Pancreatic cancer is the eighth tumor with the highest incidence in Spain, but it is one of the tumors with the worst prognosis five years after diagnosis. The lack of improvement in survival and the increase in the incidence of this tumor have made the predictions situate …
Pancreatic cancer is the eighth tumor with the highest incidence in Spain, but it is one of the tumors with the worst prognosis five years after diagnosis. The lack of improvement in survival and the increase in the incidence of this tumor have made predictions place pancreatic cancer as responsible for the second cause of cancer death in the United States in the year 2030. In Europe, its mortality exceeds and that of breast cancer.
“Only 20% of patients with pancreatic cancer are candidates for surgery, and of these, 80% relapse and end up developing metastases, which is why the majority of pancreatic cancer patients end up reaching this stage. In this context , it is important to find new therapeutic options for these patients that improve survival” affirm at Dra. Teresa Macarulla, Head of the Gastrointestinal and Endocrine Tumors Group at the Vall d’Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO) and medical oncologist at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital who has been part of the scientific committee of this multicenter international trial.
“The results of the NAPOLI-3 study demonstrate that a new drug combination could be a new first-line treatment option for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.“ adds Dr. Macarulla.
The phase III NAPOLI-3 clinical trial compares the antitumor efficacy and safety of NALIRIFOX, a combination of drugs: liposomal irinotecan (Onivyde) con fluorouracilo (5-FU), leucovorina y oxaliplatino compared to gemcitabina more nab-paclitaxel (Gem+NabP) in the first line setting, or first choice of treatment in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
The phase III clinical trial enrolled 770 patients and the median overall survival was 11.1 months for patients treated with NALIRIFOX versus 9.2 months for those receiving Gem+NabP. Progression-free survival (the time from starting treatment until the tumor grows back) was also significantly improved from 5.6 months to 7.4 months.
“We currently have few treatment options for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer, so any progress in this regard is welcome news.. Having a new therapeutic option with NALIRIFOX is one more step and motivates us to continue researching new treatments” says Dr. Teresa Macarulla.
