Systemic treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer: A Comprehensive Review

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an uncommon but potentially catastrophic diagnosis with historically poor prognosis. It is the tenth most prevalent cancer in the US & UK. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the most lethal malignancies worldwide, with a five-year survival rate of approximately 10%. Despite increasing understanding of its molecular biology, systemic treatment options for advanced disease remain limited, and survival outcomes have improved only modestly over the past decade.

This narrative review traces the evolution of systemic therapy for advanced PDAC from gemcitabine monotherapy through the landmark FOLFIRINOX (PRODIGE trial) and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (MPACT trial) combination regimens, which remain the standard of care. Second-line options including liposomal irinotecan plus 5-FU/LV (NAPOLI-1) and maintenance olaparib for germline BRCA1/2-mutated disease (POLO) are also reviewed. Emerging data on sequential treatment strategies (SEQUENCE trial), biomarker-driven treatment selection (PRIMUS-001, PASS-01), and precision medicine approaches targeting actionable molecular subgroups, including dMMR/MSI-H, NTRK fusions, and homologous recombination deficiency are discussed. Real-world evidence comparing FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel is critically appraised, including the challenges of patient selection, tolerance, and applicability outside clinical trial settings.

Despite incremental progress, the treatment landscape of advanced PDAC remains challenging. Molecular stratification and biomarker-driven precision oncology represent the most promising path forward. This review serves as a clinical reference for physicians managing advanced pancreatic cancer, highlighting current evidence, evidence limitations, and future research priorities including prospective biomarker-driven trials and improved access to genomic testing.