Oncology

Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

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Reducing the Impact of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Through Clinical Trials

clinical topic updates by Philip A. Philip, MD, PhD, FRCP

Overview

All patients who are diagnosed with pancreatic cancer should be encouraged to enroll in clinical trials. Enrollment in clinical trials is not optimal, with a small percentage of patients with pancreatic cancer (approximately 3% to 5%) currently being enrolled into a clinical trial. Although only approximately 10% of patients reported being aware of the option of clinical trial participation at the time of their cancer diagnosis, 73% of the patients enrolled in clinical trials were made aware of the trial by their physician. Positive results from the clinical trials conducted over the past few decades have led to transformative new treatment options and improvements in clinical outcomes. Advances in the standard of care based on clinical trials include the use of both FOLFIRINOX and gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel along with newer drugs such as nanoliposomal irinotecan being approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for use following disease progression on first-line gemcitabine-based therapy. Increasing the percentage of patient enrollment in clinical trials is necessary to improve overall survival in pancreatic cancer. A member of our expert panel discussed the importance of enrolling patients in clinical trials to improve treatment outcomes.

Expert Commentary

Philip A. Philip, MD, PhD, FRCP

Professor of Oncology and Internal Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI

Metastatic pancreatic cancer is still a major challenge, and evidence for that is the expectation that in the year 2030, pancreatic cancer is going to be the second leading cause of cancer death. We have to do everything in our power to try and reduce the continuing increase in the death rates in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The most important consideration in doing this would be to encourage patient enrollment in clinical trials. There are no specific trials that we can mention because these drugs all have different ways of working on the cancer cell. The more patients who participate in clinical trials, the more we are going to learn about the biology of this disease. And remember that clinical trials do not take patients away from active treatment because the vast majority of clinical trials are not all based on the cytotoxic platform, which is currently gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel or FOLFIRINOX added as an experimental agent. Therefore, patients are not going to be missing out on any active treatment, but at the same time will have the opportunity to get a new drug. Patients who go into clinical trials get excellent care, and that is something to keep in mind. Also, when we talk about a disease like pancreatic cancer, which is not as common as colorectal, breast, or prostate cancer, having access to a specialized center with the ability to do clinical trials is a plus. Not only will patients get excellent supportive care, but they will also have access to the latest treatments and advances in terms of the clinical trials. In addition, major cancer centers will have earlier phase clinical trials, which sometimes can be very interesting.

"We have to do everything in our power to try and reduce the continuing increase in the death rates in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The most important consideration in doing this would be to encourage patient enrollment in clinical trials.”

Philip A. Philip, MD, PhD

References

Cinar P, Ko AH. Best practices for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma: the therapeutic landscape in 2017. Chin Clin Oncol. 2017;6(3):29.

Comis RL, Miller JD, Colaizzi DD, et al. Physician-Related Factors Involved in Patient Decisions to Enroll Onto Cancer Clinical Trials. J Oncol Pract. 2009;5(2):50-56.

Golan T, Sella T, Margalit O, et al. Short- and long-term survival in metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma, 1993-2013. J Natl Compr Canc Netw. 2017;15(8):1022-1027.

Hoos WA, James PM, Rahib L, et al. Pancreatic cancer clinical trials and accrual in the United States. J Clin Oncol. 2013;31(27):3432-3438.

Ko AH. Progress in the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer and the search for next opportunities. J Clin Oncol. 2015;33(16):1779-1786.

Sohal DP, Mangu PB, Khorana AA, et al. Metastatic pancreatic cancer: American Society of Clinical Oncology Clinical Practice Guideline. J Clin Oncol. 2016;34(23):2784-2796.

Philip A. Philip, MD, PhD, FRCP

Professor of Oncology and Internal Medicine
Vice President for Medical Affairs
Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Detroit, MI

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