What is Pancreatic Cancer + 7 Innovative Therapeutic Options

Pancreatic cancer is a serious disease that affects the pancreas, a large gland in the abdomen. It is one of the most common types of cancer in humans. Detecting pancreatic cancer early is crucial for providing the best possible treatment and improving survival chances. But unfortunately, pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, leading to low survival rates of around 5 years.

Compared to other causes of death, pancreatic cancer ranks seventh globally in terms of mortality rates. Therefore, it is essential to develop methods for early detection, understand the mechanisms of pancreatic cancer, and explore different treatment options.

This blog discusses what is pancreatic cancer along with the recent advancements in understanding how pancreatic cancer progresses, the mechanisms involved, and the various approaches to treating this challenging disease, including using molecular techniques and biomedicines to effectively combat cancer.

What is Pancreatic Cancer?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a relatively rare but increasingly common type of cancer, with about 60,430 new cases expected in the US in 2021. The number of new PDAC cases is rising by 0.5% to 1.0% each year, and it is predicted to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030.

Graph adapted from National Cancer Institute, NIH.

Challenges in Diagnosis and Treatment: PDAC is challenging to detect early because there is no effective screening method available. As a result, many patients are diagnosed when the disease has already spread locally (30%-35%) or to other parts of the body (50%-55%). A team approach involving various medical specialists is recommended for managing this cancer.

Types of Localized Pancreatic Cancer:

1. Resectable: Can be removed surgically.
2. Borderline Resectable: Involves major blood vessels but might still be operable.
3. Locally Advanced (Unresectable): Cannot be removed due to extensive involvement of blood vessels, usually around the pancreas.

Therapeutic Approaches for the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer – Recent Updates

Different types of pancreatic cancer are treated differently. Know your options. You might not know how each one might be good for you. But knowing your options would help you:

1. P-MAPA and gemcitabine-coupled therapy: Using a combination of P-MAPA and gemcitabine together helps slow down the growth of cancer cells in the pancreas and improves the overall condition of the tissue affected by cancer.
2. Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) inhibitors: Certain inhibitors, like LSKL peptides, can block the activity of TSP-1, a protein that promotes cancer growth in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. By inhibiting TSP-1, these inhibitors can help reduce the spread of cancer cells and make them more sensitive to treatment.
3. miR-203: By using miR-203, a molecule that can lower the levels of DUSP5, a protein that helps cancer cells grow and spread, we can slow down the growth and movement of pancreatic cancer cells.
4. Piperazine-tethered phthalazines: These are special substances that can specifically target and inhibit CDK1, a protein that is important for the growth of pancreatic cancer cells. By blocking CDK1, these substances can help stop the growth of cancer cells.
5. Oncolytic adenovirus OBP-702: This is a type of virus that can be used to deliver a gene called p53 into pancreatic cancer cells. This gene helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells, leading to cell death and potentially shrinking the tumor.
6. Chemically modified MIR143-3p: This substance can target and suppress a network of proteins called RAS, which are often overactive in pancreatic cancer cells. By blocking this network, the substance can slow down the growth of cancer cells.
7. Carrier-free prodrug nanoparticles (F68-FDOX): These are tiny particles that can carry drugs directly to cancer cells. They are effective against various types of cancer, including pancreatic cancer, and can kill cancer cells while minimizing damage to healthy tissues.

These approaches represent innovative strategies to combat pancreatic cancer and improve the effectiveness of treatment for patients.

How do scientists target the challenges in treating pancreatic cancer?

Scientists tackle the complexities of treating pancreatic cancer by employing the following strategies. The following strategies might be too technical for you to understand, but these are important since they might help you to identify the risks related to your therapeutic options. Doctors would only recommend one of these strategies for you, considering your entire health profile. Here are the strategies that help tackle challenges in treating pancreatic cancer.

1. Delving into Molecular Pathways: The authors of the paper meticulously investigate the intricate molecular pathways implicated in pancreatic cancer, including PI3K/AKT, RAS, JAK/STAT, NF-κB, Hippo/YAP, and WNT pathways. Understanding these pathways is essential for devising targeted therapies that can effectively disrupt the underlying mechanisms fueling cancer progression. The challenge to target these pathways therapeutically, is that they affect cell growth (including healthy cells).
2. Spotlighting Immunotherapy: The authors also shed light on the immunosuppressive nature of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic cancer, where elements like the pancreatic stroma impede the efficacy of cancer treatments and immune cell infiltration. By recognizing the pivotal role of immune cells and the extracellular matrix in fostering tumor growth, researchers can develop immunotherapeutic strategies to bolster the body’s immune response against cancer cells.
3. Emphasizing Histone Modification: The authors of this paper underscore the significance of histone modification in pancreatic cancer, particularly in the context of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. This epigenetic regulation plays a critical role in cancer progression and metastasis, underscoring the importance of targeting epigenetic alterations as part of therapeutic interventions.
4. Exploring Novel Targets: By acknowledging the multifaceted nature of what is pancreatic cancer and the diverse cellular processes involved in its pathogenesis, the authors advocate for the identification of novel therapeutic targets. This approach involves exploring innovative avenues for treatment beyond conventional chemotherapy and surgery, such as immunotherapy and precision therapies tailored to specific molecular pathways.

Also, read about risk factors and ways to prevent pancreatic cancer here.

In essence, the blog addresses what is pancreatic cancer along with the challenges of treating pancreatic cancer by advocating for a comprehensive understanding of the disease’s molecular intricacies, immune interactions, and epigenetic modifications. Through these explorations, researchers can develop cutting-edge therapeutic strategies that target the specific vulnerabilities of pancreatic cancer cells, ultimately leading to improved outcomes for patients.