Experimental vaccine shows promise in preventing pancreatic cancer
An experimental drug targeting mutant KRAS, one of the most common genetic drivers of pancreatic cancer, was found to be safe in humans and generated durable immune responses, researchers at Johns Hopkins have reported.
The findings from the phase 1 clinical trial were published July 16 in Cancer Discovery, a journal of the American Association for Cancer Research. The developers believe it is the first-in-human demonstration of a drug that could safely prevent the cancer in high-risk individuals.
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma often develops over years from precursors such as cysts, creating a window for preventive intervention. KRAS mutations are present in most pancreatic cancers and precancerous lesions.
The drug, developed by Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center and its Skip Viragh Center for Pancreatic Cancer, uses a mix of peptides and an immuno-adjuvant like a vaccine to make the immune system recognize and destroy cells carrying these mutations.
In the trial, 20 participants with a hereditary predisposition to pancreatic cancer and pancreatic abnormality received four doses over 13 weeks between April 2022 and February 2026.
Researchers found 90% of participants developed a median 18-fold increase in mutant KRAS-specific T-cell responses, which persisted for 2 years. After a median follow-up of 16.5 months, none developed pancreatic cancer or a high-risk lesion requiring surgery.
All adverse events were mild to moderate, including injection-site reactions, fatigue and flu-like symptoms.”This is just the beginning, but the findings suggest that the immune system is getting activated,” said Elizabeth Jaffee, deputy director of the Kimmel Cancer Center and co-senior author of the study.
