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Nguyen M, Segelov E, Goldstein D, Pavlakis N, Shapiro J, Price TJ, Nagrial A, Chantrill L, Leong T, Chen J, Burge M, Karapetis CS, Chau I, Lordick F, Renouf D, Tebbutt N, Roy AC. Update on optimal management for pancreatic cancer: expert perspectives from members of the Australasian Gastrointestinal Trials Group (AGITG) with invited international faculty. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2022; 22:39-51. [PMID: 34739362 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2022.2002689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pancreatic cancer remains a challenging malignancy due to the high proportion of patients diagnosed at advanced stages and the limited treatment options. This article discusses recent evidence in the management of both localized and advanced pancreatic cancer and offers an expert opinion on current best practice. AREAS COVERED For patients with localized disease, the evidence for adjuvant chemotherapy is discussed as well as emerging neoadjuvant approaches for resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced disease. Advances in metastatic disease are discussed including cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and the role of genomic testing to identify patients with molecular alterations. Reviewed literature included journal publications, abstracts presented at major international oncology meetings, and ongoing clinical trials databases. EXPERT OPINION Pancreatic cancer is a devastating diagnosis and despite recent advances has a very poor prognosis. Only a minority of patients, 20%, are diagnosed with potentially curable disease. The shifting paradigm toward neoadjuvant therapy may improve resectability and survival rates; however, robust evidence is required. Thus far, there has only been limited progress in advanced stage disease. Genomic testing may potentially identify more treatment targets although limited to small subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mike Nguyen
- Department of Medical Oncology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University and Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Eva Segelov
- Department of Medical Oncology, School of Clinical Sciences, Monash University and Monash Health, Melbourne, Australia
| | - David Goldstein
- Department of Medical Oncology, Prince of Wales Hospital, University of NSW, Sydney, Australia
| | - Nick Pavlakis
- Department of Medical Oncology, Royal North Shore Hospital, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | - Timothy J Price
- Department of Haematology and Oncology, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital/University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Adnan Nagrial
- Department of Medical Oncology, Westmead & Blacktown Hospitals, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lorraine Chantrill
- Department Medical Oncology, Wollongong Hospital, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District, Australia
| | - Trevor Leong
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
| | - John Chen
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
| | - Matt Burge
- Department of Cancer Care Services, Royal Brisbane Hospital, University of Queensland, Herston, Australia
| | - Christos S Karapetis
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
| | - Ian Chau
- Department of Medicine, Royal Marsden Hospital, Institute of Cancer Research, Surrey, London, UK
| | - Florian Lordick
- University Cancer Center Leipzig and Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pneumology and Infectious Diseases, Leipzig University Medical Center, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel Renouf
- Department of Medical Oncology, BC Cancer. Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Niall Tebbutt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness and Research Centre. Austin Health, Heidelberg, Australia
| | - Amitesh C Roy
- Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University, Bedford Park, Australia
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Shoucair S, Baker AR, Yu J. Germline Variants in DNA Damage Repair Genes: An Emerging Role in the Era of Precision Medicine in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma. Ann Gastroenterol Surg 2022; 6:7-16. [PMID: 35106410 PMCID: PMC8786682 DOI: 10.1002/ags3.12514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Revised: 09/18/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic adenocarcinoma is a lethal disease that is projected to become the second most common cause of cancer deaths by 2030. The role of adjuvant therapy after surgical resection has been established by several clinical trials to prolong survival and improve outcomes. Multiagent chemotherapy seems to be the most promising approach to counteract early recurrence and improve survival; however, in the era of precision medicine, patient selection and individualized therapy seems to hold the key to desirable superior outcomes. Several cancer susceptibility genes have been proven to be associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, both familial and sporadic cases. The role of genomic profiling for germline variants has been extensive and of limited clinical value, considering their low prevalence in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, an accumulating body of evidence from several studies in the past decade have successfully shown a recognizable value of germline variants in risk assessment and patient stratification. Recently, anti-PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) has been FDA-approved for use in solid malignancies with a Mismatch repair deficiency or high Microsatellite instability. Several trials have evaluated the role of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors in patients harboring germline BRCA1/2 mutations. Finally, germline variants in DNA damage response genes and particularly deleterious ones have the potential to guide therapy after surgical resection and serve as biomarkers to predict survival. The dire need to address challenges for applying precision medicine in real-life clinical settings for PDAC patients lies in further characterizing the genetic and molecular processes through translational research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sami Shoucair
- Department of SurgeryJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Andrew R. Baker
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Graduate ProgramJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - Jun Yu
- Department of SurgeryJohns Hopkins University School of MedicineBaltimoreMDUSA
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