From a survival time of 6.6 months to 13.2 months: a pill has been developed that almost doubles the life expectancy of patients with advanced pancreatic or pancreatic cancer. According to experts, the treatment is a “game changer”.
Source: BBC News, The Guardian
The drug, called daraxonrasib, works by targeting the protein KRAS, which plays a role in virtually all forms of pancreatic cancer and stimulates cancer growth. The drug binds molecules together to grab onto and disable KRAS.
500 people from all over the world, including North America, Europe and Asia, participated in the study. Of those 500 patients, 248 received daraxonrasib and 252 chemotherapy. Life expectancy for patients receiving chemotherapy was found to be 6.6 months, compared to 13.2 months for patients receiving daraxonrasib. Most patients had tumors with specific mutations of the KRAS gene.
“These results represent a major breakthrough for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer,” said Rachna Shroff, chief of oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. She was not involved in the investigation. “We are seeing an unprecedented increase in survival rates.”
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The study was led by American scientists and presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (Asco) in Chicago. Dr. Julie Gralow, Asco’s medical director and executive vice president, called the study a “game changer.” She added: “I’ve heard that this study is a bull’s-eye. I’d call it a grand slam.”
Fewer side effects
The drug not only extended the lifespan of patients, but also caused fewer side effects compared to chemotherapy. Serious side effects occurred in 43.6 percent of patients receiving daraxonrasib, compared to 57.5 percent of patients receiving chemotherapy.
Pancreatic cancer is often discovered late and is difficult to treat. Symptoms may include jaundice, itchy skin, dark urine, pale stools, unexplained weight loss, or fatigue.
