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- Posted Tuesday February 24, 2015
TGen study says destroying material that 'cloaks' cancer cells could benefit patients
Eliminating 'stroma' could enable anti-cancer drugs to penetrate tumor tissues; extend patient survival
PHOENIX, Ariz. - Feb. 24, 2015 - Like a stealth
jet cloaks itself from radar, cancer cells cloak themselves within
tumors by hiding behind a dense layer of cellular material known as
stroma.
According to a new study by the Translational Genomics Research
Institute (TGen), drugs that target and strip away the stroma
would pave the way for drugs to reach the cancerous cells within
the tumor, which could have a beneficial effect on the survival of
pancreatic cancer patients.
Targeting stroma could potentially extend patient survival even
among those with advanced stage cancer that has spread to other
organs, said the TGen study in the journal Clinical Cancer
Research, published online Feb. 18 by the American Association
for Cancer Research. AACR is the world's largest cancer research
organization, representing more than 35,000 investigators.
The accumulation of stroma - the supporting connective tissue that
includes hyaluronan and several types of collagen - prevents
therapeutic anti-cancer drugs from reaching and destroying cancer
cells, the study said, not only in the primary tumors in the
pancreas but also in metastatic lesions when the cancer spreads to
distant organs such as liver and lung.
"If we can target and reduce stroma, new cancer therapeutics could
prove more effective and patients could experience longer
survival," said Dr. Haiyong Han, a TGen Associate Professor, head
of TGen's pancreatic cancer research unit, and the study's senior
author.
In what is believe to be the first study of its kind, the TGen
paper found that metastatic lesions can have the same high level of
stromal content as the primary tumors in the pancreas. And,
significantly, these high levels of stroma correlate with poor
patient survival.
The study examined the stromal content of primary tumors and
metastatic lesions from among 50 patients with pancreatic ductal
adenocarcinoma, which represents about 95 percent of all pancreatic
cancer.
Among patients with low hyaluronan in their primary tumors, median
survival was 24.3 months, compared to only 9.3 months for patients
with high levels of hyaluronan. Likewise, among patients with low
collagen in their primary tumors, median survival was 14.6 months,
compared to only 6.4 months for patients with high levels of
collagen.
The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach that produces
digestive juices and several key hormones. This year, nearly 49,000
Americans will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, and more than
40,000 will die from this disease, making it the fourth leading
cause of cancer-related death in the U.S.
Median survival for patients with advanced disease is less than 6
months following diagnosis, and the 5-year survival rate is less
than 6 percent for all patients.
Pancreatic cancer's lethal nature stems from its propensity to
rapidly spread to distant organs. Because there is no early
screening test, it usually is not diagnosed until its late stages,
often when surgery is no longer an option, making it difficult to
treat.
The TGen study shows by targeting and eliminating the stroma
surrounding the cancer cells, anti-cancer drugs - as well as
immunologic approaches - should be more effective not only within
the pancreas, but also more effective on tumors throughout the body
where the cancer may have spread.
"We are hopeful that in the future new therapeutics that target
stroma will have a significant benefit for our patients, and lead
to better outcomes," said Dr. Daniel D. Von Hoff, TGen's
Distinguished Professor and Physician-In-Chief, and an author of
the study.
The TGen study - Desmoplasia in primary tumors and metastatic
lesions of pancreatic cancer - was supported in part by R01
(CA169281) and U01 (CA128454) grants from the National Cancer
Institute, a branch of the National Institutes of Health; in part
by a Stand Up to Cancer (SU2C) Translational Research Grant, a
Program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation administered by
the American Association for Cancer Research (SUC2-AACR-DT0509);
and by financial contributions from the Katz Family Foundation; and
by a grant from the National Foundation for Cancer Research
(NFCR).
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About TGen
Translational Genomics Research Institute (TGen) is a Phoenix,
Arizona-based non-profit organization dedicated to conducting
groundbreaking research with life changing results. TGen is focused
on helping patients with cancer, neurological disorders and
diabetes, through cutting edge translational research (the process
of rapidly moving research towards patient benefit). TGen
physicians and scientists work to unravel the genetic components of
both common and rare complex diseases in adults and children.
Working with collaborators in the scientific and medical
communities literally worldwide, TGen makes a substantial
contribution to help our patients through efficiency and
effectiveness of the translational process. For more information,
visit:www.tgen.org.
Press Contact:
Steve Yozwiak
TGen Senior Science Writer
602-343-8704
[email protected]
About the American Association for Cancer
Research
Founded in 1907, the American Association for Cancer Research
(AACR) is the world's oldest and largest professional organization
dedicated to advancing cancer research and its mission to prevent
and cure cancer. AACR membership includes more than 35,000
laboratory, translational, and clinical researchers; population
scientists; other health care professionals; and cancer advocates
residing in 97 countries. The AACR marshals the full spectrum of
expertise of the cancer community to accelerate progress in the
prevention, biology, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer by annually
convening more than 20 conferences and educational workshops, the
largest of which is the AACR Annual Meeting with over 18,000
attendees. In addition, the AACR publishes eight peer-reviewed
scientific journals and a magazine for cancer survivors, patients,
and their caregivers. The AACR funds meritorious research directly
as well as in cooperation with numerous cancer organizations. As
the Scientific Partner of Stand Up To Cancer, the AACR provides
expert peer review, grants administration, and scientific oversight
of team science and individual grants in cancer research that have
the potential for near-term patient benefit. The AACR actively
communicates with legislators and policymakers about the value of
cancer research and related biomedical science in saving lives from
cancer. For more information about the AACR, visit www.AACR.org.
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