Personalised treatment based on genetic profile: New hope for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types of cancer. Despite advances in treatment, the prognosis for patients remains very poor. Standard chemotherapy schemes, such as FOLFIRINOX or a combination of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, can slow tumour growth and prolong patients’ lives, but the median survival rate remains at less than one year.

In a new co-authored study published in the prestigious journal Seminars in Cancer Biology (IF 15.7) (open in a new window), researchers from the Department of Molecular Biology of Cancer focused on how genetic differences between patients can improve treatment efficacy while reducing the risk of side effects.

The main idea behind the study is the personalisation of therapy, i.e. tailoring treatment to the specific genetic characteristics of the patient. Genetic variability influences how a patient responds to specific drugs. The study’s authors summarised the current knowledge about genetic markers obtained from genome studies and large consortia, such as the Pancreatic Disease Research (PANDoRA) consortium, which can predict the response to various treatment regimens. Analysis of the available data showed that the problem is very complex and that there is no universal drug suitable for all patients. The most likely path to a better prognosis is to identify patients who are sensitive or resistant to treatment and then tailor the therapy accordingly. Compared to the current standard, which includes FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel, or nal-IRI/5-fluorouracil, a combination of targeted therapy and immunotherapy appears to be more effective.

Thanks to new findings at the molecular level, it will be possible in the future to better predict who will respond to which treatment and who is at risk of side effects. According to the authors, personalised treatment based on the patient’s genetic profile is the most likely way to improve survival in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. Despite the complexity of the problem, this is a significant step towards targeted, safer, and more effective therapy.

This work confirms that genetics and pharmacogenomics are not just theoretical disciplines – they can directly influence patient treatment and bring hope, where the prognosis has been very uncertain until now.