Early treatment of pancreatic cancer

Elisa Espinet

Universitat de Barcelona, Spain

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common type of pancreatic tumour and the cancer that has the worst prognosis, with a survival rate of less than 10 % at five years. To date, there are no methods for early detection nor effective treatments available. Often, this type of cancer is diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, making it impossible to remove the tumour by surgery, which is currently the only effective treatment available.

Previous studies have analysed patient samples and identified a large heterogeneity among PDAC tumours. It has also been observed that there is a relationship between the heterogeneity of the tumour and the patient’s response to treatment. However, how this heterogeneity is generated is still poorly understood. Part of the tumour heterogeneity may come from the cell of origin from which it is derived.

The project focuses on the ductal cells of the pancreas, the cell type that gives rise to the most aggressive PDAC tumours. The team has recently discovered that not all ductal cells are the same, but that there are different populations with very specific characteristics. Mouse models will be used to investigate tumour development originating from different ductal cells, and this information will be integrated with data and cell models from patients with PDAC. This research aims to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the development of heterogeneity in this type of tumour, in order to identify new biomarkers and new therapeutic targets for early diagnosis and the development of effective drugs for personalised therapy.

• Meritxell Rovira Clusellas, Institut d'Investigació Biomèdica de Bellvitge (IDIBELL), L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Spain

• Patricia Sancho, IIS Aragón – Fundación Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria Aragón, Zaragoza, Spain

• Ana Rita Grosso, Associação para a Inovação e Desenvolvimento da Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NOVA.ID.FCT), Portugal

The cell of origin of Pancreatic Cancer: novel opportunities for the early diagnosis and treatment

€999,999.18