Pancreatic cancer is considered one of the most aggressive tumors. This cancer not only has the worst prognosis, but also shows resistance to treatment.
However, the recent study conducted by the Spanish National Cancer Research Center offers a ray of hope for patients with pancreatic cancer.
In a breakthrough, the researchers revealed the possibility of eliminating pancreatic tumors in mice and preventing their potential recurrence using triple combination therapy.
According to findings published in the scientific journal PNAS, hitting three different weak spots in the KRAS-oncogene molecular pathway at the same time can cause tumors to shrink for long periods of time.
The study authors said in a statement: “These studies open an avenue to design new combination therapies that could improve survival in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.”
“These results set the direction for the development of new clinical trials,” she added.
The blocking of oncogene, even at a single point, helps avoid resistance. The team also took a ‘dual approach’ by combining KRAS inhibitor with a protein degrader. As a result, the researchers noted a significant disappearance of tumors without side effects.
“We are not yet in a position to conduct clinical trials of triple therapy. The authors themselves caution that optimizing this combination for patients will be a complex process, although they are confident that the finding will set the course for future trials,” the team said.
More than 10,300 cases of pancreatic cancer are diagnosed every year in Spain.
