New Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Diane Simeone and Craig Logsdon Photo: Martin Vloet |
Every year, more than 29,000 Americans receive what amounts to a death sentence
— a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. Fewer than 20 percent are diagnosed in
time to qualify for the only known treatment — an arduous operation — and only
3 percent of all patients live even five years.
"Pancreatic cancer is one of the swiftest and surest cancer killers, and not
nearly enough has been learned about what, at the molecular level, makes it
so deadly," says Craig Logsdon, Ph.D., a professor of physiology in the Medical
School and co-leader of a research team in the U-M's Comprehensive Cancer Center.
Gene expression patterns for 80 of the most promising
genes identified in U-M research on pancreatic cancer
Courtesy: Cancer Research |
U-M scientists recently identified 158 genes specific to pancreatic cancer
— the most accurate list to date. Unlike other scientists, U-M researchers
have found ways to distinguish genes involved in cancer from those involved
in a chronic inflammatory disease, pancreatitis, which often is mistaken for
cancer. Determining pancreatic cancer's protein "biomarkers" is the first step
toward reliable diagnostic tests and more effective treatments for this disease,
according to Logsdon.
Using their gene list as a roadmap, U-M scientists are cataloging proteins
encoded by these genes and creating antibodies to detect proteins in the blood
or saliva of cancer patients. Tissue samples from U-M patients with pancreatic
cancer or chronic pancreatitis will be analyzed and added to the research database.
Eventually, U-M scientists hope to use this information to develop and test
new treatments in animals and, eventually, in human patients.
"We need a better understanding of pancreatic cancer, to help improve the
terrible odds these patients face and to spare pancreatitis patients unnecessary
surgery because of misdiagnosis," says Diane M. Simeone, M.D., an associate
professor of surgery and co-leader of the research project.
These stained tissue samples show how U-M scientists used proteins made
by four of their target genes to confirm that these genes were expressed
more often in cancerous tissue than in normal or pancreatitis tissue.
Courtesy:
Cancer Research |
"We're combining clinical and basic science in a way that we feel will help
accelerate progress on this disease," says Logsdon. "This gene list is a very
promising start, but there is still far to go."
The research project is funded by the Michigan Life Sciences Corridor, the
Lustgarten Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research, the U-M's Comprehensive
Cancer Center, and the National Cancer Institute.
U-M research collaborators include Samir M. Hanash, M.D. (Ph.D. 1976), professor
of pediatrics and communicable diseases; Thomas J. Giordano, M.D., Ph.D., clinical
associate professor of pathology; Joel K. Greenson (M.D. 1984), associate professor
of pathology; Charles Binkley, M.D., surgery resident; Thiruvengadam Arumugam,
Ph.D., research fellow; David Misek, Ph.D., senior pediatrics research associate;
and Rork Kuick, systems projects coordinator.
-KG
Read an expanded version of this story:
www.med.umich.edu/opm/newspage/2003/pancancer.htm
Learn more about pancreatic cancer and the U-M's new Pancreatic Tumor Clinic:
www.med.umich.edu/1libr/aha/aha_pancan_crs.htm
www.cancer.med.umich.edu/clinic/pancreaticclinic.htm
 
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