Pancreatic cancer: current standards, working towards a new therapeutic approach

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther. 2014 May;14(5):495-7. doi: 10.1586/14737140.2014.895937. Epub 2014 Mar 13.

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths with a 5-year survival of 4-6%. Clinical challenges remain to be addressed, since few promising approaches to treat pancreatic cancer have been reported. Here we discuss the potential of a new biotherapeutic agent composed of a lysosomal protein (Saposin C, SapC) and an acidic phospholipid (dioleoylphosphatidylserine, DOPS) which can be assembled into stable nanovesicles (SapC-DOPS) for tackling pancreatic cancer. Phosphatidylserine (PS) is a lipid biomarker on membrane surface of pancreatic cancer cells and can be effectively targeted by SapC-DOPS nanovesicles for cancer-selective therapy. SapC-DOPS nanovesicles have shown excellent pre-clinical therapeutic and safety profiles. Safety profiles which suggests that this new approach is potentially a viable option for pancreatic cancer therapy that is worthy of further clinical development.

Publication types

  • Editorial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Pancreatic Neoplasms / therapy*