When they targeted FGFR2 along with EGFR-a protein known to be overactive in pancreatic cancer-they saw even better results. Fewer "early versions of cancer" formed in the first place.

More information: FGFR2 Abrogation Intercepts Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Development, Cancer Research (2025). DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-4576 ...

Notably, FGFR2 expression in murine precancerous lesions correlated with an increase in mutant KRAS signaling. "We know that precancerous pancreatic lesions often carry KRAS mutations," said Tonelli.

She and her colleagues recently discovered that KRAS gets mutated from another gene called FGFR2, making “those ‘early versions’ of pancreatic cancer become much more aggressive.” The gene ...

Precancerous pancreatic lesions and some pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumors harboring KRAS mutations had higher-than-normal expression of the FGFR2 protein, and FGFR2 inactivation ...

By inhibiting the cancer gene FGFR2, they were able to slow tumor formation. By targeting the FGFR2 and EGFR proteins, they were able to prevent pancreatic cancer from forming in the first place.

Aberrations in fibroblast growth factor receptors FGFR2/3 are major drivers of many cancers—including intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma, endometrial, breast, gastric, and bladder cancers. However ...