Pancreatic cancer treatment shows promise, Mayo Clinic scientists say

The researchers report in the latest issue of the journal Cancer Research that they have discovered a molecule that is a "regulator of cancer cell survival." The proposed new treatment would "turn this regulator off" the scientists say, and that, in turn, would cause the cancer cells to, basically, kill themselves.

"This is a very exciting – and promising – finding," the lead scientist on the study says.

If the finding lives up to its potential, pancreatic cancer will see its first-ever effective treatment. Currently the disease kills about 30,000 Americans annually.

• In the March 15 issue of the journal Cancer Research, investigators describe discovering a key molecule that controls the growth, spread and survival of pancreatic cancer cells.
• To identify new target molecules with potentially therapeutic impact for a cancer for which there is currently no real useful treatment is incredibly important.
• "Based on the literature, you would predict the opposite of what we found.
• But in fact, we determined that we can decrease a known regulator of cancer cell survival -- in effect, turn this regulator off -- and when we do, the pancreatic cancer cells undergo apoptosis (commit cell suicide) and die."
• * With this finding, a new path is cleared for researchers to target these key molecular players with new small molecule inhibitors to block their action, effectively turning off molecules that promote pancreatic cancer growth.
• * The finding may be applied to make pancreatic cells more sensitive to gemcitabine, the sole drug available for treating pancreatic cancer.
• They determined that GSK-3 Beta is vital to pancreatic cancer cell survival and growth through its effects on a well-known gene regulator called NF Kappa B (pronounced "en-ef-kappa-bee").
• In cancer cells, NF Kappa B regulates genes involved in cancer cell survival, proliferation and blood vessel formation (angiogenesis).
• Researchers determined this by showing that if they could decrease GSK-3 Beta protein or inactivate it using small molecular inhibitors, they could likewise decrease NF Kappa B -- and deprive the pancreatic cancer cells of a means to grow and survive.
• This new information suggests a potential means of treating pancreatic cancer by a two-pronged attack of administering the gemcitabine in combination with a drug to block GSK-3 Beta.
• Because pancreatic cancer is aggressive, spreads rapidly and few treatment options are available, researchers welcome any promising leads for improving diagnosis and therapy.