Defactinib Combined With Pembrolizumab and Gemcitabine in Patients With Advanced Cancer

Summary

In pancreatic cancer, targeting the tumor microenvironment has become a promising therapeutic strategy. Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) pathway activation is essential for promoting a fibrotic and inflammatory tumor microenvironment, and FAK inhibitors have demonstrated reasonable anti-tumor activity in the preclinical setting. Furthermore, a maximal synergetic effect was achieved when a FAK inhibitor was given in combination with a PD-1 antagonist and chemotherapy in multiple pancreas tumor animal models. This supports the concept of using FAK inhibitors to reduce stromal fibrosis during checkpoint immunotherapeutic treatment. Therefore, these robust preclinical findings will be tested in the proposed phase I trial.

Timeline

Start

2016-02-03

Primary completion

2017-11-17

Completion

2021-01-11

Publications

• Fard D, Giraudo E, Tamagnone L. Mind the (guidance) signals! Translational relevance of semaphorins, plexins, and neuropilins in pancreatic cancer. Trends Mol Med. 2023 Oct;29(10):817-829. doi: 10.1016/j.molmed.2023.07.009. Epub 2023 Aug 17.

Drugs

Indications