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Discovered differences in pancreatic cancer cells offer new hope for immunotherapy
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
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A new study has found that pancreatic cancer cells vary depending on their location in the organ, providing new information about the tumors and could lead to more targeted treatments.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an aggressive type of cancer, and the number of diagnoses has increased significantly over the past decade. It is currently the seventh leading cause of cancer deaths among men and women worldwide, and is expected to become the third leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide by 2030. This increase is due to several factors, such as the increase in obesity and diabetes.
Houston Methodist's chief of gastrointestinal medical oncology, Maen Abdelrahim, MD, was the first author and concept author of the article, "Comparative molecular profiling of head versus body and tail pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma," published in npj Precision Oncology. The research team found that the anatomical location of a pancreatic tumor is an important factor influencing the outcome of systematic therapeutic interventions.
Abdelrahim and colleagues hypothesized that there is a difference in the microenvironment of tumors in the head of the pancreas compared to the body and tail, particularly with regard to the immune therapy receptors found in each of these parts of the pancreas.
"By focusing on the biology around the tumor and considering its location on the pancreas, we can better evaluate our treatment options," Abdelrahim said. "Rather than treating patients under the umbrella term of pancreatic malignancy, moving to a tumor location-based model could significantly change how clinicians develop preliminary treatment plans."
The team hopes this discovery will help clinicians develop more specific treatment plans and improve outcomes for patients.