New prospects for bile duct cancer: PARP-1 as a therapeutic target in KRAS-mutated intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas
Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (iCCAs) are among the most aggressive forms of cancer worldwide. Despite advances in systemic therapy, treatment options remain limited, which is why new strategies are urgently needed. A study led by Prof. Dr Jens Marquardt at the UKSH in Lübeck has now shown that the activation of PARP-1 plays a key role in KRAS-mutated iCCAs – a mutation associated with a particularly poor prognosis. Targeted inhibition of PARP-1 significantly reduced tumour growth in preclinical models. These findings open up new avenues for personalised therapies. The Wilhelm Sander Foundation supported the project with €180,000.
A potential new strategy for overcoming resistance to immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer and other tumours
Cellular and immunotherapies are currently either ineffective or only partially effective in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Researchers at LMU Munich had discovered that this is due, amongst other things, to a specific signalling molecule, prostaglandin, which is released by both cancer cells and their surrounding environment. With funding of 177,000 euros from the Wilhelm Sander Foundation, Sebastian Kobold’s research group has now developed a potential strategy for selectively switching off this signalling pathway. Using gene scissors, the scientists have now been able to block the effect of prostaglandins in cellular therapies, which could potentially make immunotherapies feasible for this disease as well.