# Pancreatic cancer research on resistance and evolution

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/pancreatic-cancer-research-on-resistance-and-evolution
> Updated: 2026-10-24T01:55:00.000Z. Sources: 11. Developments: 2.

Recent scientific studies have identified biological mechanisms that contribute to the aggressiveness and treatment resistance of pancreatic cancer.

Research led by New York University, published in Nature Genetics, utilized genetic analysis of over 443,000 single cells to track how pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma evolves. The study found that cancer cells can switch between different types in response to therapy by continuously transforming their genetic activity, a process driven largely by the Myc gene. This genetic reorganization allows certain cell clones to develop resistance to treatments or gain the ability to metastasize.

In a separate study, researchers at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology identified the CD44 molecule as a key regulator of the tumor microenvironment. The findings indicate that CD44 controls cancer-associated fibroblasts, which create a scar-like tissue structure that suppresses the immune response. Laboratory models showed that inactivating CD44 reduced extracellular matrix production, potentially allowing immune cells to attack tumor cells more effectively.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-24: Researchers identify new mechanisms in pancreatic cancer progression and resistance

New studies reveal how pancreatic cancer uses the CD44 molecule to suppress immune responses and how individual cancer cell clones rewrite their DNA to resist treatment and spread.

5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/researchers-identify-new-mechanisms-in-pancreatic-cancer-progression-and-resistance

### 2026-10-17: Pancreatic cancer cells evade drugs through genetic transformation

A study led by New York University reveals that pancreatic cancer cells use the Myc gene to evolve and evade drugs, offering new potential targets for future therapies.

6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/pancreatic-cancer-cells-evade-drugs-through-genetic-transformation

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Cite as: Pancreatic cancer research on resistance and evolution. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/pancreatic-cancer-research-on-resistance-and-evolution
