Two treatments could also be higher than one.
Researchers from University of Colorado Cancer Center discovered that a mix of radiation and immunotherapy could be the important thing to eradicating pancreatic tumors while stopping the cancer from spreading.
One-two punch is critical because historically pancreatic cancer has not responded to immunotherapy.
The study, published today in a medical journal Cancer cell, were carried out on animal models. Human clinical trials have yet to start, but to this point the outcomes are encouraging.
“For the primary time, we’ve seen eradication of a pancreatic tumor suggesting that the cancer cell has a memory, which implies we will stop the disease from recurring,” lead creator Dr. Sana Karam he said in a press release.
She added: “Ultimately, this could change the way in which doctors treat patients with pancreatic cancer within the near future.”
The findings offer hope to those living with the deadly disease, and also pave the way in which for future research into other treatments to enhance survival rates.
Immunotherapy strengthens or changes the way in which a patient’s immune system works in order that it might probably detect and attack cancer cells.
Radiation therapy uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and tumors.
Karam says that the mix of those treatments helps eliminate “bad” T cells from the immune system.
“When the disease is metastatic, you would like to recognize and attack the variety of cells in all places, from the pancreas to the liver, blood and beyond,” she explained. “This approach does exactly that in our study.”
Researchers in Europe have been investigating the usage of immunotherapy to treat other cancers, but this study is claimed to be the primary time that immunotherapy has been used with radiation therapy to focus on pancreatic cancer tumors.
“In only one radiation session, we have seen a remarkable immune response that could change the way in which pancreatic cancer patients are treated,” Karam said. “I’ve never had more hope of improving the survival rate for this disease.”
The American Cancer Society predicts that 64,000 people shall be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this 12 months and 50,000 will die from it.
Pancreatic cancer accounts for roughly 3% of all cancers in america and is often known as the third deadliest cancer.