A groundbreaking study by researchers at the University of Colorado Cancer Center has found that a unique combination of radiation and immunotherapy can effectively eliminate pancreatic tumors while preventing the spread of cancer cells. Published in the reputable journal Cancer Cell, the study provides hope to those suffering from this frequently fatal disease, and may fundamentally change the approach to treating pancreatic cancer in the near future. Lead author Sana Karam, MD, PhD hopes to initiate clinical trials using this technique to help improve survival rates for a cancer type that hasn’t historically responded well to immunotherapy. The researchers used a versatile antibody complex, combined with radiation therapy, which induced a significant immune response by expanding tumor-antigen specific T-cells. This led to the complete eradication of the tumors and prevented the disease from returning. Similar studies into immunotherapy have been conducted in Europe, but this is the first effort to combine both radiation and immunotherapy to focus on pancreatic cancer tumors. Karam believes the treatment will ultimately help target the “bad” T-cells, thereby preventing cancer cells from metastasizing. In conclusion, this new approach provides a glimmer of hope for anyone currently undergoing treatment for pancreatic cancer, and may change the way the disease is treated forever.
