Scientists Find Cancer Stem Cells in Pancreatic Tumors

THURSDAY, Feb. 1 (HealthDay News) -- Researchers have for the first time identified stem cells linked to pancreatic cancer.

The study, by scientists at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, could help in the development of new treatments for this deadly form of cancer, which has the worst survival rate of any major malignancy. Only about three percent of patients survive five years after their diagnosis.

"Over the last one to two decades, we have not had a significant improvement in the long-term survival rates with pancreatic cancer. I believe that if we can target cancer stem cells within pancreatic cancer, we may have an avenue to really make a breakthrough in therapy for this awful disease," study lead author Dr. Diane Simeone, director of the Gastrointestinal Oncology Program at the center, said in a prepared statement.

Cancer stem cells, which account for only a small percentage of cancer cells, drive tumor growth. Current cancer treatments sometimes fail because they don't kill cancer stem cells. Being able to identify cancer stem cells can help scientists develop drugs to target and destroy these cells.

In this study, tissue samples from 10 pancreatic cancer patients were implanted into mice to grow new tumors. The researchers then examined certain markers on the surface of the tumor cells and identified a small number of cells that were able to rapidly produce new tumors. These are likely pancreatic cancer stem cells.

The findings are published in the Feb. 1 issue of the journalCancer Research.

Stem cells have been identified in several other kinds of cancers, including brain, breast, central nervous system, colon, and leukemia.

More information

The American Medical Association has more about pancreatic cancer.

SOURCE: University of Michigan, news release, Feb. 1, 2007