San Raffaele, a step forward in the fight against pancreatic cancer

Against one of the most difficult tumors to treat, pancreatic cancer, a new Italian study presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) congress marks an important advance. Designed and coordinated by Michele Reni, head of Oncology and director of the Pancreas Center at San Raffaele, the study conducted on 260 patients in 17 Italian centers, demonstrated the superiority in terms of improved survival of the chemotherapy regimen Paxg, developed at San Raffaele, compared to the international standard mFolfirinox, when administered before surgery in patients with non-metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. The project is entirely funded by patient associations, an "extraordinary fact - say the authors of the study - that underlines the value of independent research and collaboration between science and civil society". The Cassandra study, created with the aim of improving the therapeutic results in patients undergoing surgical removal of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, compared the efficacy of the two chemotherapy regimens administered before surgery. The data obtained showed that patients treated with Paxg had a superior survival free from adverse events. The most common type of pancreatic malignant tumor is ductal adenocarcinoma, which represents 95% of all malignant pancreatic neoplasms. Each year it constitutes approximately 3% of new cancer cases, is the third leading cause of oncological death and has the worst 5-year survival rate among solid tumors. The results showed that survival without adverse events (progression, recurrence, inoperability, death) was significantly longer in patients treated with Paxg: "We are facing a historic step in the fight against pancreatic cancer - says Reni - for the extent of the difference observed compared to what, until now, was considered by many to be the most effective treatment regimen for this disease". "These results reinforce the value of independent clinical research, paving the way for a possible update of the guidelines for the treatment of this neoplasm", underlines Massimo Falconi, head of the Pancreatic Surgery Unit and co-scientific director of the study. The study was entirely funded by 5 patient associations: My Everest, Codice Viola, Associazione per la vita, Natalucci and Oltre la Ricerca. "The data presented - conclude the authors - open new perspectives in the treatment of pancreatic cancer, laying the foundations for a possible update of the global guidelines and for the start of further clinical studies".