Cell culture study maps mechanisms underlying a new potential strategy for killing pancreatic cancer cells through a type of cell death known as ferroptosis.

ApoE has known roles in cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer’s, but was not previously implicated in pancreatic cancer.

The analysis highlights the diversity of immune response in pancreatic cancer, and points toward the need for treatments tailored to individual patients.

Rather than attacking cancer cells directly, new cell-model research probes weaknesses in pancreatic cancer’s interactions with other cells to obtain nutrients needed for tumor growth.

The protein Argonaute 2 was found to be critical to the progression from benign lesions into pancreatic cancer, suggesting a therapeutic opportunity.

In mouse models, the work uncovers a new potential target to improve immunotherapy approaches to the deadly disease.