Researchers at Long Island lab discover breakthrough that slows pancreatic cancer progression
Pancreatic cancer is predicted to become the second-deadliest cancer in the US by 2030.
Researchers at the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory have found a way to slow the progression of pancreatic cancer during its early stages.
The method blocks two proteins known to make the cancer become malignant.
Researchers on Long Island have discovered a breakthrough that could aid in the mission to help maintain and possibly cure one of the most deadly forms of cancer in the United States.
Dig deeper
Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) has found a way to prevent the progression of cancer cells by blocking two proteins known as FGFR2 and EGFR.
Claudia Tonelli, a research investigator at CSHL, spent countless hours studying early versions of pancreatic cancer in mice and lab grown versions of human pancreatic tissue.
What they're saying
"These two proteins, together, can make the cells become malignant," Tonelli told FOX 5 New York.
Local perspective
Bill Reindl, 68, was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer last summer.
Reindl will have to undergo chemotherapy for the rest of his life to treat the disease.
What they're saying
"Like probably most people I was in denial for a little while - this couldn't be possible," Reindl told FOX 5.
But news of CSHL's breakthrough gives both Reindl and his family hope.
"It's a golden ticket, a second chance," Amy Pollaci, Reindl's daughter, said.
Researchers at CSHL predict pancreatic cancer will become the second-deadliest cancer in America by 2030.
Pancreatic cancer is often not found and diagnosed until it is in its later stages, according to the American Cancer Association.
"The pancreas is deep inside the body, so early tumors can't be seen or felt by health care providers during routine physical exams. People usually have no symptoms until the cancer has become very large or has already spread to other organs," the ACA website states.
The Source
Information for this article was taken from local reporting by FOX 5 New York's Jodi Goldberg and interviews with the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

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ZEGFROVY is an oral, irreversible EGFR inhibitor with uniquely designed molecular structure targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. In August 2023, ZEGFROVY received accelerated approval in China. Today's FDA approval follows Breakthrough Therapy Designation and Priority Review granted by both the U.S. FDA and the Center for Drug Evaluation (CDE) of China's National Medical Products Administration (NMPA). The FDA approval is supported by data from the multinational pivotal study WU-KONG1 Part B (WU-KONG1B), aiming to investigate the efficacy and safety of ZEGFROVY in relapsed or refractory NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. The study results were featured as an oral presentation at the 2024 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting and were recently published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology. 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"ZEGFROVY has demonstrated breakthrough therapeutic value in the treatment of EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, as shown in a rigorous multinational clinical trial. Its potent antitumor activity, manageable safety profile, and convenient oral administration position it as an optimal treatment option in clinical practice," said Prof. James Chih-Hsin Yang, MD, PhD, National Taiwan University Cancer Center Hospital and the Co-lead principal investigator of WU-KONG1B. "The approval of ZEGFROVY in major global markets not only offers new hope for patients, but also reinforces our commitment to patient-centered research and the continued advancement of precision medicine in lung cancer." "In NSCLC, EGFR exon20ins represent the third most common type of EGFR mutation. EGFR exon20ins are particularly challenging to treat due to their unique spatial conformation, diverse mutation subtypes, and high heterogeneity. 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About ZEGFROVY® (sunvozertinib) ZEGFROVY is an irreversible EGFR inhibitor discovered by Dizal scientists targeting a wide spectrum of EGFR mutations with wild-type EGFR selectivity. ZEGFROVY is approved in the U.S. and China for the treatment the treatment of adult patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 20 insertion mutations (exon20ins), whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy. The China approval is based on the results of the pivotal WU-KONG6 study in platinum-based chemotherapy pretreated NSCLC with EGFR exon20ins. The U.S. approval is supported by WU-KONG1 Part B, a multinational pivotal study investigating the efficacy and safety of ZEGFROVY in the same indication. In addition, ZEGFROVY also demonstrated encouraging anti-tumor activity in NSCLC patients with EGFR sensitizing, T790M, and uncommon mutations (such as G719X, L861Q, etc.), as well as HER2 exon20ins. ZEGFROVY showed a well-tolerated and manageable safety profile in the clinic. The most common drug-related TEAEs (treatment-emergent adverse event) were Grade 1/2 in nature and clinically manageable. WU-KONG28, a phase III, multinational, randomized study assessing ZEGFROVY as a first-line treatment for patients with EGFR exon20ins NSCLC, has completed enrollment across 16 countries and regions. Pre-clinical and clinical results of ZEGFROVY were published in peer-reviewed journals Cancer Discovery, The Lancet Respiratory Medicine and Journal of Clinical Oncology. About Dizal Dizal is a biopharmaceutical company, dedicated to the discovery, development and commercialization of differentiated therapeutics for the treatment of cancer and immunological diseases. The company aims to develop first-in-class and groundbreaking new medicines, and further address unmet medical needs worldwide. Deep-rooted in translational science and molecular design, it has established an internationally competitive portfolio with multiple assets in global pivotal studies and two leading assets: ZEGFROVY, approved in both the U.S. and China, and golidocitinib, approved in China. To learn more about Dizal, please visit or follow us on Linkedin or Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This news release may contain certain forward-looking statements that are, by their nature, subject to significant risks and uncertainties. The words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", and "intend" and similar expressions, as they relate to Dizal, are intended to identify certain forward-looking statements. Dizal does not intend to update these forward-looking statements regularly. These forward-looking statements are based on the existing beliefs, assumptions, expectations, estimates, projections, and understandings of the management of Dizal with respect to future events at the time these statements are made. These statements are not a guarantee of future developments and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors, some of which are beyond Dizal's control and are difficult to predict. Consequently, actual results may differ materially from information contained in the forward-looking statements as a result of future changes or developments in our business, Dizal's competitive environment, and political, economic, legal, and social conditions. Dizal, the Directors, and the employees of Dizal assume (a) no obligation to correct or update the forward-looking statements contained on this site; and (b) no liability in the event that any of the forward-looking statements does not materialize or turnout to be incorrect. Contacts Investor Relations: ir@ Development: bd@ Contact: pr@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Dizal Pharmaceutical