Experimental Drug Generates Immune Response Against Pancreatic Cancer in People at High Risk

Researchers at Johns Hopkins report that an experimental drug targeting one of the most common genetic drivers of pancreatic cancer was safe in humans, and generated durable immune responses aimed at preventing the cancer in people at high risk.

Pancreatic cancer has one of the lowest survival rates of any form, and the developers believe the study is the first-in-human demonstration for a drug that could safely prevent the development of the cancer for those with a high-risk gene called mutant KRAS.

Findings from the phase 1 clinical trial were published July 16th in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma often develops over many years from precursors such as pancreatic cysts, creating a potential window for interventions that could prevent cancer from forming.