Scientists map how pancreatic cancer rewrites DNA to evade treatment

Researchers at NYU Langone analyzed 443,451 individual cells from 62 pancreatic tumors and identified distinct clones with different genetic changes driving resistance and spread. Blocking the MYC gene pushed aggressive cells back toward a less dangerous state and made them more visible to the immune system.

• 443,451 cells from 62 tumors of 56 patients were analyzed
• Nearly 85% of patients die within five years of diagnosis
• Blocking MYC shifted aggressive cells to a less dangerous state
• Clones with high TIGIT and low PD1 may explain weak immunotherapy response