Effective new treatment for deadly pancreatic cancer may be on the way

Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest cancers. Only 12% of men diagnosed with pancreatic cancer are alive five years after diagnosis; for women, it is 14%.

In pancreatic cancer, symptoms are vague and often appear late in its progression. It is difficult to treat once the cancer has spread because it cannot be completely removed with surgery.

Now, researchers from the University of Copenhagen and Rigshospitalet have made significant progress in developing a treatment for pancreatic cancer, says Lars Henning Engelholm, co-author of a new study published in Scientific advances. The study is based on the ADC (antibody-drug conjugate) technique, used to treat other types of cancers.

“We have already succeeded in developing a so-called ADC to treat sarcoma and obtained FDA approval for clinical trials, which will begin soon. In our new study, we used the same technique to try to develop a new treatment for pancreatic cancer, which is unfortunately both common and extremely deadly,” says group leader Engelholm of the Finsen laboratory at Rigshospitalet and the Biotechnology Research and Innovation Center at the University of Copenhagen.

“The past 20 years have seen virtually no progress in treating pancreatic cancer, but our study shows promising results with a new type of drug that can fight cancer on multiple fronts. The treatment directly kills cancer cells and the support cells that cancer uses to grow and protect itself.

“By targeting supporting cells, the treatment also releases toxins that can kill neighboring cancer cells. In addition, the destruction of supporting cells weakens the structure of the tumor, allowing the immune system to attack it and eliminate it more easily.”

The ADC consists of three main components: an antibody, a chemical linker that binds the antibody to the drug, and a potent chemotherapy drug. Once the ADC locates and enters the cancer cell, the linker breaks down, activating the chemotherapy and killing the cancer cell from the inside. This Trojan horse strategy offers targeted treatment without affecting healthy cells.

New hope for patients

Because ADC treatment is extremely precise and causes minimal damage to healthy cells, it is a likely candidate for treating the most difficult cancers.

“Our ADC distinguishes itself from existing treatments by being targeted and extremely precise. With this technique, which delivers chemotherapy inside cancer cells, we can see a significant reduction in side effects compared to traditional forms of treatment,” explains Engelholm.

The researchers wanted to develop a treatment that could benefit future patients. Therefore, they ensured that the treatment could be tested on humans in clinical trials.

“As part of this process, we humanized the ADC antibody, meaning we modified its structure to resemble antibodies found naturally in the human body. This adjustment ensures that the body’s immune system does not recognize the antibodies as foreign and does not attack it. Humanization is a crucial step in making the treatment both safe and effective for patients and represents a key step on the path to clinical trials,” says Engelholm.

Researchers are now working to further develop the drug and prepare it for clinical testing in humans with pancreatic cancer.

“Pancreatic cancer is very difficult to treat and is among the deadliest cancers. Currently, no ADCs have been approved for this type of cancer,” says Engelholm.

“Our mission is to further develop this treatment to a point where it can attract funding from pharmaceutical or biotechnology companies or form the basis of a spin-off company that can take the next critical steps toward human clinical trials in next three to five years.

In the long term, this highly precise and effective treatment could also benefit patients suffering from other types of cancer.

“We are already exploring the potential of ADC in the treatment of other cancers, for example triple negative breast cancer and colon cancer, with an urgent need for better treatment options. With continued support and collaboration, we hope our ADC will pave the way for a new and effective treatment that can make a difference for patients suffering from some of the deadliest cancers. »