Two drugs — one brand new — reverse pancreatic cell changes that presage one of the hardest cancers to treat. Tested in cells, the drugs would be a promising early cancer treatment if they work in clinical trials.
Tag: Pancreatic Cancer
UCSF Surgeons Perform First Pure Robotic Whipple Surgery in the Bay Area
Gastrointestinal surgeons at UC San Francisco have performed the first pure robotically assisted Whipple surgery in San Francisco. The surgery was recently performed on a 77-year-old pancreatic cancer patient by surgeons Mohamed Adam, MD, and Adnan Alseidi, MD, MEd, FACS.
Researchers Find Link Between Immune Cells’ Closest Neighbors and Survival Time in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers from Johns Hopkins Medicine have discovered that the organization of different types of immune cells within pancreatic tumors is associated with how well patients with pancreatic cancer respond to treatment and how long they survive.
Mayo Clinic Researchers ID Potential Gene Marker for Treating Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers at Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified a gene marker that may lead to a more effective, precision treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The researcher’s findings are published Nature Cancer.
New Study in JNCCN Suggests Way to Predict Outcomes with High Accuracy Prior to Surgery for Pancreatic Cancer Patients
New research in the September 2022 issue of JNCCN—Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network finds the use of positron emission tomography (PET) with 18-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) tracer adds significant prognostic benefit in objectively assessing neoadjuvant chemotherapy response in borderline resectable/locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients prior to surgery.
UCSF-Led Research Team Reveals Mechanisms at Work in Progression of Pancreatic Cysts to Cancer
A UC San Francisco-led team of international researchers has outlined the comprehensive immune landscape and microbiome of pancreatic cysts as they progress from benign cysts to pancreatic cancer. Their findings, publishing August 31 in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology, could reveal the mechanism of neoplastic progression and provide targets for immunotherapy to inhibit progression or treat invasive disease.
Henry Ford Health + MSU Health Sciences Funds Five Cancer Research Grants to Advance Cancer Medicine, Combat Health Disparities
Henry Ford Health + Michigan State University Health Sciences today announced its funding of five cancer research grants of up to $100,000 each. These five grants follow an initial wave of funding from the partnership, in which 18 pilot grants of up to $25,000 each were funded in May 2022.
Study offers insights into how pancreatic cancer develops
A detailed analysis of pancreatic cancer by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has revealed details of two key transition points in the development of these tumors — the shift from normal cells to precancerous cells, and the change from precancerous to cancerous cells. Understanding these transitions will help lead to the development of novel therapies.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for July 27, 2022
Clinical advances include treating hematologic cancers with effective targeted therapies, circulating tumor DNA as a biomarker for recurrence with colorectal liver metastases, and using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to guide surgical decisions for patients with lateral pelvic lymph node metastases in rectal cancer. Laboratory findings offer new understanding of the pancreatic cancer immune microenvironment, melanoma cell states, TP53 mutation status in acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and potential targets for metastatic prostate cancer and GNAS-mutant colorectal cancer.
Preoperative combination chemotherapy improved survival in patients with pancreatic cancer
In a study of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic cancer, combination chemotherapy with modified FOLFIRINOX before surgery increased survival relative to historical data and compared favorably to FOLFIRINOX plus hypofractionated radiotherapy, according to research from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center published today in JAMA Oncology.
AI applied to prediagnostic CTs may help diagnose pancreatic cancer at earlier, more treatable stage
A study published in Gastroenterology finds that radiomics-based machine learning models may detect pancreatic cancer on prediagnostic CT scans substantially earlier than current methods for clinical diagnosis.
