New Discoveries and Honors in Cancer Research

Read the latest cancer research and recognition from the members of the Damon Runyon scientific circle.
April 26, 2012
Cell metabolism linked to pancreatic cancer growth and progression

Sujun Hua, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘10-‘13), Costas A. Lyssiotis, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘10-‘13), Ji-Hye Paik, PhD (Damon Runyon Fellow ‘06-‘08) and colleagues at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, discovered a new role for the Kras oncogene in controlling cell metabolism. They reported that a genetic mutation in Kras linked to initiation of pancreatic cancer also manipulates metabolic pathways to support tumor growth and progression. The findings suggest that combination strategies to target both metabolic and Kras signaling pathways may be effective for treatment of pancreatic cancers. The study was published in the journal Cell.