Pancreatic Cancer

Researchers at the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center have identified a protein -- Argonaute 2 -- that appears to be critical for the progression of benign precursor lesions into pancreatic cancer. Argonaute 2 interacts with K-RAS, which helps relay signals from the outside of a cell to its nucleus. Mutations in the KRAS gene drive more than 90% of pancreatic cancers, and currently there are no therapies that target these mutations.

A new, collaborative study between the Rogel Cancer Center and researchers from the Columbia University Irving Medical Center and the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center suggests a compound in development for a rare kidney stone disease may have potential against pancreatic cancer.

A clinical trial testing a new pancreatic cancer drug had promising initial results, say University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center researchers in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. Investigators ran a phase 1 clinical trial that looked at AZD1775, an inhibitor designed to block an enzyme called Wee1, which plays a role in repairing damaged DNA. The trial builds on almost 20 years of research at U-M focused on improving the treatment of pancreatic cancer cases that are too advanced for surgery.

Since 2013, survival rates for pancreatic cancer have been slowly going up, making pancreatic cancer doctors hopeful that the next five years will see even bigger increases in survival rates -- as well as better care. University of Michigan researchers believe the immune system is the answer to overcoming pancreatic cancer.

Gemcitabine, a front-line chemotherapy drug given to patients with pancreatic cancer, is made less effective because similar compounds released by tumor-associated immune cells block the drug’s action, research led by the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center found.