Interrupting the FGFR Signaling Pathway in Pancreatic Cancer

Clinical Pearls

Wen Wee Ma, MBBS, associate professor of oncology, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, discusses interrupting the FGFR signaling pathway in pancreatic cancer.

• The recent MPACT trial represents a major milestone in improving the survival of patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer
• The microenvironment (consisting of white blood cells, macrophages, collagens, connective tissues, and fibroblasts) in pancreatic cancer plays a major role in treatment resistance
• The fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR) signaling pathway is active in cancer cells in promoting proliferation, growth, and blood vessel formation
• Interrupting this pathway can cause cancer cells to undergo apoptosis
• A clinical trial is underway looking at dovitinib and gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer