Researchers have developed a new method for delivering pancreatic cancer drugs that will optimize their efficacy. Scientists at Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center and North Dakota State University encapsulated the cancer drugs in nanoparticles improving tumor targeting while limiting damage to other tissues. Their study was published in the journal, Molecular Pharmaceutics.
Dr. Sushanta Banerjee, study author and researcher at the Kansas City VA and University of Kansas medical centers, said, "Veteran health care will benefit immensely from such therapeutic models, as they are effective in delivering the drug to the tumor site without any toxic side effects [and with] minimal dosing. Once ready for patient use, this technique will reduce the number of doses required by a patient as well as effectively hinder the progression of the tumor."
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the leading causes of death from cancer. Typical 5-year survival rates of this cancer are about 8%. Currently, gemcitabine is the standard of care for this cancer and offers a limited improvement on patient survival rates. Gemcitabine degrades rapidly in the body, limiting its efficacy. A more effective treatment has recently been developed, ERKi, but the drug’s increased toxicity poses a problem for use.
A More effective treatment for this type of cancer, called an extracellular receptor kinase inhibitor (ERKi), has been developed. Genetic research has shown that a specific gene mutation is one of the main drivers of pancreatic tumor growth. The enzyme ERK interacts with this mutation, so inhibiting the enzyme can slow the cancer. Research also suggests that developed resistance to gemcitabine involves this enzyme. Utilizing this new method of drug delivery can decrease its toxicity and make sure ERKi remains undegraded longer in the body.