Breakthrough in Pancreatic Cancer Treatment: Study Shows Combination Therapy Increases Efficacy

Research conducted by Washington University has made a significant breakthrough in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, a disease with a generally poor prognosis. By combining chemotherapy with a C-C chemokine receptor type 2 inhibitor, the study found that tumor-associated macrophages were targeted, leading to improved efficacy and restored T-cell immunity in preclinical models. This combination therapy, which includes gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, BMS-813160, and nivolumab, has been shown to be well-tolerated and has achieved comparable objective response rates and resectability rates to historical data.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that combining chemotherapy with a C-C chemokine receptor type 2 inhibitor, BMS-813160, improved the efficacy of chemotherapy and restored T-cell immunity in preclinical models.
• The combination therapy, which includes gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, BMS-813160, and nivolumab, was well-tolerated and achieved comparable objective response rates and resectability rates to historical data.
• Patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who were treated with the combination therapy had a median progression-free survival of 11.9 and 14.7 months, respectively, and a median overall survival of 18.2 and 17 months, respectively.
• Biomarker analyses showed decreased intratumoral monocytes and macrophages and enhanced T-cell proliferation and effector gene expression.
• This study has been peer-reviewed and has the potential to lead to a larger phase II study with a more efficacious CCR2-targeted therapeutic.

Statistics:

• 42% of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma achieved an objective response to the combination therapy.
• 20% of patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma achieved an objective response to the combination therapy.
• 83.3% of patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who completed the study treatment underwent surgical resection.
• 20% of patients with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who completed the study treatment underwent surgical resection.
• The median progression-free survival for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was 11.9 months, compared to 14.7 months for those with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
• The median overall survival for patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was 18.2 months, compared to 17 months for those with locally advanced pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Sources:

• NewsRx. Findings in Pancreatic Cancer Reported from Washington University (Neoadjuvant BMS-813160, Nivolumab, Gemcitabine, and Nab-Paclitaxel for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer). Immunotherapy Weekly. September 17, 2025; p 1374.
• Clinical Cancer Research. Neoadjuvant BMS-813160, Nivolumab, Gemcitabine, and Nab-Paclitaxel for Patients with Pancreatic Cancer. 2025;31(17):3644-3651.