pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

[Nature Cancer] Scientists performed a systematic high-throughput combination drug screen and identified a synergistic interaction between the MEK inhibitor trametinib and the multi-kinase inhibitor nintedanib, which targeted KRAS-directed oncogenic signaling in mesenchymal PDAC.

[Cell Reports] Researchers showed that the Rho effector protein kinase N2 (PKN2) was critical for pancreatic stellate cell (PSC) myofibroblast differentiation. Loss of PKN2 was associated with reduced PSC proliferation, contractility, and alpha-smooth muscle actin stress fibers.

[Scientific Reports] The authors proposed that activin A signaling could be relevant to the acceleration of visceral adipose tissue wasting in PDAC-associated cachexia.

[Karmanos Cancer Institute] The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute recently received a $352,437 grant from the U CAN-CER VIVE Foundation to help fund a pancreatic cancer research study.

[Panbela Therapeutics, Inc.] Panbela Therapeutics, Inc. announced the initiation of the company’s global Phase II clinical trial of SBP-101 in combination with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which is referred to as the ASPIRE trial.

[Oncogene] Scientists performed the molecular and histological assessment of patient-derived PanINs, tumor tissues and pancreas from mouse models with PDAC (KC mice that harbor K-RAS mutation in pancreatic tissue), where we noted marked upregulation of gastrokine (GKN) proteins.