Pancreatic cancer research produces “exceptional” results

Scientists from the University of Glasgow have made an important discovery, that pancreatic cancer consists of four separate diseases, each one requiring different treatment.  The knowledge could lead to new treatment to target the separate diseases, and the researchers say that their studies have already produced some “exceptional” results.

The four cancers that lead to tumour formation are known as squamous-type; pancreatic progenitor; immunogenic and aberrantly differentiated endocrine exocrine, and this knowledge will enable the Achilles’ heel of each patient’s cancer to be targeted more accurately.

Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat and often has a poor prognosis. Most patients currently diagnosed with the disease are told that they have less than a year to live, and only one per cent of patients are alive ten years after diagnosis.

Researcher Dr Andrew Biankin, said “This is the most comprehensive analysis of the blueprint of pancreatic cancer.

“So this knowledge reveals what makes these cancers tick and which ones may be vulnerable to particular treatments by defining the Achilles’ heel of every cancer.

“The fact that we see, through chance, that some patients respond exceptionally to a particular therapy allows us to expand these insights so we can treat more patients with similar cancers at a genetic level.”

Pancreatic Cancer UK’s research head Leanne Reynolds, said “The findings of this research are incredibly exciting for anyone affected by pancreatic cancer, as they should mean that in the future the right patients can be given the right treatment at the right time.

“If we can predict more accurately which treatment would be most effective for each patient, we can ensure patients have the best chance of living for as long as possible, as well as possible.”

Cancer Research UK’s Dr Emma Smith said “Identifying different types of pancreatic cancer and revealing the disease’s complexity is an important step towards finding more effective treatments.

“This will help to ensure patients are given the therapies that are most likely to help.”

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk ), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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