It is hard for me to contain my enthusiasm about the recent publication in the Journal of the Pancreas by Pamela Itkin-Ansari, PhD, a Hirshberg Seed Grant award recipient in 2011-2012.
Dr. Ansari stated, “For the first time, we have shown that overexpression of a single gene can reduce the tumor-promoting potential of pancreatic cancer adenocarcinoma cells and reprogram them toward their original cell type. Thus, pancreatic cancer cells retain a genetic memory which we can exploit. Additionally, we are screening for molecules-potential drugs-that can induce overexpression of E47.”
The new research study has shown that pancreatic cancer cells can be coaxed to revert back to normal cells by introducing a protein called E47. The finding is promising as it is possible to turn cancer cells back to normal cells.
We congratulate Dr. Itkin-Ansari and her team at the Sanford-Burnham Cancer Institute, UC San Diego, who expressed her appreciation for our support. At the Hirshberg Foundation we are committed to funding research that accelerates our goal of early detection, improved treatment options and a cure.