Laura and that pancreatic tumor disappeared thanks to research!

A young woman from Siena is fortunate enough to be included in a trial by Airc, the Italian Association for Cancer Research. Only in this way is it discovered that her illness is caused by a very rare DNA mutation. For which a drug already exists. Davide Melisi, the doctor from the University of Verona who treated her: "Supporting science can save lives"

The importance of being able to read genes. Laura Rosi's pancreatic cancer, 38 years old, from Siena, has now disappeared thanks to an in-depth reading of her DNA. “Her cancer,” explains Davide Melisi, professor at the University of Verona and Airc (Italian Association for Cancer Research) researcher, “was based on a very rare mutation: that of the Ret gene. It is the first time in Italy that we have observed pancreatic cancer associated with a mutation of this gene.”

Fortunately (at least for Rosi), a Ret mutation is very common in thyroid cancer. And it also already has a tried and fully available treatment. “We treated Laura's pancreatic cancer with a drug normally used for thyroid cancer,” explains Melisi. “The therapy worked. The patient had a complete response.” That is, the tumor has, for now, disappeared.

The trial of a new treatment

For Rosi, who had arrived in Verona with what the doctor describes as “a very severe prognosis” and “a very compromised clinical situation,” the treatment represented a return to life. “We tend to be very cautious in using the word cure, however,” warns Melisi. “We hope the response will also be long-lasting.”

Already once before, two years ago, the hope of a cure had been dashed by news of the disease’s return. “At that time,” recalls Melisi, “we had treated the woman with an experimental drug, developed by us in Verona thanks to Airc’s support, which increases the effectiveness of chemotherapy. Its name is Tgf-beta inhibitor. The response had been excellent, but after two years the cancer returned. That was when we decided to proceed with complete genome sequencing using state-of-the-art equipment. And we noticed the very rare mutation on the Ret gene.”

The gene matters, not the affected organ

Laura Rosi’s story is proof that a Copernican revolution has taken place in recent years in cancer treatment: what matters is not the affected organ, but the gene at the origin of the disease. “Pancreas or thyroid doesn’t matter,” explains Melisi. “If the mutation concerns the Ret gene, the drug to use will be the one for the Ret gene.”

The young woman’s recovery also demonstrates the strength of personalized medicine. “Only by reading the entire genome of Rosi’s cancer cells did we notice that mutation. We used a technique that unfortunately is not yet available to everyone, but only within certain trials.”

Airc research that saves lives

“It is very important that research is financially supported,” adds the professor, “because it can concretely save lives. And it is very important that patients with rare and particular forms of cancer turn to centers where trials are conducted. Only in this way can new therapies, not yet available elsewhere, be obtained.”

During Research Week, when Airc presents its initiatives and raises funds to find new treatments, Rosi’s story shows how science can bring hope even in the face of a difficult cancer like pancreatic cancer.

Link to the original article:

https://www.repubblica.it/cronaca/2022/11/12/news/laura_e_quel_tumore_al_pancreas_scomparso_grazie_a...