A breakthrough in the study of the deadliest disease

by time news

A breakthrough was recorded in the study of pancreatic cancer, which is considered one of the deadliest in the world. An experiment done on mice revealed that it is possible to eliminate the metastatic ability of pancreatic cancer cells taken from patients, so that they cannot form metastases in the body

Will many of the cancer patients who are considered one of the deadliest have great hope? A breakthrough was recorded in pancreatic cancer research. From an experiment done on mice it was discovered that it is possible to eliminate the metastatic ability of pancreatic cancer cells taken from patients, so that they cannot form metastases.

In a new study, the researchers compared approximately 400 pancreatic cancer tumors in the non-metastatic stage to metastatic tumor cells, and discovered that the changes in the processing of RNA molecules in the cell – and not genetic changes in the DNA, are what cause the tumor to become metastatic.

The two researchers who led the research are doctoral student Amina Jabara, from the research team of Prof. Rotem Karni, an expert in the molecular biology of cancer at the Faculty of Medicine of the Hebrew University. The two showed that by using a drug that inhibits the activity of a certain group of genes, and is currently used to treat organ transplant patients, it is possible to delay the formation of pancreatic cancer metastases.

In addition, by genetic intervention in the process of processing the RNA (polymeric molecule) of the target genes, the researchers showed that it is possible to eliminate the metastatic ability of pancreatic cancer cells taken from patients, so that they cannot form metastases when transplanted into mice.

Pancreatic cancer is considered the deadliest of all types of cancer, and a few percent of patients survive more than a few years with the disease. Currently, there is no effective treatment against pancreatic cancer, which is usually discovered in its metastatic stage. Although in the last decade several genetic changes (mutations) have been discovered that contribute to the development of pancreatic cancer, to date no genetic changes have been found that make the tumor invasive and metastatic – the deadly stage of cancer.

One of the researchers, Prof. Carney, explained: “The research findings explain for the first time the molecular (non-genetic) basis for the transformation of pancreatic cancer cells into metastatic ones, and offer two ways to continue treatment: a known drug that inhibits a protein in an important pathway for invasion that is affected by RBFOX2, or a Ren-based cure” A that intervenes in the process of processing the RNA on which RBFOX2 affects, to treat metastatic pancreatic cancer.”

You may also like

Leave a Comment