Pancreatic cancer

Tiny pancreatic organoids grown from human pancreatic cells can be used to study pancreatic tumors, and perhaps other types of cancers, too

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Tiny replicas of the pancreas may reveal weak spots for deadly cancer

Lab-grown replicas of the pancreas have been developed by scientists at MIT, with the team hopeful the technology behind them can not just help develop new drugs for cancers afflicting the organ, but other particularly deadly types as well.

Scientists are making great inroads in spotting signs of cancer in urine samples, but how far off might a simple urine test for cancer be?

Medical

What role can urine testing play in the future of cancer diagnosis?

In the wide-ranging search for new weapons against cancer, some see great potential in the idea of a urine test that can reveal telltale signs of the disease. So where does the technology stand right now?

In this pancreatic tumor, T cells (pink) have infiltrated tumor cells (labeled green) following treatment with a novel combination immunotherapy developed by MIT researchers

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Triple-combo of drugs targeting pancreatic cancer looks to human trials

New preclinical work has found a combination of three experimental immunotherapy drugs could help shrink pancreatic tumors. Each of the drugs have demonstrated safety in early human trials and the hope is to begin testing the triple combo by the end 2021.

Mutations in the KRAS gene are associated with pancreatic cancer, but a new study has found a way to fight them

Medical

Existing drug shows promise targeting common cancer mutation

Difficult to detect and with a low survival rate, pancreatic cancer is one of the most insidious forms of the disease. But now, researchers have identified an existing drug that could fight pancreatic cancer by targeting a key gene mutation.

A new electronic nose device can sniff out cancer with high accuracy

Medical

Electronic nose sniffs out cancer in blood samples with over 90% accuracy

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed an electronic nose that may be able to sniff out signs of cancer from blood plasma samples. In tests, the device was able to detect a range of cancer types with over 90 percent accuracy.

By targeting vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer cells, scientists hope to develop new forms of treatment for the disease

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Addicted pancreatic cancer cells die when denied key protein

Researchers in Canada have made a significant discovery relating to pancreatic cancer, pinpointing a protein that the cancer cells rely on for growth, and demonstrating how targeting them can inhibit tumor growth in the lab.

A drug originally developed to treat kidney and urinary tract stones has been demonstrated to starve pancreatic cells of the amino acids they need to survive

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Kidney stone drug found to starve pancreatic cancer cells to death

A research team at Columbia University has made an exciting discovery, finding that a compound currently under development for a rare kidney stone disease can starve pancreatic cancer cells of a key amino acid they depend on for survival.

Scientists have found that a peptide found in the foot-and-mouth-disease virus can be combined with drugs to form a promising new therapy for pancreatic cancer

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Foot-and-mouth-disease offers secret weapon against pancreatic cancer

Scientists have found that a peptide taken from the foot-and-mouth-disease virus naturally zeroes in on pancreatic cancer cells, providing them with a new vehicle for drug delivery capable of completely killing off tumors in early experiments.

The left image shows clusters of pancreatic cancer cells, while the right image shows cancer treated with the new drug PTC596 (DNA in blue, black are the microtubule structures targeted by the drug)

Medical

Slow-and-steady drug combo wins race against pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most deadly forms of the disease, thanks largely to the fact that the tumors tend to be much more solid. But now researchers have identified a promising new drug candidate that could linger for longer to worm its way in, and works when paired with other cancer drugs.

Scientists have discovered a new way to weaponize the immune system against a historically crafty foe – pancreatic cancer

Medical

Compound puts pancreatic cancer in immunotherapy's sights

Immunotherapy is a form of cancer treatment that seeks to supercharge the body’s natural immune defenses, but pancreatic cancer is one that has so far been able to evade its advances. Scientists are now reporting a discovery that might help the immune system regain the upper hand.

Alterations in a person's tongue microbiome may be a good indicator of pancreatic cancer

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Tongue bacteria may be an indicator for early-stage pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is not the most common of cancers, but it is one of the most deadly, often presenting as entirely asymptomatic until it is too late. A new study from a group of Chinese scientists suggests bacteria on the tongue could offer a promising way to detect the disease early.

Bacteria could be inhibiting the efficacy of traditional cancer treatments

Medical

Accidental discovery reveals bacteria reduces the effectiveness of chemotherapy drug

Many great scientific discoveries have arisen out of laboratory accidents. The latest serendipitous discovery comes from a cross-contamination accident that has revealed how a certain bacteria can stifle the efficacy of cancer drugs.