Novel therapeutic strategies and perspectives for metastatic pancreatic cancer: vaccine therapy is more than just a theory

Abstract

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive and malignant tumor with an exceedingly high mortality rate. The quality of life and survival rates of pancreatic cancer patients with metastasis are poor compared with those without metastasis. Thus far, no effective treatment strategy has been established for metastatic pancreatic cancer patients. Therefore, an appropriate therapeutic method based on the elimination of metastatic pancreatic cancer is critical to improve patient outcome. Tumor-targeted vaccines have been widely discussed in recent studies and enabled important breakthroughs in the treatment of pancreatic cancer by preventing the escape of tumor cells from immune surveillance and activating the immune system to eliminate cancer cells. T cells can be activated by the stimulation of tumor-targeted vaccines, but to mount an effective immune response, both immune checkpoint inhibitors and positive costimulatory molecules are required. In this review, we discuss potential tumor-targeted vaccines that can target pancreatic cancer, elaborate the probably appropriate combination of vaccines therapy and evaluate the underlying benefits as well as obstacles in the current therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Hemocyanins from Helix and Rapana Snails Exhibit in Vitro Antitumor Effects in Human Colorectal Adenocarcinoma

“…The search for novel, more effective, and safe antitumor medicines with natural origin is one of the main trends of contemporary oncology research. In this respect, hemocyanin oligomeric copper-containing glycoproteins that function as oxygen carriers in the hemolymph of mollusk and arthropod species represent significant interest because they combine strong immunostimulating activity and direct anticancer effects [ 5 , 6 , 25 , 26 , 27 ]. Among this class of compounds, the hemocyanin obtained from Megathura crenulata , known as keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), has been most extensively studied and has found a number of biotechnological and medical applications.…”

An Immunological Glance on Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

“…Other approaches aiming at treatment of PDAC from an immunological site encompass the application of vaccines. Peptide and DNA, as well as cell-based (DC), are currently under clinical investigation and show some moderate success [103]. A combination of GVAX vaccine with immune checkpoint inhibitors [83,84] was briefly presented in this manuscript.…”

The State-of-the-Art of Phase II/III Clinical Trials for Targeted Pancreatic Cancer Therapies

“…Priming of T-cells in order to stimulate an efficient anti tumour immune response can be induced using vaccines [169]. While promising results have been observed in other cancers (cervical, melanoma, renal, and breast), the immunosuppressant TME, the low mutational burden (and therefore the paucity of immunity inducing neoantigens), highlight the need for further research of such an approach in pancreatic cancer [170].…”

“…Tissue markers that are differentially expressed in pancreatic cancer (CEA, mucin-1 (MUC-1)), mesothelin, mutated KRAS G12, CA19-9, carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell adhesion molecule 6 (CEACAM6) have been recently studied as potentials vaccine targets [171]. Despite of the abundance of various reports of preclinical studies of anti-cancer vaccines in pancreatic cancer, the use of vaccines in the treatment of pancreatic cancer is an emerging field, and to date no such are approved, with only a handful being investigated in phase II/III clinical trials [169]. In this section we will discuss those which have shown in particular promise in PDAC as well as those that reported promising findings in more advanced clinical studies.…”