Solveig Rennan Sandbulte
There have been several developments in cancer research and treatment, including a new drug approved by the FDA for advanced pancreatic cancer. This approval was announced this past week.
Pancreatic cancer has a five-year overall survival rate of 13 percent. The new drug, daraxonrasib, has been reported to nearly double the survival time for patients and has fewer severe side effects compared to other treatments.
Dr. Robert Vonderheide, Director of the Abramson Center at Penn Medicine and president-elect of the American Association for Cancer Research, discussed the significance of this drug. He stated that the FDA's approval offers hope for patients and their families, and there is potential to use this drug for patients in earlier stages of the disease.
Dr. Vonderheide explained that daraxonrasib targets gene mutations that drive pancreatic cancer cell growth, specifically the RAS oncogene. He noted that previous attempts to target this mutation have been challenging, but advancements in chemistry have led to the development of this new treatment.
In addition to the new drug, there is also a new individualized vaccine for melanoma, a type of skin cancer, which has shown positive results in clinical trials. This vaccine is designed for patients in remission who are at risk of relapse, and it has been reported to lower the chances of relapse by generating an immune response against tumor mutations.
Dr. Vonderheide emphasized the importance of further data from ongoing trials, looking for the magnitude of the survival impact and the effectiveness of the immune response generated by the vaccine.
He expressed optimism about the future of cancer vaccines, suggesting that this could be the beginning of a wave of vaccines aimed at preventing cancer recurrence and potentially preventing certain cancers altogether.
Dr. Vonderheide also addressed concerns regarding mRNA technology, which has been used in COVID vaccines and is now being explored for cancer treatment. He highlighted the safety and effectiveness of mRNA vaccines, stating that the technology has the potential to improve patient health significantly.
William Brangham is an award-winning correspondent, producer, and substitute anchor for the PBS News Hour. He also serves as the host of Horizons from PBS News.
Solveig Rennan Sandbulte is a producer of national affairs for PBS News Hour and Horizons.