PKD1’s Effect on Pancreatic Cancer
Introduction:
Much money and time has been spent to uncover treatments that can lessen the grip that cancer has on the human race. While medical breakthroughs in the understanding of many types of cancer have greatly enhanced treatment options and patient survival rates, there is one type of cancer that continues to be very difficult to treat. Pancreatic cancer is a very difficult cancer to fight, and continuous to be a top priority for research and testing as it is one of the most aggressive growing cancers and highly resistant to chemotherapy (4). Although pancreatic cancer isn’t the most common form of cancer, it is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in the US and is estimated that around 48,960 people will be diagnosed and 40,560 people will die in 2015 from pancreatic cancer (1). Over the years, there have been small strides made in regard to treating pancreatic cancer, but recently there has been a promising breakthrough dealing with a gene called protein kinase D1 (PKD1). Scientists have found a connection between this gene and the growth of pancreatic cancer and believe it could lead to new ways of halting the development of one of the most difficult tumors to treat (1). While it is still in early test stages, scientists are hoping this gene could unlock the secrets behind preventing and treating pancreatic cancer.
Information on Pancreas and Pancreatic Cancer: The pancreas is a necessary organ in the digestive system as it helps to break down food so that the nutrients can be absorbed during the rest of the digestive process. The pancreas consists of two different glands, the exocrine and endocrine glands, and they serve two very different purposes. The exocrine gland releases pancreatic enzymes into ducts that mix with bile from the liver to break down food before it enters the small intestine; the