Existing Cancer Therapy in Narrow Use Shows Significant Activity against Other Cancers
A drug currently used in just 1% of cancers has significant potential against the remaining 99%, according to a new study from UH Seidman Cancer Center and Case Western Reserve University, published in the prestigious journal Nature Cancer. Ivosidenib, or AG-120, is currently used against cancers that have a mutation in the IDH1 gene. However, study results show that Ivosidenib is also effective against unmutated, or “wild-type” IDH1. The protein coded by the IDH1 gene in cancers helps cancer cells survive in a stressful tumor environment, so any inhibitor medication that could weaken this defense mechanism is considered a promising therapy. UH and CWRU scientists discovered that under conditions present in the tumor microenvironment, drugs previously believed to be selective for the mutant enzyme have activity against the normal protein. Specifically, low glucose and magnesium levels enhance drug activity. The team has now tested Ivosidenib in mouse models of pancreatic, colorectal, o
Roswell Park Researchers Identify Molecular ‘Glue’ That Sticks to and Degrades a Cancer-Causing Protein
A small molecule discovered and developed by a team of scientists led by Fengzhi Li, PhD, Associate Professor of Oncology in the Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, eliminates human pancreatic and colorectal tumor cells by binding to and degrading DDX5, a powerful cancer-causing protein.
Henry Ford Health is First in the World to Offer Latest Advancement in MR-Guided Radiation Therapy
Henry Ford Health is the first in the world to complete a full course of patient treatments using the latest advancement in magnetic resonance (MR)-guided radiation therapy, which integrates real-time magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and linear acceleration to deliver precise and accurate radiation treatment more rapidly than ever before.
High fat diet, unregulated athletic exercise endurance enhancers linked to risk of pancreatic cancer
Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center have found a cell nuclear receptor activated by high fat diets and synthetic substances in unregulated athletic performance enhancers fuels the progression of precancerous pancreas lesions into pancreatic cancer.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for June 1, 2022
Current advances include new biomarkers to predict chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy outcomes and neurotoxicities, novel treatment targets for pre-cancerous pancreatic lesions and T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a new approach to improve immunotherapy responses in cold tumors, a profile of synthetic lethal targets for cancers with tumor suppressor loss, and promising clinical data for acute myeloid leukemia and cancers of unknown primary.
Cedars-Sinai Cancer Experts Present Breakthroughs at 2022 ASCO Annual Meeting
Experts from Cedars-Sinai Cancer, ranked among the top 10 in the nation for cancer care, will present novel research and clinical advances throughout the 2022 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), taking place in person and virtually June 3-7 in Chicago.
Breaking the shield that protects pancreatic cancer from immunotherapy
Scar-like cells that make up a sizable portion of malignant pancreatic tumors and shield these cancers from immune attack are derived from mesothelial cells that line tissues and organs, a new study led by UT Southwestern researchers suggests. The findings, published in Cancer Cell, could offer a new strategy to fight pancreatic cancer, a deadly disease for which no truly effective treatments exist.
April Research Highlights
This tipsheet highlights the latest medical discoveries and faculty news at Cedars-Sinai. Links to full news releases are included with each item.
AI May Detect Earliest Signs of Pancreatic Cancer
An artificial intelligence (AI) tool developed by Cedars-Sinai investigators accurately predicted who would develop pancreatic cancer based on what their CT scan images looked like years prior to being diagnosed with the disease. The findings, which may help prevent death through early detection of one of the most challenging cancers to treat, are published in the journal Cancer Biomarkers.
MD Anderson Research Highlights: SITC 2021 Special Edition
This special edition of MD Anderson’s Research Highlights features presentations at the Society for Immunotherapy of Caner 36th Annual Meeting.
Pancreatic Cysts, Cancer and Awareness: Answers from an Expert
Russell Langan, MD, surgical oncologist at Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, chief of Surgical Oncology and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery at Saint Barnabas Medical Center (SBMC) and assistant professor of surgery at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, shares more information on monitoring pancreatic cysts and pancreatic cancer.
