A team of scientists in the United States and the United Kingdom has identified a key genetic defect in pancreatic cancer that could lead to the development of a treatment for the deadly disease.
Dr Maria Hatziapostoulou, a researcher at the John van Geest Centre for Cancer Research at Nottingham Trent University, has highlighted the urgent need for renewed focus on understanding how pancreatic cancer spreads, with the aim of unravelling why it spreads so rapidly.
The study included analysis of healthy tissue and pancreatic cancer biopsies to understand the disease.
Scientists have found that the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer depends on its ability to disrupt the activity of key molecules within the HNF4A gene (essential for the overall proper functioning of vital organs), according to The Guardian.
This defect was found to hinder the gene's ability to control cell growth, which promotes the spread of the disease, in a process called "DNA methylation."
Now, scientists aim to find ways to reverse the effects of DNA methylation and restore the function of the HNF4A gene.
“We hope that this work, which has provided new understanding and knowledge of the mechanism of cancer activity, will help pave the way for potential new treatments in the future,” Hatziapostolo told The Guardian.
One of the main obstacles in the fight against pancreatic cancer is its frequent diagnosis at an advanced stage, when treatment options are more limited. Experts say that more than half of patients die within 3 months of diagnosis.