Varanasi 31 August : A team of researchers headed by Manoj Pandey of the Department of Surgical Oncology at the Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University (BHU) has identified the somatic mutations that cause gallbladder cancer.Gallbladder cancer is among of the most prevalent types of cancers found in the Gangetic belt.
The cancer is usually diagnosed later and is associated with a low survival rate.The current 5-year survival rate is between 10 and 20 percent.
According to Pandey the BHU researchers BHU have been studying gallbladder cancer for over 25 years to discover the possible causes that remain elusive.
As part of the research the team carried out next-generation sequencing of gallbladder cancer in 33 patients.This was then subjected bioinformatics analysis.
The research team discovered 27 somatic mutations that impacted 14 crucial genes.From these, two genes, namely P53 and KRAS were the most affected and appear to be the driving mutations that are responsible for these cancers.
He stated that the bioinformatics study found MAP Kinase, PI3KAKT EGF/EGFR, Focal Adhesion PI3KAKT-mTOR signalling pathways, as well as cross-talk between these pathways.
The study revealed that the interplay between the MAPK, mTOR and multiple interconnected cell signalling cascades can trigger gallbladder cancer growth and, consequently motor targeted treatment is a viable alternative in the treatment of gallbladder cancer.
These targeting molecules are readily available and approved for a variety of indications, but they have not been tested in gallbladder cancer.
The results of the research have been reported in the prestigious journal of science Molecular Biology reports.
According to Pandey the mutations responsible in gall bladder cancer have been identified for the first-time.
However, it’s unclear why these mutations occur mostly in those two genes in this region.Typhoid and toxic metals as well as the carrier state have been previously linked in gallbladder cancer.
He explained that this pathway and the cross-talk are being identified for the first time in the world, which opens the way to the application of innovative therapeutic drugs such as Evrolimus and Temsirolimus in gallbladder cancer.Both of these drugs are mTOR inhibitors and interfere with the creation of proteins that control growth, proliferation and the survival of tumor cells.
They also slow the growth of tumours by decreasing angiogenesis (new blood vessel formation in the tumour) by blocking the VEGF (gene) and, consequently, reducing the food supply to the tumour, thereby killing the cancerous cells.
Pandey said that researchers have submitted a plan for a clinical study of MTOR inhibitors in gallbladder cancer.
The trial, should be successful, could provide a new avenue for the treatment of gallbladder cancer, which has been considered incurable to date.
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