Irish scientists’ multi-drug bid to beat cancer of pancreas

COMBINING drugs used in treating one of the most deadliest types of cancer may be more successful than current methods, Irish researchers believe.

Researchers from Dublin City University (DCU), Queen’s University Belfast and the University at Buffalo, have come together to develop a new pancreatic cancer treatment programme.

Ultimately the team will look at ways to personalise therapy for specific characteristics of a patient’s disease, moving away from the ‘one-size-fitsall’ approach.

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of deaths of the disease worldwide. It’s a type of cancer that is lethal to the majority of patients.

Tumours associated with the disease affect blood flow, making it difficult to target cancer-killing chemicals.

The disease is also characterised by a range of mutations making it difficult to treat with just one drug.

This project will look at how new drug combinations can affect the function of normal cells within the tumour makeup, rather than the tumour cells.

This five-year €3.3million research programme will be made up of a team led by Prof Robert Straubinger of University at Buffalo, Drs Niall Barron and Robert O’Connor of DCU and Prof Christopher Scott of Queen’s University, supported by national and international pancreatic cancer research teams.

Dr O’Connor of DCU said: ‘This type of collaborative research will have a very significant impact on our efforts to overcome cancer.’