Scientists target foot, mouth disease virus to tackle pancreatic cancer

A team of scientists is taking the help of the foot and mouth disease virus to tackle common cancer with the worst survival rate- pancreatic cancer. The research team from the Queen Mary University of London have identified a peptide, or protein fragment, taken from the foot-and-mouth-disease virus that targets another protein, called AvB6 (alpha-v-beta-6). This protein is found at high levels on the surface of the majority of pancreatic cancer cells. The study was published in Theranostics. Team used the peptide to carry a highly potent drug, called tesirine, to the pancreatic cancer cells. The team performed tests of the peptide /tesirine combination in both cells in the laboratory and in mice. The team now plan to further test the peptide and drug combination in more complex mice models, to determine if it can also impact on pancreatic cancer metastases, before moving to clinical trials.