Pancreatic Cancer Treatments: Oncolytics Biotech, Candel, and CytomX Front Innovative Therapies in Medical Practice
Pancreatic cancer, a formidable foe that accounts for at least 90% of pancreatic tumours and has a dismal five-year survival rate of only 12%, is receiving renewed attention in the medical community. This deadly disease, which begins in the pancreas – an organ located behind the stomach that plays a crucial role in digestion and blood sugar regulation – is notoriously difficult to treat due to several challenges, including its location, resistance to most available systemic anti-cancer agents, and the creation of a protective cocoon of collagen fibers around the tumour.
However, recent advancements and ongoing clinical trials offer hope for those affected by this disease. One such development is the use of Tumor-Treating Fields (TTFields), a non-invasive, locally acting treatment that has shown promise in improving overall survival by about two months compared to chemotherapy alone in locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), with no added systemic toxicity and improved pain management. The PANOVA-3 Phase III trial provides this data, and the ongoing PANOVA-4 trial is testing TTFields plus immunotherapy (atezolizumab) with chemotherapy for metastatic PDAC.
Another promising approach is the use of targeted therapies against KRAS mutations, especially KRAS G12C inhibitors, which are showing early clinical promise in partially controlling tumour growth in patients whose cancers harbour these mutations. Clinical trials are ongoing, sometimes combining these inhibitors with chemotherapy or immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy approaches are also proving to be a valuable tool in the fight against pancreatic cancer. One innovative neoadjuvant trial added an immune checkpoint inhibitor plus a CD73 inhibitor to standard chemotherapy for borderline resectable pancreatic tumours. Early data showed tumour shrinkage, no progression during treatment, cancer-free lymph nodes, and a high major pathologic response rate (42%), indicating significant tumour cell death.
Pelareorep, a nonpathogenic, oncolytic virus developed by Canadian company Oncolytics Biotech, is another promising treatment option. Pelareorep works by generating, recruiting, and training immune cells to recognise and kill cancer. It can work in synergy with chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and other drugs to enhance its antitumor potential. Oncolytics is currently evaluating pelareorep combined with modified FOLFIRINOX both with and without atezolizumab, funded by a $5 million grant from the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN). In 2022, pelareorep was granted Fast Track Designation by the FDA for the treatment of advanced/metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in combination with Roche's anti-PD-L1 checkpoint inhibitor atezolizumab, and chemotherapeutic agents gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel.
The global pancreatic cancer treatment market size is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.30% from 2025 to 2030. This growth is driven by the increasing prevalence of pancreatic cancer, advances in early detection methods, and the development of new, more effective treatments.
In the U.S., pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer death and is projected to be second only to lung cancer in its lethality by 2025. The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 67,440 people in the U.S. will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and about 51,980 of those people are expected to succumb to the disease in 2024. However, with ongoing research and clinical trials, there is hope that these numbers will begin to decline.
A recent study claims that a blood test can accurately detect early-stage pancreatic cancer with 97% accuracy, which could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment. This is a significant step forward in the fight against this deadly disease.
References:
[1] PANOVA-3 Phase III trial: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT03687577 [2] University of Cincinnati Cancer Center trial: https://www.cincinnaticancercenter.com/news/cincinnati-cancer-center-researchers-studying-new-radiation-therapy-technique-for-locally-advanced-pancreatic-cancer [3] FDA approval of Nalirifox: https://www.fda.gov/drugs/resources-information-approved-drugs/fda-approves-nalirifox-first-new-first-line-treatment-pancreatic-cancer-over-a-decade [4] PARP inhibitors in Phase II trials: https://www.oncologytoday.com/newsroom/8586-oncology-today/2021/oncology-today-newsroom-2021-01-15 [5] Experimental personalized vaccines: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/treatment/research/personalized-vaccines
- The use of Tumor-Treating Fields (TTFields) in clinical trials has shown promise for improving overall survival in patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), offering a non-invasive, locally acting treatment option with reduced systemic toxicity and improved pain management.
- Immunotherapy approaches, such as the combination of an immune checkpoint inhibitor and a CD73 inhibitor with standard chemotherapy for borderline resectable pancreatic tumors, have shown early data indicating significant tumor cell death, tumor shrinkage, and a high major pathologic response rate.
- Oncolytics Biotech's Pelareorep, a nonpathogenic, oncolytic virus, is being evaluated in clinical trials in combination with modified FOLFIRINOX, chemotherapeutic agents, immune checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and other drugs to enhance its antitumor potential, with the goal of providing a more effective treatment for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
- The global pancreatic cancer treatment market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.30% from 2025 to 2030 due to the increasing prevalence of pancreatic cancer, advances in early detection methods, and the development of new, more effective treatments.
- A blood test with a reported 97% accuracy for detecting early-stage pancreatic cancer could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment, representing a significant step forward in the fight against this deadly disease.
