The combination of a novel drug (tigatuzumab) directed against pancreatic cancer stem cells, and the drug (gemcitabine) currently used for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, has shown promising results in achieving tumor remission and preventing recurrence. Tigatuzumab is a humanized antibody directed against death receptor-5, which the researchers showed is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer stem cells. In the studies, ten patient-derived tumors were implanted in laboratory mice and the effects of the combination therapy were evaluated. Treatment with gemcitabine and tigatuzumab resulted in the reduction of pancreatic cancer stem cells, caused tumor remission, and significantly increased time-to-tumor progression in fifty percent of treated cases from a median of 54 days to 103 days. These results were obtained by researchers from Johns Hopkins and colleagues, and will be presented at the annual AACR meeting April 18-22. [Press release]Login Or Register To Read Full Story