Scientists in the UK have discovered that using a combination of Gemcitabine along with an experimental drug known as MRK003, a chain of events that kills pancreatic cancer cells is set off making the combination of the two drugs far more effective than using each of the drugs on their own.
Published today in the Journal of Experimental Medicine, researchers from Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Unit identified that MRK003 (a gamma secretase inhibitor) blocks an important cell signalling pathway (known as Notch) in both pancreatic cancer cells and in the cells lining the blood vessels which supply the tumours with essential nutrients (known as endothelial cells).
When combined with Gemcitabine (a standard drug used to treat pancreatic cancer), the MRK003 allowed the Gemcitabine drug to be far more effective in destroying tumours than it is when used alone. According to the researchers, this set off a “domino effect of molecular activity to switch off cell survival processes and to destroy pancreatic cancer cells.”
The results of this research, initially carried out in laboratory mice, is now being tested in a phase I/II clinical trial in Cambridge, Glasgow, Leicester and London, which is still recruiting patients with metastatic (spread to other parts of the body) pancreatic cancer. Click on the link to find out more about the pancreatic cancer clinical trial.
Ali Stunt, Chief Executive of Pancreatic Cancer Action, said: ” Pancreatic cancer is notoriously difficult to treat as it is often resistent to current chemotherapy drugs. It is encouraging to see some progress being made in trying to overcome this problem and we hope that the clinical trials confirm this.
“Pancreatic cancer is the Cinderella of all cancers in all respects and decades of chronic underfunding has allowed the five-year survival rate to remain at only three per cent for the past forty years. While we welcome Cancer Research UK’s recent focus on pancreatic cancer treatment, so much more needs to be done – including promoting earlier diagnosis.
“Even though it is the fifth biggest cancer killer in the UK, pancreatic cancer still receives less than one per cent of overall research funding. Until this shameful situation changes, advances in the treatment of pancreatic cancer will remain slow.”
Source: Cancer Research UK Press Release, Monday 20th February 2012
Cook et al., (2012) Gamma Secretase inhibition promotes hypoxic necrosis in murine pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Journal of Experimental Medicine
- Posted by Admin on February 20, 2012
