It turns out that it is possible to reverse a valuable process that allows pancreatic cancer cells to grow and spread throughout the body. The findings, published in the UK-based medical journal Nature, revealed that a protein called GREM1 is key to regulating the cell type found in the tumor that causes pancreatic cancer.
Researchers at the Institute for Cancer Research in London, who study pancreatic cancer with the gene that deactivates the GREM1 protein in pancreatic tumors, believe this fundamental discovery could pave the way for finding new treatments.
Tumor can be reversed
Disabling GREM1 appeared to cause tumor cells to develop new properties that help them rapidly switch states and leap into new tissues. In just 10 days, it was observed that all tumor cells had turned into a dangerous and invasive cell type.
Disabling the gene also increased the risk of tumors spreading in mice. Researchers examined a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common and aggressive form of the disease. About 90 percent of the mice without GREM1 developed tumors that had spread to their livers, compared to 15 percent of the mice that had GREM1 in its usual form.
Researchers have shown that increased levels of GREM1 can reverse this process and make invading cell types less dangerous. Experts say it may be possible to revert cells to a less aggressive form in the treatment of pancreatic cancer in the future.
What is pancreatic cancer?
Pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed at an advanced stage, making it difficult to treat. The survival rate in pancreatic cancer is very low. Pancreatic cancer is treated with surgical operations along with chemotherapy treatment. Cancers that cannot be operated are treated with chemotherapy supplemented with radiotherapy.
80-90% of pancreatic cancer cases are diagnosed at a late stage because they do not show symptoms for a long time. Therefore, their treatment is often difficult. Pancreatic cancer is slightly more common in men than women. The mean age at diagnosis is 75 for men and 80 for women.
Pancreatic cancer symptoms
Pancreatic cancer is not noticed in the first months of the disease. When the tumor progresses, pancreatic cancer can cause stomach pain, back pain, jaundice, itching, rapid weight loss, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, severe fatigue, or a persistent feeling of fullness, especially at night and at bedtime.
In individuals with diabetes, pancreatic cancer occurs as a sudden worsening of individuals. Jaundice and itching occur when the tumor is located in the head of the pancreas, compressing the duct that empties the bile and preventing its passage into the intestine. Bile accumulates and the patient has yellowish eyes and skin, pale stools and dark urine, and itching all over his body.