Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most deadly forms of of Pancreatic Cancer with a less than 10 percent, 5-year survival rate. Unfortunately, it is the most common form of Pancreatic Cancer.  However, scientist were given hope to increase the survival rate when a protein was identified as a aid to the development of PDAC. The protein is Arginine Methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) and it is involved in gene transcription, DNA signaling, and DNA repair.

It is said that research done by Giulio Draetta, M.D., PhD “strongly suggest a role for PRMT1 in PDAC development and illuminate a path toward the development of therapies for patients in desperate need of innovative solutions”. Draetta’s  team developed a platform called PILOT, Patient-Based In Vivo Lethality to Optimize Treatment. The PILOT technology allows researchers to systematically identify epigenetic drivers in patient-derived tumors. The research found hat PRMT1 is a epigenetic driver for PDAC. Using CRISPR, the team was able to confirm that when the proteins were removed from DNA, the growth of the cancer cells were significantly impaired. There is hope that this recent development can save many lives and increase the survival rate of Pancreatic Ductal Andeocarcinoma.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Diagram_showing_stage_T4_cancer_of_the_pancreas_CRUK_267.svg

 

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