What the trial was testing
The COMBAT enrolled 80 patients with pancreatic cancer. The study was sponsored by BioLineRx and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was initial testing (phase 2). Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
32% tumor response rate in second-line metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Nature Medicine · 2020 · NCT02826486
These findings — that in second-line metastatic pancreatic cancer on motixafortide + pembrolizumab + chemo — were published in the Nature Medicine and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 80 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with pancreatic cancer, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
Motixafortide (Aphexda) is FDA-approved for stem cell mobilization in multiple myeloma but is not yet approved for pancreatic cancer. Standard pancreatic cancer treatments are FDA-approved and available now (FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel, NALIRIFOX). Ask an oncologist about trials and approved options.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open pancreatic cancer trials
Electrochemotherapy (ECT) in Patients With Primary Visceral Tumors and/or Secondary Visceral Localizations, of Any Histotype
This is an monocenter, single arm, clinical investigation that evaluate the impact of the method on the objective response rate (ORR) of visceral lesions undergoing electrochemotherapy. Electrochemotherapy is a well-defined method for the treatment of cutaneous and subcutaneous metastases of different tumor histotypes. Although still limited, the various experiences in the treatment of visceral localizations, particularly in liver metastases from colorectal cancer are promising and show that electrochemotherapy is a safe treatment, even in the case of lesions near large vessels or nerves. The investigators therefore propose a clinical investigation with a Medical Device according to EU Regulation 745/2017, using electrochemotherapy (Cliniporator) with bleomycin for the treatment of visceral, primary or secondary, unresectable localizations, with percutaneous or intraoperative technique (laparoscopic or laparotomy), as needed.
Phase I/II Study: Allogeneic NK-cell Therapy With Chemotherapy for Post-Surgery PDA or Cholangiocarcinoma Patients
This is a phase I/II study which intends to characterize the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of Allogeneic Magicell-NK infusion in PDA or cholangiocarcinoma patients after surgery. Subjects will receive a total of 6 intravenous (IV) infusions of the IP on the 11th day of each chemotherapy cycle. A total of 6 cycles of IP infusions are planned. The phase I part of the study is a first-in-human phase I trial of Allogeneic Magicell-NK and is therefore designed in an open-label, dose-escalation manner. A standard 3+3 design will be employed to assess the safety profile of Allogeneic Magicell-NK and to determine the MTD/MFD. Two dose cohorts are planned: the starting dose is 10 × 10\^8 cells (Cohort 1), and escalates to 20 × 10\^8 cells (Cohort 2). The phase II part of the study is designed as an open-label, two-arm, randomized clinical trial comparing the combination of SLOG and Allogeneic Magicell-NK with SLOG alone when used as adjuvant therapy following resection for PDA or Cholangiocarcinoma. Approximately 30 subjects will be randomized at a 2:1 ratio between the two arms: Arm 1: SLOG and Allogeneic Magicell-NK (20 subjects); Arm 2: SLOG alone (10 subjects). Subjects will then receive 12 weeks of SLOG chemotherapy with or without Allogeneic Magicell-NK infusion.