Researchers, primarily from Kyoto University, have identified a critical link between the impaired function of a specific gene and the aggressive nature of pancreatic cancer, a disease notoriously resistant to chemotherapy. The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Inquiry, suggest that existing medications might be repurposed to combat this deadly cancer.

Pancreatic cancer ranks as the third-leading cause of cancer-related fatalities in Japan, with a grim five-year survival rate of just 8.5%, the lowest among all cancer types. While 30% to 40% of cases are considered malignant, the underlying biological mechanisms have remained largely elusive until now.

The research team analyzed pancreatic cancer tissue obtained during surgical procedures. Their investigation revealed that a decline in the function of Polybromo 1, or PBRM1-a gene responsible for regulating the expression of various proteins-is associated with increased malignancy and a higher probability of cancer recurrence.

Further experiments involving mice genetically modified to disable PBRM1 demonstrated a marked increase in malignancy, enhanced metastasis, and reduced survival rates in pancreatic cancer models. Crucially, these cancer cells exhibited elevated levels of vimentin, a protein known to promote metastasis. The study also found that administering a drug designed to suppress vimentin’s activity led to a decrease in malignancy and metastasis in the affected mice.

These correlations were later validated in human pancreatic cancer cases. “Our research has demonstrated that drugs targeting vimentin’s effects could pave the way for novel treatments for highly malignant pancreatic cancer,” stated Akihisa Fukuda, an associate professor at Kyoto University. “We are eager to initiate clinical trials to facilitate the early practical request of these findings.”