Researchers Uncover Pancreatic Cancer Spread Mechanism

Researchers from the UK and the United States, crucial insights into the spread of pancreatic cancer have been uncovered, potentially paving the way for new treatments against this devastating disease.

Pancreatic cancer, ranked as the 12th most common cancer globally, is notorious for its aggressive nature and poor prognosis. With over half a million new cases each year and a high mortality rate, it has claimed the lives of high-profile individuals like Alan Rickman, John Hurt, Steve Jobs, and Patrick Swayze. The research team, comprising scientists from the University of Nottingham, Stanford University, the University of California, and Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, focused on understanding how pancreatic cancer accelerates its growth. Their study, published in the journal Gastro Hep Advances, analyzed both healthy and cancerous pancreatic tissue samples.

One of the key findings was the role of DNA methylation in the deactivation of molecules within the HNF4A gene. This gene, crucial for organ function, is disabled by pancreatic cancer, leading to accelerated tumor growth and poorer patient outcomes.

Dr Maria Hatziapostolou from Nottingham Trent University’s John van Geest Cancer Research Centre emphasized the significance of their findings: “Loss of HNF4A drives pancreatic cancer development and aggressiveness and we now know correlates with poor patient survival.”

The discovery offers new hope for future treatments targeting the mechanisms that drive pancreatic cancer progression. Dr Hatziapostolou expressed optimism about the potential impact of their work in advancing treatment options for this challenging disease.