Randomized phase 2 study of first-line nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine with or without tocilizumab for advanced pancreatic cancer

A randomized phase 2 study in Denmark and Norway evaluated addition of tocilizumab (Toc) to first-line nab-paclitaxel (Nab) en gemcitabine (Gem) for advanced pancreatic cancer (aPaC). Six-month overall survival (primary endpoint) was not significantly improved with GemNabToc over GemNab (68.8% versus 62.0%; p=0.409) and grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events increased with addition of Toc to GemNab; however, the overall survival at 18 months was better with GemNabToc than with GemNab (27.1% versus 7.0%; p<0.001), and GemNabToc decreased muscle loss versus GemNab, with median change +0.7% versus -3.4% at 4 months (p=0.036). The authors conclude that addition of Toc to first-line GemNab for aPac improved long-term OS and reduced muscle wasting.