What To Know
- Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a rising incidence that necessitates the development of effective therapies.
- Emerging hope in pancreatic cancer researchAs pancreatic cancer continues to be one of the most formidable types of cancer, researchers from the University of San Diego have made a significant breakthrough by identifying an enzyme that promotes tumor growth.
- The role of Mical2 in tumor progressionMical2, typically involved in cell movement and morphology, has been identified as a potent driver for pancreatic tumors.
Pancreatic cancer remains one of the deadliest forms of cancer, with a rising incidence that necessitates the development of effective therapies. Recent research highlights the role of the enzyme Mical2 in tumor growth and spread, offering hope for innovative drug treatments.
emerging hope in pancreatic cancer research
As pancreatic cancer continues to be one of the most formidable types of cancer, researchers from the University of San Diego have made a significant breakthrough by identifying an enzyme that promotes tumor growth. This discovery could pave the way for promising treatment options.
With nearly 63,000 new cases expected annually in the United States, pancreatic cancer ranks as one of the major health concerns. Its increasing incidence suggests it may become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. In approximately 90% of cases, pancreatic cancer manifests as pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), a type that originates from cells responsible for producing digestive enzymes. Researchers have now uncovered a potentially game-changing element in this form: the enzyme Mical2.
the role of Mical2 in tumor progression
Mical2, typically involved in cell movement and morphology, has been identified as a potent driver for pancreatic tumors. By inhibiting this enzyme, researchers are optimistic about developing treatments that can effectively block its function and combat this aggressive disease.
- In patients undergoing surgery to remove PDACs, those whose tumor cells exhibited low Mical2 expression survived twice as long compared to those with higher levels.
- The protein Kras is known to frequently contribute to cancer emergence by promoting cancer cell growth. However, deactivating the Mical2 gene significantly diminishes Kras activity.
- Mical2 appears to facilitate the spread of cancer to other healthy organs.
potential therapeutic implications
The authors believe that targeting this enzyme could lead to groundbreaking drug therapies against PDACs. According to a leading researcher at the university’s surgical oncology division, “Pancreatic cancer has the highest mortality rate among common cancers, making current treatments woefully inadequate. We believe targeting Mical2 with drugs is feasible since it’s part of a protein class where inhibitory drugs have been successfully developed for other human diseases.”
The team is actively working on identifying candidate drugs aimed at inhibiting Mical2’s function in pancreatic cancer.