New Clinical Advances in Gastroenterology Presented at the American College of Gastroenterology’s 86th Annual Scientific Meeting
Featured science includes increased incidence of pancreatic cancer among young women, quality of life improvements in IBD, colorectal cancer risk from weight loss surgery and medications, and more
Researchers ID Protein as Possible Target for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Article title: Nrf2 expression in pancreatic stellate cells promotes progression of cancer Authors: Yu Tanaka, Shin Hamada, Ryotaro Matsumoto, Keiko Taguchi, Masayuki Yamamoto, Atsushi Masamune From the authors: “These results demonstrate that Nrf2 actively contributes to the function of [pancreatic…
MD Anderson Research Highlights for September 22, 2021
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights provides a glimpse into recently published studies in basic, translational and clinical cancer research from MD Anderson experts. Current advances include a new method to measure breast cancer response, a new immunotherapy approach for multiple myeloma, characterization of the immune landscape of cholangiocarcinoma, a new contrast agent to improve molecular imaging techniques, and new treatment targets in breast, gynecologic and pancreatic cancers.
Unique Aspects of Pancreatic Cancer Proteins Could Lead to Early Detection, New Treatments
A large international collaboration led by researchers from the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center has identified promising new targets for pancreatic cancer treatment and early diagnosis after examining various aspects of these tumors’ genes and proteins.
Link between inflammation and pancreatic cancer development uncovered
A new study in Science finds that pancreatic cells display an adaptive response to repeated inflammation that initially protects against tissue damage but can promote tumor formation in the presence of mutant KRAS.
Cancer researcher unlocks new approach for possible pancreatic cancer treatment
Researchers at the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Comprehensive Cancer Center have identified how restoring a missing molecule in pancreatic fibrosis could help deliver treatments to cancer cells.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for September 8, 2021
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights provides a glimpse into recently published studies in basic, translational and clinical cancer research from MD Anderson experts.
Treatment and Considerations for Pancreatic Cancer
We spoke with hematology oncologist James Orsini, Jr., M.D., to learn more about pancreatic cancer
MD Anderson Research Highlights for August 11, 2021
Current advances include insights into anti-tumor responses, a targeted therapy combination for biliary tract cancers, biomarkers that may predict response to DNA damage repair inhibitors, a “virtual biopsy” using artificial intelligence to characterize tumors, new targeted and immunotherapy approaches for pancreatic cancer, understanding the impact of TP53 mutations on acute myeloid leukemia treatments, as well as a new strategy to overcome treatment-resistant KRAS-mutant lung cancer.
MD Anderson Research Highlights for June 30, 2021
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center’s Research Highlights provides a glimpse into recently published studies in basic, translational and clinical cancer research from MD Anderson experts. Current advances include expanded use of a targeted therapy for a new group of patients with leukemia, molecular studies yielding novel cancer therapeutic targets, insights into radiation therapy resistance and a community intervention to reduce cervical cancer rates.
“Electronic Nose” Accurately Sniffs Out Hard-to-Detect Cancers
An odor-based test that sniffs out vapors emanating from blood samples was able to distinguish between benign and pancreatic and ovarian cancer cells with up to 95 percent accuracy.
Scientists show how to attack the ‘fortress’ surrounding pancreatic cancer tumors
UNSW medical researchers have found a way to starve pancreatic cancer cells and ‘disable’ the cells that block treatment from working effectively.
Turning a pancreatic cancer cell’s addiction into a death sentence
Probing the unique biology of human pancreatic cancer cells in a laboratory has yielded unexpected insights of a weakness that can be used against the cells to kill them.
Led by Princess Margaret Cancer Centre Scientist Dr. Marianne Koritzinsky, researchers showed that about half of patient-derived pancreatic cancer cell lines are highly dependent or “addicted” to the protein peroxiredoxin 4 (PRDX4), as a result of the altered metabolic state of the cancer cell. This addiction, which is vital for the cancer cell’s survival, makes it a precise, potential target against the cancer.
Scientists create first-of-its-kind 3D organoid model of the human pancreas
Researchers have successfully created the first 3D organoid models of the pancreas from human stem cells. This first-of-its-kind organoid model includes both the acinar and ductal structures that play a critical role in the majority of pancreatic cancers.
