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Current Status of Immunotherapies for Treating Pancreatic Cancer

  • Gastrointestinal Cancers (J Meyer, Section Editor)
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Despite all efforts, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a disease that causes substantial morbidity and mortality, with a 5-year survival rate of 7%. Innovative paradigms for treating PDAC are urgently needed.

Recent Findings

We discuss the advances and difficulties in using immunotherapy and developing immunotherapeutic vaccines for PDAC. Current excitement about antigen-specific immunotherapy has been propelled by advances in multiple areas, such as next-generation sequencing to identify neoantigens and manufacturing to produce immunotherapeutic vaccines. Antigen-specific immunotherapy is being actively explored in clinical trials.

Summary

As the field of immunotherapy matures and as our understanding of the complex interactions between tumor and host develops, we hope to identify new methods for treating and managing PDAC.

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  1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 1650 Orleans Street, Room 488, Baltimore, MD, 21287, USA

    Annie A. Wu, Elizabeth Jaffee & Valerie Lee

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  1. Annie A. Wu
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  2. Elizabeth Jaffee
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Correspondence to Valerie Lee.

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Annie A. Wu declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Elizabeth Jaffee has received research funding from Adaptive Biotech, IM Core (Genentech), Lustgarten Foundation, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Amgen, and Aduro BioTech; has received travel reimbursement and an honorarium from Adaptive Biotech; has received travel reimbursement and honoraria for participating on scientific advisory boards from Dragonfly Therapeutics, CStone Pharmaceuticals, Genocea Biosciences, Parker Institute, and Lustgarten Foundation; and GVAX and Listeria monocytogenes—Mesothelin are both licensed to Aduro BioTech with the potential to receive royalties.

Valerie Lee declares that she has no conflict of interest.

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Wu, A.A., Jaffee, E. & Lee, V. Current Status of Immunotherapies for Treating Pancreatic Cancer. Curr Oncol Rep 21, 60 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-019-0811-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11912-019-0811-5

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