Research Studies Move The Needle On Understanding World's Toughest Cancer, Pancreatic, And Its "Undruggable" Proteins

Funding from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network Contributes to Novel Science Published Today in the Journal Nature Medicine

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Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Mar 04, 2019, 11:33 ET

MANHATTAN BEACH, Calif., March 4, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Two novel scientific studies published today in the prestigious journal Nature Medicine point to a new combination treatment strategy for pancreatic cancer, the world's toughest cancer with a five-year survival rate of just 9 percent. Funding from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) contributed to these research findings.

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network grant recipient, Dr. Kirsten Bryant is the first author of the paper from the Lineberger Cancer Center group being published in the prestigious Nature Medicine journal.

Unexpectedly, blocking signaling from mutant KRAS led to an increase in autophagy, as shown by the increase in red staining and decrease in green in the ERKi row.

"This is an exciting day for the pancreatic cancer community," said Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of PanCAN. "Patients and their loved ones are seeking research findings like this that will move the needle on better understanding the biology of pancreatic cancer and ultimately, create more effective treatment options."

The complementary papers – one of them from the Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at the University of North Carolina, led by Channing Der, PhD, and the other from the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah, led by Martin McMahon, PhD – suggest a unique way to use drugs to target proteins activated by KRAS, the most commonly mutated protein in pancreatic cancer. KRAS itself is often considered "undruggable," because previous efforts to therapeutically block it directly have been unsuccessful.

"We assumed that by blocking proteins in the KRAS pathway, we could stop cells from a process known as autophagy, whereby cells 'eat' their own components for energy," said Kirsten Bryant, PhD, first author of the paper from the Lineberger Cancer Center group and a PanCAN research grant recipient along with her postdoctoral mentor, Der. "But we were surprised to find the opposite was true."

Instead, both research teams found that autophagy got even stronger when KRAS signaling was turned off. By blocking the KRAS protein signaling pathway in addition to the way cells gather and break down nutrients for survival, both studies suggest that the pancreatic cancer cells will die.

Next, both research teams plan to formally test their findings in clinical trials, which will determine the safety and effectiveness of their approach in patients.

"The papers are stronger together," said Bryant. "I'm so proud of the work we are doing, and none of it would be possible without PanCAN."

Pancreatic cancer remains the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and is anticipated to become the second around 2020. In 2019, an estimated 56,770 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in the United States, and approximately 45,750 will die from the disease.

Support the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network's urgent goal to double survival by 2020. Follow the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.

About the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) is dedicated to fighting the world's toughest cancer. In our urgent mission to save lives, we attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts: research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. Our effort is amplified by a nationwide network of grassroots support. We are determined to improve patient outcomes today and to double survival by 2020.

Media Contact:
Cara Martinez
Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
Direct: 310-562-7821
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SOURCE Pancreatic Cancer Action Network