Single-center phase 1-2 trial of dendritic cell-based immunotherapy in patients with resected pancreatic cancer

Immunotherapies have shown limited responses in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. A phase 1-2 trial at Erasmus Medical Center (Rotterdam, The Netherlands) evaluated dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy in patients after resection and completion of standard-of-care treatment for pancreatic cancer. The primary endpoint was 2-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate, with a 2-year RFS rate of ≥ 60% defined as clinically meaningful efficacy. Patients were treated with autologous DCs pulsed with an allogeneic mesothelioma tumor cell lysate, comprising antigens also expressed in pancreactic ductal adenocarcinoma. After a median follow-up of 25.5 months, 68% of patients had not developed recurrence of disease. The estimated 2-year RFS was 64%. The authors conclude that the study met its primary endpoint and that a randomized trial of DC-based immunotherapy after resection and standard-of-care adjuvant therapy for pancreatic cancer is warranted.