pancreatic cancer tumors. The system overcomes the challenge of reaching cells deep within dense tumor masses, enabling detailed images of tumor structures and potentially targeted therapies.

SourceAmerican Chemical Society·JournalJACS Au·DateFeb 2, 2022

Oncotarget: The antitumoral effects of chemerin

Researchers discovered chemerin, a multifunctional protein, has antitumoral properties in mouse models of cancer. Bioactive chemerin overexpression inhibits neoangiogenesis, a process distinct from normal tissue vasculature. This effect may provide a therapeutic application for targeting solid tumors.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalOncotarget·DateNov 16, 2021

Antidepressants inhibit cancer growth in mice

Researchers found that antidepressants inhibit the growth of pancreatic and colon cancers in mice by blocking a mechanism used by cancer cells to evade the immune system. The findings suggest a promising approach for combining antidepressant drugs with immunotherapy to treat incurable cancers.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateSep 28, 2021

How Hypoxia Influences Spatial Gene Expression Variations in Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers discovered that hypoxia induces regional variations in gene-expression patterns in pancreatic cancer, with specific subpopulations of cancer cells surviving under hypoxic conditions. These findings suggest a link between hypoxia and aggressive tumor behavior, highlighting the need for targeted treatments.

SourceCactus Communications·JournalCancer Biology and Medicine·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 11, 2021

Lower dose, less toxic radiopharmaceutical produces better outcomes

Researchers have developed a lower-dose radiopharmaceutical that improves treatment efficacy for neuroendocrine cancers while reducing side effects. The new medication uses reversible binding technology to extend its half-life in the blood, providing an extended therapeutic time window and improved treatment outcomes.