New use for old drug gives hope for patients with pancreatic cancer -
Cancer Research UK scientists have found a new use of a drug former by showing that it narrows a particular type of pancreatic cancer tumor and stop the spread, according to a study published in Gut
"it is a crucial step in the development of new treatments for this devastating disease .... "- Dr Jennifer Morton, author of the study
scientists in search of the UK Beatson Institute for Cancer and the University of Glasgow, mice treated with pancreatic cancers caused by genetic defects known with drug rapamycin.
clinical trials earlier did not find the drug to be effective as a treatment for pancreatic cancer when it was given to all patients with different forms of the disease
but the findings of the team show that a particular type of pancreatic tumor -. caused by a defect in the PTEN gene, which is involved in cell growth -. can be sensitive to the drug after all
They found that giving rapamycin to mice with pancreatic tumors defective PTEN stop cancer cells from spreading. In some cases, the drug has also caused the tumor to shrink.
The drug blocks a protein called 'mammalian target of rapamycin' (mTOR), which also controls cell growth. Research suggests that tumors caused by faulty PTEN gene may depend on mTOR to continue growing.
And in an analysis of a sample of human pancreatic tumors, the team found that nearly one in five wore a defective PTEN gene., Giving hope that a significant number of patients could benefit from treatment with rapamycin
study author, Dr. Jennifer Morton, a researcher at the Beatson Institute for Cancer research UK, University of Glasgow, said: "This is extremely important research showing for the first time there is a potential to tailor treatment to patients of pancreatic cancer based on differences in the genetic fingerprint of the tumor.
"Although this is a stage very early, it is the first time we were able to locate a genetic defect in the pancreas and the match with a specific drug.
"While more research is needed to see whether this approach could benefit patients, it is a crucial step in the development of new treatments for this devastating disease that has seen no improvement in survival since the 70. "
scientists also used a new type of imaging to help them see if the drug worked from the start of treatment, which can help doctors in future monitor if the patient responds .
Each year, 8,800 people are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the UK.. just over three percent of people with the disease will survive for five years or more
Dr Kat Arney, head of science communication at Cancer Research UK, said: "This is a promising step toward being able to understand how pancreatic tumors differ from each other and how we can personalize treatments for them. It is a difficult disease where little progress has been made and that is why Cancer Research UK is making pancreatic cancer a research priority.
"during the next few years we expect to more than double the amount we spend on research on pancreatic cancer to accelerate research in understanding the biology of this disease and change opportunities for patients. "
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