Atlantic Health System Physicians Co-Author 5 Studies, Presented at American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting
Atlantic Health System Cancer Care physicians are co-authors of five original studies presented at this year’s AACR Annual Meeting, held virtually April 10-15 and May 17-21. The AACR meeting is one of the world’s premier scientific gatherings of cancer specialists and researchers.
MD Anderson and TriSalus Life Sciences announce strategic research collaboration to evaluate treatment of solid tumors
MD Anderson and TriSalus announced a strategic research collaboration to evaluate the treatment of liver and pancreas tumors with the investigational therapy SD-101 in combination with immunotherapy using a novel delivery approach.
Surgery is a viable treatment for pancreatic cancer patients especially after chemotherapy
Patients with stage II pancreatic cancer who are treated with chemotherapy followed by resection (an operation that removes the cancerous part of the organ, structure or tissue) live nearly twice as long as patients who receive only chemotherapy.
UCLA team receives $6 million from NIH to explore new pancreatic cancer therapies
A team of researchers from the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center has been awarded two research grants totaling $6 million from the National Institutes of Health to identify new ways to treat pancreatic cancer.
Stopping Mutant KRAS Could Lead to Enhanced Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer
A collaborative study by Stony Brook University scientists, published in Nature Communications, takes an initial step toward better understanding how KRAS drives immune evasion and demonstrates a lowering of the KRAS activity resulting in a more favorable immune environment to fight cancer.
Therapy Sneaks into Hard Layer of Pancreatic Cancer Tumor and Destroys it From Within
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine and Moores Cancer Center demonstrated that a new tumor-penetrating therapy could enhance the effects of chemotherapy, reduce the spread of pancreatic cancer and increase survival in animal models.
Collagen plays protective role during pancreatic cancer development
Contrary to long-held beliefs, new research finds that collagen in the tumor microenvironment may not promote cancer development but plays a protective role in controlling pancreatic cancer growth. The new findings could have important therapeutic implications.
UCLA study finds combination therapy suppresses pancreatic tumor growth in mice
UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center researchers have uncovered a potential new way to target pancreatic tumors that express high intratumoral interferon signaling (IFN).
MD Anderson and Mirati Therapeutics announce KRAS strategic research and development collaboration in solid tumors
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and Mirati Therapeutics, Inc. today announced a strategic research and development collaboration to expand the evaluation of Mirati’s two investigational small molecule, potent and selective KRAS inhibitors – adagrasib (MRTX849), a G12C inhibitor in clinical development, and MRTX1133, a G12D inhibitor in preclinical development, as monotherapy and in combination with other agents – which target two of the most frequent KRAS mutations in cancer.
New Biomarker May Predict Which Pancreatic Cancer Patients Respond to CD40 Immunotherapy
Inflammation in the blood could serve as a new biomarker to help identify patients with advanced pancreatic cancer who won’t respond to the immune-stimulating drugs known as CD40 agonists, suggests a new study from researchers in the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania published in JCI Insight.
The Link Between Opioid Medication and Pancreatic Cancer
Researchers at Rush University Medical Center have found that opioid use might increase a person’s risk of developing pancreatic cancer.
Henry Ford Health System Receives $16 Million Gift to Benefit Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center
Henry Ford Health System today announced a $16 million gift to its Henry Ford Pancreatic Cancer Center (HFPCC), which was launched in 2018 by an initial $20 million gift from the same donor, who wishes to remain anonymous. The gift will bolster the HFPCC’s clinical and translational research endeavors in the fight against this devastating disease, for which the five-year survival rate is only 9 percent.
EMBARGOED STUDY: Potential Cancer Therapy May Boost Immune Response
A new approach to cancer therapy shows potential to transform the commonly used chemotherapy drug gemcitabine into a drug that kills cancer cells in a specialized way, activating immune cells to fight the cancer, according to a study led by Cedars-Sinai Cancer investigators.
Alex Trebek’s Death Raising Awareness and Questions About Pancreatic Cancer
Longtime “Jeopardy!” host Alex Trebek announced it to the world on March 6, 2019: Like 50,000 other Americans each year, he had been diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.