Two therapies may be better than one.
Researchers from the University of Colorado Cancer Center have found that combining radiation and immunotherapy could be the key to eliminating pancreatic tumors while stopping the cancer from spreading.
The one-two punch is significant as, historically, pancreatic cancer has not responded to immunotherapy.
The study, published today in the medical journal Cancer Cell, was carried out with animal models. Clinical trials haven’t started for humans, but the results have been encouraging so far.
“This is the first time we’ve seen the eradication of a pancreatic tumor that suggests the cancer cell has memory, meaning we can stop the disease from coming back,” lead author Dr. Sana Karam said in a statement.
She added: “Ultimately, this could alter the way doctors treat pancreatic cancer patients in the near future.”
The findings give hope to those living with the deadly disease, as well as pave the way for future research into other treatments to increase survival odds.
Immunotherapy boosts or changes how the patient’s own immune system works, so it can find and attack cancer cells.
Radiotherapy uses high doses of radiation to destroy cancer cells and tumors.
Karam says combining these treatments helps eliminate the “bad” T-cells from the immune system.
“When a disease is metastatic, you want to recognize and attack the cell type everywhere, from the pancreas to the liver, blood and more,” she explained. “This approach does exactly that in our study.”
Researchers in Europe have explored using immunotherapy to treat other cancers, but this study is said to be the first time immunotherapy has been used with radiation therapy to target pancreatic cancer tumors.
“In just one radiation session, we saw a remarkable immune response that could change how we treat pancreatic cancer patients,” Karam said. “I’ve never been more hopeful about the possibility of improving the survival rate for this disease.”
The American Cancer Society predicts 64,000 people will be diagnosed with pancreatic cancer this year, and 50,000 will die from it.
Pancreatic cancer accounts for about 3% of all cancers in the US, and it is the third-deadliest cancer.