Immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer: A 2020 update. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Schizas, Dimitrios; Charalampakis, Nikolaos; Kole, Christo; Economopoulou, Panagiota; Koustas, Evangelos; Gkotsis, Efthymios; Ziogas, Dimitrios; Psyrri, Amanda; Karamouzis, Michalis V.
• Is Part Of: Cancer treatment reviews. Volume 86(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Pancreatic cancer -- Immunotherapy -- Immune checkpoint inhibitors -- Cancer vaccines -- Adoptive cellular immunotherapy -- Microsatellite instability; Cancer -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Neoplasms -- therapy -- Periodicals; Cancer -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Cancer -- Treatment; Electronic journals; Periodicals; 616.99406
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2020.102016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0305-7372

Abstract

Highlights: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is associated with dismal prognosis. Immunotherapy alone in unresectable PAC confers poor responses. A clinical benefit is observed by immunotherapy and cytotoxic drugs combination. Overall survival is increased when immunotherapy and other treatment modalities are combined. Optimal patient selection is mandatory for successful treatment. Abstract: Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC) is associated with extremely poor prognosis and remains a lethal malignancy. The main cure for PAC is surgical resection. Further treatment modalities, such as surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other locoregional therapies provide low survival rates. Currently, many clinical trials seek to assess the efficacy of immunotherapeutic strategies in PAC, including immune checkpoint inhibitors, cancer vaccines, adoptive cell transfer, combinations with other immunotherapeutic agents, chemoradiotherapy or other molecularly targeted agents; however, none of these studies have shown practice changing results. There seems to be a synergistic effect with increased response rates when a combinatorial approach of immunotherapy in conjunction with other modalities is being exploited. In this review, we illustrate the current role of immunotherapy in PAC.