Researchers at the IIS Aragón have identified a new therapeutic target to prevent metastasis in pancreatic cancer.

The 'Metabolism and Tumor Stem Cells' group at the IIS Aragón demonstrates in animal models a novel way to slow the progression and metastasis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and difficult-to-treat tumors, with a high mortality rate and a diagnosis that, in most cases, comes at a very advanced stage. In this context, Researchers at the Aragón Health Research Institute (IIS Aragón) have discovered a new pathway that could slow the progression of this type of cancer and its ability to metastasize, opening up new therapeutic possibilities for patients.. An important discovery that has just been Published in the renowned journal Cancer Research (a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research, AACR) and that has counted with the support of the Spanish Association Against Cancer, in collaboration with WorldWide Cancer Research.

The study, led by Dr. Patricia Sancho and with Dr. Beatriz Parejo Alonso as first author, has identified the key role of the PPAR-delta protein as a metabolic sensor that allows tumor cells to adapt to oxygen and nutrient shortages, common conditions in the tumor environment. This protein activates a program that reconfigures cellular metabolism and promotes more invasive and metastatic behavior.

"What we've seen is that PPAR-delta allows tumor cells to change their metabolism to survive in very unfavorable environments. This makes them more aggressive and favors their spread," explains Beatriz Parejo Alonso, a researcher in the "Metabolism and Tumor Stem Cells" group at the IIS Aragón. "The most important thing is that By blocking this protein, we manage to reduce this invasive capacity and stop the formation of metastasis."This is a very promising discovery that opens the door to possible future therapies targeting this pathway."

The results of the work show that, Inhibiting PPAR-delta in animal models reverses this adaptation, reduces the invasive capacity of tumor cells, and blocks the development of metastasis.The research thus establishes PPAR-delta as a therapeutic target of great interest to combat the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer.

Furthermore, this study has been carried out in Collaboration with research centers in the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, China and Australia.

Access the full article: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-3475