Hope for new combination in pancreatic cancer

A dual kinase inhibitor is entering a clinical trial for advanced pancreatic cancer in combination with the chemotherapy drug gemcitabine as part of an academic-industry initiative supported by the charity Cancer Research UK.

The new combination of drugs targets the process of nerve invasion, which is observed in more than 80% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and is associated with tumor spread and severe pain.

"Preclinical models show that giving this drug combination seems effective at stopping the cancer cells growing and multiplying"PLX7486, from privately-owned drug discovery company Plexxikon, is being used to target Trk kinases, which are believed to help cancer cells invade nerves.