Pancreatic cancer, particularly pancreatic adenocarcinoma, represents one of the most complex challenges in oncology. With diagnosis often delayed and treatments still poorly adapted to the diversity of the disease, it is responsible for an alarming survival rate: only 10% of patients are still alive five years after diagnosis.

An innovative approach to better treatment

Faced with this challenge, the work carried out by Dr. Nelson Dusetti and his team at the Marseille Cancer Research Center (CRCM) offers new perspectives. Presented at ASCO 2024 and published in Annals of Oncology, their tool, called Pancreas-View, uses artificial intelligence to predict tumor sensitivity to gemcitabine and mFOLFIRINOX chemotherapy protocols.

By integrating specific molecular signatures and the characteristics of the tumor microenvironment, Pancreas-View makes it possible to personalize the choice of treatment for each patient. Results from retrospective data on 343 patients show a significant increase in overall survival, up to three times greater for patients treated with appropriate chemotherapy.

A promising future for personalized medicine

Although these results still need to be validated prospectively, they pave the way for more effective, less toxic personalized medicine. By taking precise account of the diversity of pancreatic tumors, Pancreas-View could transform current therapeutic approaches and offer new hope for patients.

On the horizon, this tool could become a pillar in the fight against this dreaded cancer, reducing therapeutic failures and considerably improving patients’ quality of life. A crucial advance that marks a turning point in the management of pancreatic cancer.