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
Preliminary Trial of SNA014 for Pancreatic Cancer
68Ga labeled Claudin 18.2 contrast agent combined with PET/CT for pancreatic cancer
Immediate Necrosectomy vs. Step-up Approach for Walled-off Necrosis
Walled-off necrosis (WON) is a pancreatic fluid collection, which contains necrotic tissue after four weeks of the onset of acute pancreatitis. Interventions are required to manage patients with infected WON, for which endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS)-guided drainage has become a first-line treatment modality. For patients who are refractory to EUS-guided drainage, the step-up treatment including endoscopic necrosectomy (EN) and/or additional drainage is considered to subside the infection. Recent evidence suggests that EN immediately after EUS-guided drainage may shorten treatment duration without increasing adverse events. In this randomized trial, the investigators will compare treatment duration between EN immediately after EUS-guided drainage versus the step-up approach in patients with symptomatic WON.