Why November is a Season for Hope
Pancreatic cancer has long been considered one of the deadliest forms of cancer, killing over 50,000 people annually. This devastating disease also has one of the lowest survival rates of any cancer, with recent five-year estimates hovering around 13%. Known as a silent killer, pancreatic cancer is often diagnosed late, limiting available treatment options and the possibility of surgery.
This fall, we want to usher in a new narrative.
November is Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, and while the statistics can be sobering, there are many reasons to hope. Researchers have been making meaningful progress in the fields of early detection, targeted therapies, and immunotherapy.
These advancements are significant achievements that may pave the way for earlier diagnoses and more effective treatments. From new blood-based tests to KRAS-targeted therapies, researchers are diligently working on the models and discoveries that will one day lead to a cure.
Blood-based screening approaches
One of the reasons pancreatic cancer remains so deadly is that 90% of patients are diagnosed after the disease has already advanced, and 80% are diagnosed when surgery is no longer a feasible option. But a new blood-based test may be the diagnostic breakthrough patients and families have long hoped for.
Supported by the NIH, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine in Philadelphia and Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, developed a phased approach to test biomarkers present in blood. Their research included two blood markers that had previously been researched and dismissed as screening tools, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and thrombospondin 2 (THBS2), along with two additional markers.
This discovery revealed that patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer had elevated levels of two previously unidentified biomarker proteins compared to cancer-free patients. When combined with the previously mentioned biomarkers, these two proteins, aminopeptidase N (ANPEP) and polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), formed a successful four-marker panel.
This panel successfully distinguished pancreatic cancer cases from non-cases 91.9% of the time across all stages, with a false-positive rate of just 5% in non-cases. In addition, the new four-marker panel demonstrated a 87.5% success rate in identifying early-stage (Stage I/II) pancreatic cancer.
Another promising aspect of the test was its ability to differentiate cancer patients from both healthy individuals and those with non-cancerous pancreatic conditions, such as pancreatitis, which had previously been a challenge with the original two blood markers. These findings warrant further testing in larger populations, noted the study's lead investigator, Kenneth Zaret, Ph.D., of the University of Pennsylvania's Perelman School of Medicine. However, these pre-diagnostic studies could eventually become a powerful, lifesaving screening tool for high-risk patients.
The KRAS & RAS Revolution
Another significant victory in the battle against pancreatic cancer comes from the results reported by an experimental KRAS vaccine. This summer, researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and Skip Viragh Center for Pancreatic Cancer reported promising results by targeting the most common genetic driver of pancreatic cancer: the KRAS mutation.
This mutation is commonly found in both pancreatic cancer and precancerous pancreatic lesions. The new vaccine enables the immune system to recognize and destroy cells carrying this mutation before they develop into cancer. While the study was relatively small, 90% of participants developed a significant immune response to the vaccine. Furthermore, the vaccine was found to be relatively safe, with all treatment-related adverse symptoms classified as mild to moderate.
More cause for celebration came this August when a mutation once deemed "undruggable," RAS, met its match. On August 26, the FDA approved Daraxonrasib for adults with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, making it the first approved RAS-targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer.
The results from the Phase 3 trial were unprecedented, with patient survival nearly doubling compared to standard intravenous chemotherapy. The Daraxonrasib breakthrough is particularly exciting because it is part of a new class of drugs known as RAS (ON) inhibitors.
As one of the primary drivers of pancreatic cancer, RAS proteins normally function by toggling cell growth on and off. However, in cancer cells, these proteins can become stuck in the "on" position, continuously signaling cells to grow. For many years, researchers considered RAS undruggable because the protein's surface offered no suitable area for a drug molecule to bind.
Daraxonrasib works differently. It contains a multi-selective, non-covalent inhibitor that targets both mutant and wild-type RAS proteins in their active "on" state, blocking the signals that drive tumor growth.
Renewed Hope
For decades, patients with pancreatic cancer have faced grim diagnoses and devastating survival rates. While there is still much work to do, these recent breakthroughs offer renewed hope. From experimental vaccines to FDA-approved targeted therapies, these advancements are ushering in a new era, made possible by years of dedication, perseverance, and hard work.
Behind every exciting headline is a team of scientists, lab managers, researchers, and veterinarians. From mouse models to human trials, we understand the time, commitment, and sacrifice that the pursuit of a cure demands.
Transnetyx is forever grateful for your contributions, and it is our greatest honor to be your partner on the path to discovery.
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