A comprehensive study by Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis has elucidated two critical transition phases in the development of pancreatic cancer: the progression from normal pancreatic cells to precancerous lesions, and subsequently from these lesions to invasive cancer. This research offers valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying treatment resistance and highlights potential avenues for immunotherapeutic interventions. The findings are part of the Human Tumor Atlas Network, supported by the National Cancer Institute’s Cancer Moonshot program.
In conjunction with these findings, an ongoing phase 1 clinical trial at Siteman Cancer Center is evaluating the efficacy of two investigational drugs designed to stimulate the immune system against pancreatic tumors. Researchers are applying the detailed analytical techniques from the study to assess patient responses to these immunotherapies. The ultimate goal is to develop more effective treatment strategies for this aggressive cancer type, which currently has a five-year survival rate of only 9%.
