A recent study has revealed that pancreatic cancer cells quickly change their location in the body. They move to other organs, increasing the odds of pancreatic cancer death. The study revealed that pancreatic tumors generate more perlecan to modify the environment around them. This allows cancer cells to spread to other organs while protecting them against chemotherapy.

The research also indicated that decreased levels of perlecan reduces the spread of cancer and increases the body’s response to chemotherapy.

Pancreatic cancer is aggressive, usually making the tumor inoperable once discovered. There are two critical approaches to treating pancreatic cancer believed to increase the efficiency of chemotherapy and lower tumor spread.

Spotlight on the Tumor Matrix
An investigation to stop pancreatic cells from regeneration is done through a close look on fibroblasts. Researchers discovered that metastatic tumors produce more levels of fibroblasts than non-metastatic tumors. The discovery is that pancreatic cancer cells manifest depending on the shape of the tissue around them.

Using gene-editing technology, we can reduce the level of perlecan and use advanced imaging techniques to track pancreatic cancer cells. This will reduce the spread of cancer and increase the tumor’s response to chemotherapy and other treatments.

Untapped Resources
There is hope if fibroblasts are targeted correctly through targeting cancer cells concurrently. If fibroblasts and harboring genetic changes get targeted, they will get susceptible, thus making treatment much more comfortable. 

If perlecan and other matrix molecules that aid in metastatic tumors are targeted, treatment will be valid for not only pancreatic cancer but also prostate and breast cancers. Most cancer therapies focus on the cancer cells themselves, leaving the location of the tumor potentially untapped. Thus, further research is required to treat the disease quickly.

In sum, pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest diseases. Its signs rarely show early, causing the cancer cells to spread quickly. Your physician should check the rate of spread when diagnosing the condition, and advise on effective treatment options.