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The International Cancer Genome Consortium team have
created the most accurate road map of pancreatic
cancer to date. The genome of 462 tumors taken from
pancreatic cancer patients was deeply sequenced. In
these tumors, researchers identified a recurring set
of 32 genes whose mutations, through one of ten
molecular pathways, spurned cancer growth.
From there, the the tumors were broadly classified
into four subtypes, each with a distinct pattern of
mutations, gene expressions, and even outward
characteristics.
The four subtypes identified should provide a basis
to offer new insights into personalised therapeutic
options for individual patients and a launch pad to
investigate new treatments.
The subtypes are:
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Squamous, containing tumors resembling
those found elsewhere in breast, bladder, lung,
and head and neck cancer;
-
Pancreatic progenitor, involving genes
known to be linked with the early development of
the pancreas in embryos;
-
Aberrantly differentiated endocrine eXocrine
(ADEX), a subclass of the second, involving
genetic processes that help govern the later
stages of the organ’s development;
-
Immunogenic, another type similar to
pancreatic progenitor but which provokes an
unique immune response compared to the rest.
In
particular, the discovery of pancreatic immunogenic
tumors may hold the best promise for further
research. In fact, this subtype of pancreatic cancer
is characterised by specific mechanisms that can
potentially be targeted using immune modulators.
The
findings of this research, published in Nature, are
incredibly exciting for anyone affected by
pancreatic cancer, as they should mean that in the
future the right patients can be given the right
treatment at the right time. This is crucial,
because the disease is difficult to diagnose, and is
often diagnosed terribly late.
Profound as these findings may be, it should be
noted that the study specifically examined
pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas, which comprise
most (90 perecent) but not all pancreatic cancer
cases. The researchers note that pancreatic cancer
is currently the fourth leading cause of cancer
death in the Western world, and is projected to be
the second leading within a decade, though this is
partly because it’s expected that cancer survival
rates elsewhere will continue to increase.
Professors Andrew Biankin and Sean Grimmond,
laboratory heads at Sydney’s Garvan Institute of
Medical Research and the University of Queensland’s
Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB)
respectively, led the study. Both are now based at
the Wolfson Wohl Cancer Research Centre, part of the
University of Glasgow in Scotland. The Verona group
was led by Professor Aldo Scarpa (ARC-NET Cancer
Research Center), Professors Claudio Bassi and
Roberto Salvia (Pancreatic Surgery), and by
Professor Giampaolo Tortora (Medical Oncology).
For
more information
Nature
Whole genomes redefine the mutational landscape of
pancreatic cancer
Link...
Chirurgia del pancreas Verona
Istituto del Pancreas,
Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata di
Verona
Link...
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