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Updated: Oct 4, 2025
An Orthotopic Resectional Mouse Model of Pancreatic Cancer
Published on: September 24, 2020
Novel systemic treatment approaches for metastatic pancreatic cancer
Klara Dorman1, Volker Heinemann1,2, Sebastian Kobold2,3
1Department of Internal Medicine III and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Klinikum Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Munich, Germany.
Introduction:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a 5-year overall survival rate of 10%, emphasizing the need for more effective therapies, especially in metastatic disease. The immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, poor vascularization, and dense tumor stroma typical for PDAC are hurdles that need to be overcome by novel drugs. Investigations are moving toward more targeted treatments including immunotherapy and cell-based approaches.
Areas Covered:
This article reviews emerging drugs in clinical development for metastatic PDAC, focusing on cellular therapies and novel treatments targeting metabolism, tumor stroma, oncogenic pathways and immunosuppression. With immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy on the rise in hematological malignancies, the transfer to solid tumors remains intriguing. Multiple exciting clinical trials investigating innovative therapeutic strategies for PDAC are currently ongoing and reviewed herein. ClinicalTrials.gov, conference abstracts and PubMed were searched in August 2021 and assessed for information on ongoing and published clinical studies.
Expert Opinion:
With many challenges to overcome, the optimal therapy for patients with metastatic PDAC is likely to consist of a combination of different agents. We are slowly moving from entity-dependent approaches to ones more focused on molecular and pathological features. Increasingly personalized treatment plans tailored to each patient may be the future of PDAC therapy.
Insights
New pancreatic cancer therapies are emerging, focusing on targeted treatments like immunotherapy and cell-based approaches to overcome the tumor microenvironment. Personalized medicine combining agents offers future hope for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Medicine
- Drug Development
Background:
- Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal 5-year survival rate of 10%, highlighting an urgent need for advanced treatments, particularly for metastatic stages.
- Key challenges in PDAC treatment include the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, poor vascularization, and dense stroma, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review emerging drugs and innovative therapeutic strategies currently in clinical development for metastatic PDAC.
- To explore the potential of cellular therapies, immunotherapy, and novel agents targeting tumor metabolism, stroma, oncogenic pathways, and immunosuppression in PDAC.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature search of ClinicalTrials.gov, conference abstracts, and PubMed conducted in August 2021.
- Review focused on ongoing and published clinical studies of novel therapeutic strategies for metastatic PDAC.
Main Results:
- Multiple clinical trials are investigating innovative therapeutic strategies for PDAC, including immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy, with ongoing research into their application in solid tumors.
- Emerging treatments target critical PDAC hallmarks such as metabolism, tumor stroma, oncogenic pathways, and immunosuppression.
Conclusions:
- Optimal treatment for metastatic PDAC will likely involve combination therapies tailored to individual patient molecular and pathological features.
- The future of PDAC therapy is shifting towards personalized treatment plans, moving away from entity-dependent approaches.
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