Immune-Based Therapies in Pancreatic Cancer: a Systematic Review of Ongoing Clinical Trials (2020-2022)

Immune-based treatment strategies have emerged across solid organ malignancies largely with the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors. To date, these strategies have not improved clinical outcomes in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Here, we perform a systematic review to summarize available evidence for recent immune-based treatment strategies in PDAC. We analyze trends in activated clinical trials queried from clinicaltrials.gov in the years 2020-2022. We review study design, sponsorship, and trends in the phase of development. There is a growing emergence of multiple new classes of immune-based targets and combination strategies in early-phase development.

Immune-based clinical trials in PDAC are highly collaborative including primarily stakeholders in government, industry, and academic medical centers. In this period, a majority of trials have integrated a non-randomized design (83.2%), including a trend towards an increase in Phase I/II clinical trials. This analysis found a growing list of studies using combinations including inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF), an expanded set of vaccine-based strategies, and the use of Bispecific T-Cell Engagers (BiTEs). Immune checkpoint inhibitors have been a mainstay of combination strategies including the use of new immune checkpoint inhibitors (CD40, TIGIT).

Immune-based strategies in PDAC have expanded across new targets and the complexities of combinatory approaches. Integrating this work across key stakeholders remains of critical importance to improve clinical outcomes.