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
KO-2806 Monotherapy and Combination Therapies in Advanced Solid Tumors
This first-in-human (FIH) dose-escalation and dose-validation/expansion study will assess KO-2806, a farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTI), as a monotherapy and in combination, in adult patients with advanced solid tumors.
Gene Modified Immune Cells After Conditioning Regimen for the Treatment of Stage IIIC or IV Melanoma or Metastatic Solid Tumors
This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of modified immune cells (IL13Ralpha2 CAR T cells) after a chemotherapy conditioning regimen for the treatment of patients with stage IIIC or IV melanoma or solid tumors that have spread to other places in the body (metastatic). The study agent is called IL13Ralpha2 CAR T cells. T cells are a special type of white blood cell (immune cells) that have the ability to kill tumor cells. The T cells are obtained from the patient's own blood, grown in a laboratory, and modified by adding the IL13Ralpha2 CAR gene. The IL13Ralpha2 CAR gene is inserted into T cells with a virus called a lentivirus. The lentivirus allows cells to make the IL13Ralpha2 CAR protein. This CAR has been designed to bind to a protein on the surface of tumor cells called IL13Ralpha2. This study is being done to determine the dose at which the gene-modified immune cells are safe, how long the cells stay in the body, and if the cells are able to attack the cancer.