A new study suggests that a certain gene has the ability to influence the shape of normal pancreatic cells and as a result, can be the culprit for the development of pancreatic cancer.
A group of experts from Mayo Clinic's campus in Jacksonville, Florida and the University of Oslo, Norway were able to identify a molecule or gene that pushes normal cells to transform to different shapes laying a possible foundation for pancreatic cancer to develop. This is the type of cancer which is among the ones very difficult to treat.
The study, which was published in Nature Communications, suggests that killing or targeting the gene called protein kinase D1 (PKD1) can eventually lead to new methods to prevent the development of pancreatic cancer or yet, find ways to treat it.
According to the study's co-lead investigator and cancer researcher from Mayo Cinic as reported by Science Daily, "As soon as pancreatic cancer develops, it begins to spread, and PKD1 is key to both processes. Given this finding, we are busy developing a PKD1 inhibitor that we can test further."
He added, "We need a new strategy to treat, and possibly prevent, pancreatic cancer. While these are early days, understanding one of the key drivers in this aggressive cancer is a major step in the right direction."
The American Cancer Society reports that their estimates for 2015 entails around 48,960 people (24,840 men and 24,120 women) will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Also, pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the US, and accounts for about 7% of cancer deaths.
Mayo Clinic describes pancreatic cancer as a cancer that begins in the tissues in the pancreas which is the organ responsible in secreting hormones that regulate the metabolism of sugars. It has a poor prognosis even when diagnosed early. Signs and symptoms may not appear until the last stages and it can spread rapidly which makes it one of the deadliest cancers today.
Pancreatic cancer can occur when acinar cells, the ones that secrete digestive enzymes, transform into duct-like structures following inflammation or injury of the pancreas. However, certain processes such as oncogenic signaling can turn these duct cells to have lesions that are prone to form tumors.
To reach their findings, the researchers used a 3D model of pancreatic cells they got from mice. They tested the effect of PKD1 by either blocking or inducing the gene's activity. After one week, they could observe that acinar cells transformed into duct-like cells. However, the blocking of PKD1 has decreased the formation of duct-like cells.
According to Dr. Storz , "This is a great model for examining what happens in a signaling pathway, we can see the changes by simply using a microscope. This model tells us that PKD1 is essential for the initial transformation from acinar to duct-like cells, which then can become cancerous. If we can stop that transformation from happening or perhaps reverse the process once it occurs -- we may be able to block or treat cancer development and its spread."