By Admin 
Pancreas cancer is counted among the most dangerous and deadly cancers in the world. This disease progresses so silently that by the time its symptoms are clearly visible, it is often too late. This is the reason why about 90 percent of patients suffering from this cancer die within five years.
This cancer has remained a big challenge for doctors and scientists for a long time. Neither is it detected early nor are there very effective options for its treatment. But now, after several decades of despair, some new research has shown a new light of hope. In recent years, scientists have been trying to understand how to prepare the body’s own immune system in such a way that it can fight cancer on its own. In this direction, enthusiasm has increased regarding treatment based on vaccine and immunotherapy.
Successful experiment on rats, hope for humans
Spanish scientists have recently developed a new combination therapy method, which completely eliminated pancreas cancer tumors from the body of rats in the laboratory. Although this research has not yet been tried on humans, its results are so positive that scientists have started feeling that in future this method can help in saving the lives of patients.
Earlier, in America too, scientists had conducted initial human trials of mRNA-based personalized pancreas cancer vaccine, in which good results were seen in some patients. These two studies together have indicated that vaccine-based treatment can bring a big change in the future.
How does this new therapy work?
This study conducted in Spain was conducted by scientist Mariano Barbaside and his team from the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO). This treatment is not based on any one medicine, rather three different methods have been used together. The first of which is advanced immunotherapy, through which the body’s immune system is strengthened. After this, the second cancer vaccine, which teaches the immune system to recognize cancer cells.
The third one is checkpoint inhibitors, which remove the brakes on the immune system and allow it to freely fight cancer. By combining these three, scientists broke the protective shield around the cancer, so that T-cells could attack the cancer and the tumor could not return. Experts believe that using more than one method together makes treatment more effective than giving only one medicine.
Statistics show the seriousness of the disease
According to the World Health Organization’s cancer agency, about 5.1 lakh new cases of pancreas cancer were reported worldwide in 2022. In the same year, about 4.6 lakh people died due to this cancer. The situation is worrying in India also. 13,661 new patients and 12,759 deaths were recorded here. These figures clearly show how quickly this cancer kills.
KRAS gene and the problem of drug resistance
In about 90 percent of pancreas cancer cases, a gene called KRAS is defective (mutated). For a long time, no drug was available that could target this gene. For about 50 years, treatment mainly depended on chemotherapy. In 2021, drugs targeting KRAS were approved for the first time, but the problem was that within a few months the tumor developed resistance against those drugs.
Barbasid and his team found a unique solution to this problem. They blocked the KRAS signaling pathway at not one, but three different places. Although the results are very encouraging, the scientists themselves are cautious. Barbacid has clearly said that we are not yet ready to try this triple therapy on humans. He said that more research, safety testing and preparation is needed before starting human trials.
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Disclaimer: This information is based on research studies and expert opinion. Do not consider this as a substitute for medical advice. Before adopting any new activity or exercise, consult your doctor or relevant specialist.
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