Protein Identified for Detecting and Targeting Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Pancreatic cancer typically does not begin to show symptoms until it has already metastasized.

In addition, it is highly drug resistant, making it a difficult cancer to treat. As a result, current research is focused on both tracking and halting the progression of this cancer. This study first identified that the RNA binding proteins Msi1 and 2 are expressed in primary pancreatic tumors, with an increase in expression during progression. This initial finding led researchers to determine the potential of Msi1 and 2 as indicators and therapeutic targets for tumorigenesis.

Fluorescent reporters were created to detect the expression of Msi1 and 2, allowing for live imaging of cancer growth and spread in a mouse genetic model of pancreatic cancer. Tumor cells expressing Msi1 and 2 were more tumorigenic in vitro and in vivo. These cells were also highly resistant to gemcitabine, a chemotherapeutic currently used for the treatment of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Next, Msi1 and 2 were inhibited in a xenograft mouse model. When protein expression was silenced with short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) before implantation, a very small subset of cells progressed to adenocarcinoma. When Msi1 and 2 were directly targeted by antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) after implantation, cancer growth was inhibited. Read more . . .