Pancreatic cancer is often found late, when it has already spread beyond the pancreas. Fewer than 12% of people survive five years, making it one of the deadliest cancers. Treatment typically combines surgery when possible, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation, but recurrence is common and options for advanced disease remain limited.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing combinations of chemotherapy with immunotherapy drugs, targeted therapies for specific gene mutations like BRCA1/BRCA2 and KRAS, and ways to break down the dense tissue around tumors that blocks drugs from reaching cancer cells. Researchers are also studying earlier detection methods and vaccine approaches that train the immune system to recognize pancreatic cancer.
KRAS-targeted drugs
About 90% of pancreatic cancers have KRAS mutations that drive cancer growth. New drugs that block mutant KRAS are being tested in combination with chemotherapy after showing promise in other cancers.
Immunotherapy combinations
Pancreatic cancer hides from the immune system, so checkpoint inhibitors alone rarely work. Trials are testing combinations that might expose the cancer to immune attack, including vaccines and drugs that disrupt the tumor's protective environment.
Tumor microenvironment
Pancreatic tumors are surrounded by dense scar tissue that blocks chemotherapy from reaching cancer cells. Drugs that break down this barrier are being tested to improve treatment delivery.
What to know before you search
Eligibility depends on cancer stage, whether the tumor can be removed surgically, prior treatments, genetic mutations in the tumor, and overall health status.
What types of trials are currently open
- Combination therapy trials — Testing new combinations of chemotherapy, targeted drugs, and immunotherapy to see if they work better than current standard treatments.
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs that target specific mutations like KRAS, BRCA1, BRCA2, or DNA repair defects found in some pancreatic cancers.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, and other approaches to help the immune system recognize and attack pancreatic cancer.
- Surgical trials — Comparing different surgical approaches, timing of surgery relative to chemotherapy, and adding new treatments before or after surgery.
- Prevention trials — Testing screening methods in high-risk people and approaches to prevent cancer in those with precancerous pancreatic cysts.
Recently added Pancreatic Cancer trials
Receive a new radiation therapy system designed for shorter, easier treatments
The purpose of this research is to evaluate the "Next Generation Delivery System" (NGDS) and determine if this machine will be more efficient at delivering radiation in shorter treatment time and better patient tolerance, with less breath holding.
Take a new injection every 3 weeks for advanced pancreatic cancer
This study was a randomized, double-blind, multicenter phase III clinical study. A total of 226 patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal carcinoma who had failed or were intolerant to two previous standard therapies were planned.Subjects will be randomized in a 2:1 ratio to either the experimental group or the control group:Experimental Group: XNW28012 for Injection (2.4 mg/kg, administered once every 3 weeks);Control group: XNW28012 mimetic for Injection (administered once every 3 weeks).Both experimental and control subjects will receive optimal supportive care, including but not limited to nutritional support, adjustment of electrolyte balance, and cancer pain support treatment.
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