Pancreatic Cancer Breakout: New potential in pancreatic cancer

Dr. Robert Herman Vonderheide, MD, DPhil, is an internationally renowned cancer immunotherapy and translational research expert. Through a focus on novel immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer, melanoma, and breast cancers, Dr. Vonderheide has mapped new models for speeding translational - or "bench to bedside" research. He'll be with us to discuss the latest advances in immunotherapy to treat pancreatic cancer, one of the hardest cancers to treat.

[@grahamgibson4669]

Thanks for the very clear video on options that are/or may be available to us. I have no marker in my germline for a propensity for pancreatic cancer. My only, and it was my only symptom was discomfort in the abdominal region, none of the other symptoms are present and CA -19 is well within normal range. GP sends me for a CT scan and I have a 2.8 cm lesion and one enlarged lymph node, all other organs are labeled "unremarkable". Follow up MRI confirms. I enter Penn Medicine program and I am being treated by the excellent team there. Follow up CT scans confirmed all data. Biopsy 1 showed no malignancy, biopsy 2 did show malignancy. I am on my third session of chemo following standard care. I assume from what I've read that this is considered a T1/T2 stage cancer but I don't think anyone wants to stage it yet. The plan is to resection the lesion after the chemo has stopped the growth of this tumor. Where in this case where would you place immunotherapies? Also how good is a CA -19 test to track success at shrinking tumors during this whole process? Thanks

[@jkurilkina]

thank you!

[@CancerResearchInstitute]

Thanks for watching!

[@msfairclare]

Very encouraging!

[@CancerResearchInstitute]

Thanks for watching!

[@alc_magic]

So is KRAS therapy available anywhere?

[@thomastom4232]

Thanks for the video. Is this treatment only available for US citizens in USA?

[@CancerResearchInstitute]

Hi Thomas, Thanks for watching! Immunotherapy is not just available in the US- but the Cancer Research Institute is a US based nonprofit. To learn more about immunotherapy clinical trials and discover cancer clinical trials that may be appropriate for you or your loved one, take a look at our website's clinical trial finder: www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-clinical-trials

[@waynesly6116]

I have a friend that has just been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. He has a fairly large tumor already. Would it benefit either party for him get in contact with anyone from the research department?

[@CancerResearchInstitute]

Hi Wayne, To learn more about immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer, please visit our website: www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-types/pancreatic-cancer. To view open clinical trials, take a look at our Clinical Trial Finder: www.cancerresearch.org/cancer-clinical-trials

[@susanlucas1125]

My brother had a large tumor in his intestine. One physician diagnosed him with pancreatic cancer and it may have spread to some lymph nodes..what treatment is best for stage 3?

[@orfaosolitario-mf6kg]

how is your brother?

[@thelmabomar2917]

CT scan showed a tumor about the size of a quarter, biopsy showed it was cancer, a few lymph nodes are enlarged, oncologist said they could just be inflamed. My PET scan is scheduled for June 28th. Oncologist didn’t offer me any hope, so I’m going to see an oncologist at Vanderbilt in Nashville. Please let me know if there’s a study starting up, that offers immunotherapy.

[@JuanDiazSilvermyst]

Crazy that in 2024 and the survival rate is pretty much a death sentence 😢