New pancreatic cancer strategy kills KRAS-mutant tumor cells and extends survival in mice

Researchers at the University of Cologne's Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC) have discovered a previously unknown mechanism that makes most pancreatic cancer cells susceptible to a form of programmed cell death. The team, led by Professor Dr. Silvia von Karstedt, showed that cancer cells with mutations in the KRAS gene develop a vulnerability that can be used to eliminate tumor cells in preclinical models. The findings open up new perspectives for treating pancreatic cancer. The study "Oncogenic KRAS-Driven type I Interferon Signalling Primes Pancreatic Cancer for Necroptosis" was published in the journal Nature Communications.