Moffitt Cancer Center researchers have identified a gene that can better predict survival of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, the fourth leading cause of cancer death in the United States. Researcher Richard Kim, MD, deputy member of the Experimental Therapeutics Program, and colleagues from several other research institutes have conducted a study to define the role of the ribonucleotide reductase M1 (RRM1). The gene encoding the regulatory subunit of ribonucleotide reductase RRM1, the molecular target of gemcitabine, a commonly used chemotherapy in pancreatic cancer.
In the study, published in the January 1 issue of Cancer, the research team studied the therapeutic value prediction RRM1 expression of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. They found that patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas surgically removed, low RRM1 expression provided a benefit in overall survival with gemcitabine therapy. High expression of RRM1 predicted gemcitabine therapy beneficial not.
"We have already suggested that low expression of RRM1 could predict the success of treatment of gemcitabine," said Kim. "This study was conducted to determine whether RRM1 expression is correlated with better survival in patients treated with gemcitabine."
This retrospective study included 122 patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma 1999-2007. In the subgroup of patients who received gemcitabine treatment, those with low expression of RRM1 longer overall survival and a tendency to progression-free survival. Patients with high expression RRMI who received gemcitabine had a significantly higher overall survival and progression-free survival.
"Our results indicate that the best survival rate after surgical resection, the level of RRM1 expression can be used to select patients treated with gemcitabine and which are not," said Kim.
The authors note that their results were consistent with similar studies on the role of RRM1 plays in chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, but their findings "should be interpreted with caution" because of their small sample sizes and successful treatment of non-gemcitabine therapy after surgery.
"A validation study must be carried out before the present results can be applied clinically," Kim added.
Source: Moffitt Cancer Center
In the study, published in the January 1 issue of Cancer, the research team studied the therapeutic value prediction RRM1 expression of the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine. They found that patients with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas surgically removed, low RRM1 expression provided a benefit in overall survival with gemcitabine therapy. High expression of RRM1 predicted gemcitabine therapy beneficial not.
"We have already suggested that low expression of RRM1 could predict the success of treatment of gemcitabine," said Kim. "This study was conducted to determine whether RRM1 expression is correlated with better survival in patients treated with gemcitabine."
This retrospective study included 122 patients who had undergone surgery for pancreatic adenocarcinoma 1999-2007. In the subgroup of patients who received gemcitabine treatment, those with low expression of RRM1 longer overall survival and a tendency to progression-free survival. Patients with high expression RRMI who received gemcitabine had a significantly higher overall survival and progression-free survival.
"Our results indicate that the best survival rate after surgical resection, the level of RRM1 expression can be used to select patients treated with gemcitabine and which are not," said Kim.
The authors note that their results were consistent with similar studies on the role of RRM1 plays in chemotherapy for patients with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer, but their findings "should be interpreted with caution" because of their small sample sizes and successful treatment of non-gemcitabine therapy after surgery.
"A validation study must be carried out before the present results can be applied clinically," Kim added.
Source: Moffitt Cancer Center
