A new study suggests that the FGFR inhibitor AZD4547 may offer a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by targeting the tumor’s surrounding support cells rather than the cancer cells alone. Researchers found that the drug blocks the formation of inflammatory cancer-associated fibroblasts (iCAFs), which help tumors grow, spread, and evade the immune system.
By preventing iCAF development, AZD4547 reduced the production of inflammatory signals that promote cancer growth. It also slowed tumor cell movement, blocked processes linked to metastasis, and shifted immune cells from a tumor-supporting state to a more cancer-fighting state.
In laboratory 3D tumor models, AZD4547 reduced tumor growth by more than 30%. In mouse models of pancreatic cancer, the drug decreased tumor size by about 20%, cut the number of active iCAFs by more than half, and significantly reduced liver metastasis without causing noticeable side effects.
The findings suggest that targeting the tumor microenvironment with AZD4547 could become a promising new strategy for treating pancreatic cancer and preventing its spread.
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