A team of scientists from the United States and the United Kingdom has identified a major genetic defect in pancreatic cancer that could lead to the development of a treatment for this fatal disease. Dr. Maria Hatziyapostolou, a researcher at the John van Geest Cancer Research Centre at Nottingham Trent University, emphasized the urgent need to refocus on understanding how pancreatic cancer spreads, aiming to uncover the underlying reasons for its rapid progression.
The study involved analyzing healthy tissues and pancreatic cancer biopsies to understand the disease. The scientists found that the growth and spread of pancreatic cancer depend on its ability to disrupt the activity of key molecules within the HNF4A gene (which is essential for the proper functioning of vital organs), according to The Guardian. This defect inhibits the gene's ability to control cell growth, promoting the disease’s spread through a process called "DNA methylation."
Now, the scientists aim to discover ways to reverse the effects of DNA methylation and restore the function of the HNF4A gene. Hatziyapostolou told The Guardian: "We hope that this work, which has provided new understanding and knowledge of cancer activity mechanisms, will pave the way for potential new treatments in the future."
It is worth noting that one of the main obstacles in combating pancreatic cancer is its recurrent diagnosis at advanced stages when treatment options are more limited. Experts say that more than half of patients die within three months of diagnosis.
