Pancreatic cancer is very resistant to drug treatment. Experts believe they have discovered why this happens.
The study was conducted by the Cancer Research UK scientists and was carried out on mice. It was done to show tumours have poor blood supply, stopping drugs working.
They also say their observation should also be applicable to patients. Tests on human pancreatic  cancer samples contained a deficient blood supply.
The research was led by Dr David Tuveson, of Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute. He said, “We’re extremely excited by these results as they may help explain the disappointing response that many pancreatic cancer patients receive from chemotherapy drugs.”
scientists from the US and Europe tested a new chemical compound called IPI-926. There was increased cell death and a reduction of the pancreatic tumour size when this chemical was used in combination with gemcitabine in genetically modified mice.
“This is a very substantial finding,” says Lesley Walker Cancer Research UK director of cancer information adding “If these results hold in future studies, we hope that scientists will be able to make better use of current treatments and develop a range of new options which will help people with pancreatic cancer live longer. Results like these give us real confidence that we will combine this focus with our other research efforts and meet our goals of improving survival from all forms of the disease.”
The compound can also be added to other treatments which had previously proved disappointing in trials.
Maggie Blanks, founder of Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: “If these findings help in the development of more effective treatments, this will be a big step forward in improving the outlook for pancreatic cancer patients. Pancreatic cancer has had little research attention in the past and so the understanding of the disease – that can advance diagnosis and treatment – lags behind other cancer types.”
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