15. 07. 2025
Reading time: 3 minutes
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common form of pancreatic cancer and one of the deadliest types of cancer overall. Although scientists have been studying this disease for decades and treatments have come a long way, the five-year survival rate for patients remains in the low single digits. Why is this type of cancer so resistant, and how is research working to change that?
One of the main problems with PDAC is its extremely complex tumour microenvironment – a dense network of supporting tissue and cells that protects the tumour and prevents drugs from penetrating it. This so-called desmoplastic reaction creates a kind of “protective barrier” that significantly complicates treatment. In addition, the tumour is often not detected until it is in an advanced stage, when it can no longer be completely removed surgically. Even chemotherapy does not bring about significant improvement. Between 2014 and 2018, the average survival rate increased from only 6% to 9%. Scientists are therefore looking for new approaches to better understand and treat PDAC.
A new international study published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences (IF 4.9) (open in a new window), in which geneticist Veronika Vymetálková from the Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer also participated, summarises the current state of research on PDAC laboratory models and evaluates their potential in testing new therapeutic approaches – including photodynamic therapy, which targets not only cancer cells but also their protective microenvironment. More accurate models will allow better prediction of how a patient’s body will respond to treatment, which is key to developing more effective and personalised therapies.
Modern preclinical models of PDAC strive to mimic the extremely complex tumour microenvironment as closely as possible. These include three-dimensional cultures (known as spheroids and organoids), models using patient cells, and microfluidic chips that simulate blood flow and cell interactions. These systems serve as experimental platforms for testing the effectiveness of new drugs and therapies before they are introduced into clinical trials.
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a modern, innovative method in which cancer cells are treated with a light-sensitive substance and then destroyed by light radiation. This procedure is not only gentler than conventional chemotherapy, but it can also disrupt the protective microenvironment of the tumour and activate the immune system for more effective defence. The combination of PDT with new PDAC models could pave the way for more targeted and effective treatment.