Commentaries on Articles

David Douglas.Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Promising in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancer 2007;110:1457-1468.

As reported by David Douglas tyrosine kinase inhibitors have a promising future in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. The report dated October 30 2007 was published by Reuters Health. According to the report, Dr. Buechler of the University of Munich and colleagues have found a new dimension in treating pancreatic cancer in the form of tyrosine kinase inhibitors that may be available even for oral administration. The compound under investigation PKC412 was evaluated for its effect on pancreatic cancer cell lines and xenografts in a study which demonstrated very promising results. Preclinical studies in highly metastatic orthotopic murine model of pancreatic cancer demonstrated inhibitory effect on tumor growth and tumor angiogenesis. PKC412 is now viewed as a compound with great potential especially for tailored therapies in pancreatic cancer.

Commentary by:

Dr. Shailesh V. Shrikhande
MBBS, MS, MD
Associate Professor and Consultant Surgeon
Department of Gastrointestinal and Hepato- Biliary- Pancreatic Surgery
Tata Memorial Hospital
Dr. Ernest Borges Marg, Parel
Mumbai - 400 012
India.

Though tyrosine kinase inhibitors are showing promising results in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, single target therapy remains to be seen in pancreatic cancer as it is an aggressive cancer where multiple growth promoting pathways are activated.