New hope in pancreatic cancer battle

Scientists have identified a previously unknown faulty gene that appears to play a key role in some aggressive forms of pancreatic cancer.

But studies suggest the defect could be fixed using experimental drugs which have already shown promise in lung cancer.

Research on human cell lines and mice have shown that the gene, called USP9x, is switched off by chemical “tags” on the surface of its DNA.

Lead scientist Professor David Tuveson, from Cancer Research UK’s Cambridge Research Institute, said: “Drugs which strip away these tags are already showing promise in lung cancer and this study suggests they could also be effective in treating up to 15 per cent of pancreatic cancers.”