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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is recognized as one of the most aggressive and lethal types of cancer. Its rapid growth and dissemination pose significant challenges for effective treatment.
Unfortunately, the prognosis for individuals diagnosed with this type of cancer is quite grim. Statistics show that merely 8% of patients manage to survive beyond five years after receiving their diagnosis.
Scientists have been working hard to find better ways to treat PDAC, and recently, researchers at the Francis Crick Institute shared some promising discoveries. They published their findings in a scientific journal called Nature Cell Biology.
This significant advancement has the potential to pave the way for innovative therapies that could enhance the survival rates of individuals affected by this serious disease.
The team of researchers, headed by Axel Behrens, concentrated their efforts on a unique subset of cancer cells known as cancer stem cells. Unlike typical cancer cells, these specialized cells possess distinct characteristics.
Just as ordinary stem cells in the body facilitate tissue repair and growth, cancer stem cells have the ability to initiate new tumors and transform into various forms of cancer cells. This characteristic positions them as crucial targets for cancer research and treatment strategies.
The research team identified a significant protein known as CD9 present on the surface of cancer stem cells. CD9 serves as a distinctive identifier for these cells, facilitating their recognition. However, it has been found that CD9 does more than merely mark these cells; it also contributes negatively by promoting the growth and dissemination of the cancer.
In experiments conducted with mice, researchers found that lowering the levels of CD9 in tumor cells resulted in smaller tumors. Conversely, when they raised the CD9 levels, the cancer cells exhibited increased aggression, leading to the rapid formation of larger tumors.
Researchers also analyzed clinical data from patients and discovered that individuals with elevated levels of CD9 in their tumor cells typically experienced poorer prognoses. Approximately 10% of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) belong to this category.
To comprehend the reasons behind CD9 increasing the peril of cancer, the researchers examined the ways in which these cancer stem cells obtain the essential nutrients for their growth.
Researchers discovered that CD9 enhances the ability of cells to take up a nutrient known as glutamine more effectively. Glutamine serves as a source of energy, fueling cancer cells and facilitating their growth and spread at a quicker pace.
This finding is significant as it presents a novel strategy for treatment. By focusing on CD9, researchers could potentially inhibit cancer stem cells from absorbing glutamine, effectively depriving them of their energy source. This approach is akin to starving the cancer cells, thereby making it more difficult for them to thrive and proliferate.
Although there remains considerable progress to achieve, this study brings optimism for what lies ahead. Creating therapies aimed at inhibiting CD9 or its impacts could be life-saving and present a novel approach to addressing pancreatic cancer.
For patients and their loved ones, this could represent a major advancement in the battle against one of the most difficult forms of cancer.
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