Cure pancreatic cancer

A group of international scientists have discovered a gene that can slow the spread of pancreatic cancer, paving the way for the treatment of one of the most dangerous cancers.

After the discovery of a gene called USP9X in a study of pancreatic cancer in mice, an international team of scientists found that they have similar functions in humans.

Pancreas model

'We are investigating the function of this gene in pancreatic cancer patients and seeing that they have partly disappeared cancer cells,' David Tuveson told AFP. 'Pancreatic cancer patients with few USP9X will die very quickly after surgery and or have metastasized (spread like cancer) into the final stage.'

Scientists had previously known that USP9X is present in all human cells but no one knows its ability to inhibit cancer, Tuveson said.

In addition to USP9X, there are 3 other genes that have similar functions, but the absence of USP9X is the cause of metastasis, causing rapid death of pancreatic cancer patients.

A significant finding "awakening the USP9X gene by drug" as a epigenetic modulator, scientists added.

96% of pancreatic cancer patients die from the disease within 5 years of being diagnosed, one of the lowest survival rates of cancer. Diagnosis of the disease in the early stages is very difficult so the disease is usually only detected after it has spread.