Who discovered colon cancer?

New cure found for pancreatic cancer?

• Hi, I recently read an article that a cure for pancreatic cancer may have been found, here is the article "Scientists have identified a gene that slows the spread of pancreatic cancer tumours, paving the way for targeted treatment of one of the deadliest forms of the disease, said a paper published on Sunday. After discovering the gene dubbed USP9X at work in a study of pancreatic cancer in mice, the international research team found it also played a role in humans. "We looked in human tumour specimens and we found that it was missing in a fraction of patients - the patients that did very poorly... the people who died fastest," researcher David Tuveson said "Patients that had a low level of the gene expressed ... they died very quickly after their operation and the patients who at the end of their life had lots of metastasis (spreading of the cancer), they had also a very low level of this protein." The existence of the gene, which is found in all of our cells but goes missing in some tumours, was known before but not its role as a cancer suppressor , said Tuveson. Three other pancreatic tumour suppressor genes are known to exist, but this is the one whose absence "probably causes metastasis - that is what kills people with pancreas cancer," said the scientist . The discovery means that "we can wake up the gene by using drugs" known as epigenetic modulators, he added. "Our observation allows us to potentially treat people that have lost this gene in the pancreas tumours. It allows us to offer a therapy for the patients that actually have the worst prognosis." Tuveson said these kinds of drugs have already been developed , "but people haven't figured out where exactly they would be useful. We are proposing that these drugs would be useful in this subset of pancreas cancer patients." Pancreatic cancer kills about 96% of its victims within five years of diagnosis, one of the lowest cancer survival rates. Early diagnosis is difficult , so the disease is often discovered only after it has already spread "" Any MD on this site, please can u verify such a treatment, no details are given on the website or any specific drug, knowledge of it will help millions who suffer from such a cancer. My dad currently has pancreatic cancer with a biopsy sample taken from the colon, report says " metastatic adinocarcinoma relating to pancreatic bilial area... " will such a treatment help my dads case...???? http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/science/Cure-for-pancreatic-cancer-found/articleshow/12945367.cms

• Answer:

  I am sorry to hear about your dad. The headline in the article is unfortunately misleading (the question mark suggests that the answer is yes). As Denise points out the article is about a study on genetically modified mice. You can't conclude directly from studies in experimental mice to effects in humans: http://anaximperator.wordpress.com/2012/03/30/if-it-works-in-a-mouse-it-works-in-a-man-right-well-not-necessarily/ Inside the article it is also explained, that the researchers haven't found something that would cure pancreas cancer (as in making the cancer go away). They were looking into something that would slow down the progression (spread) of the cancer. So this is something that might be developed into a useful part of the treatment before the cancer has spread. So even if it was available today, it would sadly not be helpful in your dads case. ETA There is an article on the subject at cancerresearchuk: http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org/2012/04/29/sleeping-beauty-reveals-new-pancreatic-cancer-genes/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+cancerresearchuk%2FSHhE+%28Cancer+Research+UK+-+Science+Update%29 It is written in layman terms. And the author is a real science writer/researcher. Not that it changes anything concerning your dad, but I think it is more informative than the article you have already read.