New drug will let immune system attack cells causing pancreatic cancer.
Scientists have revealed an “exciting breakthrough” in the treatment of Britain’s most deadly cancer by developing a drug that enables a patient’s immune system to fight back.
For four decades victims of pancreatic cancer have had the UK’s lowest survival rate with just 3% of the 8,500 diagnosed annually surviving for five years.
However, boffins have tested a technique which could revolutionise the treatment of the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer, with a drug which breaks down the protective barrier around the tumour, enabling the body’s immune system to attack it.
Tests carried out on laboratory mice at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute found cancer cells in the rodents were almost eliminated in just one week.
The lab tests are being hailed as a significant step in developing pancreatic cancer “immunotherapy” which has seen progress in other forms of cancer treatment.
Maggie Blanks, founder and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Research Fund, said: “Harnessing the power of the immune system to attack tumour cells is a promising field of research.
“But it’s been disappointing that the progress with other cancers hasn’t been seen with pancreatic cancer.
“What’s exciting about this latest research is that it looks like we’re finally seeing the obstacles to immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer being understood and overcome.
“These findings go another step towards developing desperately needed new treatments for pancreatic cancer, the most lethal of all cancers.”
Alex Ford, chief executive of Pancreatic Cancer UK, added: “Currently, just 10% of people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are able to have surgery, which is the only cure.
“Pancreatic cancer patients have not responded well to previous attempts to encourage the body to attack and kill a tumour.
“This research represents an exciting breakthrough, proving that it is possible for cancer attacking cells to get through to a pancreatic tumour and kill cancer cells.
“This could provide opportunities for the development of new treatments in the future.”
The team, led by Professor Doug Fearon, used a drug called Plerixafor to breach the tumour’s protective wall which allowed white blood cells to reach the cancer cells and attack them, with a boost from an immunotherapeutic antibody.
The findings marked the first time it had been achieved in a pancreatic cancer test.
Reporting his findings, Prof Fearon said: “By enabling the body to use its own defences to attack cancer, this approach has the potential to greatly improve treatment of solid tumours.”
Despite being the UK’s fifth biggest cancer killer, pancreatic cancer attracts just a fraction of the funding provided to other strains of the disease.
In 2011, it received just 1% of the overall funding allocated to cancer research.
Enjoy the convenience of having The Sunday Post delivered as a digital ePaper straight to your smartphone, tablet or computer.
Subscribe for only £5.49 a month and enjoy all the benefits of the printed paper as a digital replica.
Subscribe