Research shows pancreatitis biomarker linked to pancreatic cancer

A new study has found that a chemical structure called CA19-9, a known biomarker for pancreatitis, contributes to patients developing pancreatic cancer. The discovery could inform the development of therapies for the condition.

“This is one of those unique opportunities where prophylactic intervention of pancreatitis may lead to prevention of pancreatic cancer in at-risk patients,” said Dannielle Engle, the lead researcher.

The research team investigated CA19-9, a complex sugar structure that coats many proteins but had not previously been found to have a distinct function. A single enzyme controls the final step in production of CA19-9 in humans, but this enzyme is missing in rodents. The researchers generated mice that produced CA19-9 and noted that the mice developed severe pancreatitis. The findings position CA19-9 as an attractive therapeutic target for pancreatitis.

In mice, CA19-9 recruits the immune system to repair injuries from pancreatitis. The study found that during this recruitment process, CA19-9 can also induce a cascade of biochemical reactions propelled by the release of deleterious digestive enzymes from the pancreas. This cascade opens a transformational gateway for cancer to develop and the team also demonstrated that CA19-9 can dramatically accelerate the growth of pancreatic tumours.

“Pancreatitis is required for developing pancreatic cancer and we might be able to prevent that transition in patients with pancreatitis by targeting CA19-9,” posited Engle. “By targeting CA19-9 with antibodies in animal models, we were able to reduce the severity of pancreatitis and even prevent it from occurring.”

A pending patent application filed by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) covering use of CA19-9 antibodies for the treatment and prevention of pancreatitis has been exclusively licensed to BioNTech, a German-based biotech company.

The findings are published in the journal Science.