How to Overcome Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer TreatmentPosted by Hollie Williams on October 21st, 2019 Researchers have developed drugs to shrink pancreatic tumors by blocking the pathways used by cancer cells. They have focused their research on finding the best treatment strategies that can help prolong the survival of pancreatic cancer patients, including new drugs that can be used in clinical trials. Over 90% of patients with pancreatic cancer carry a mutation in the KRAS cancer-causing gene. The KRAS oncogene is challenging to treat directly with drugs. That is why researchers are trying to find and test indirect routes of shutting it down. One approach that was developed was used to target the AKT and MAP-Kinase (MAPK) downstream signaling pathways that support the KRAS gene.
In the clinical trials conducted before to target these pathways, high toxicity levels and therapeutic resistance development blocked any further investigation of these regimens. This means that toxicity can occur when the anti-tumor agents aren’t malignant-specific. There is a high risk of killing healthy cells as well because of the toxicity. About Author The Sandler-Kenner Foundation was started by Gregory A. Echt, M.D. and his wife, Susan T. Echt, after they lost two of their dear friends, Michael and Peter, to premature deaths from pancreatic cancer. Like it? Share it!More by this author |