Scientists Led by Mariano Barbacid at CNIO Removed Pancreatic Cancer in Mice

A team of scientists at Spain’s National Cancer Research Center, or the Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO), has had a research breakthrough in treating pancreatic cancer.

Their research, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, details how pancreatic tumors in mice were removed completely and durably. The novel treatment comprising a combination of 3 drugs was also well-tolerated with little to no side effects.

The project was led by world renowned molecular biochemist Mariano Barbacid. Their novel cancer therapy combined the established drugs afatinib and daraxonrasib with an experimental compound SD36, which led to a complete disappearance of pancreatic tumors in preclinical mouse models.

This is particularly significant because pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common type of pancreatic cancer, is one of the deadliest and most treatment-resistant forms of cancer. The cancer is known to develop resistance quickly by using alternative growth pathways when a specific pathway is blocked by a drug. Barbacid’s team’s triple-drug therapy circumvents this problem by “attacking” the cancer from 3 directions simultaneously.

Historically, aggressive combination therapies have also been too toxic for the body to handle. Barbacid’s study found that the mice tolerated the treatment well with minimal side effects, including maintenance of tissue integrity, normal blood cell counts, and lack of weight loss.

While the findings are unprecedented, they are not ready for humans just yet. As Barbacid highlighted in a CNIO press release, “although experimental results like those described here have never been obtained before, we are still not in a position to carry out clinical trials with the triple therapy.”

Pancreatic cancer is the 6th leading cause of cancer-related deaths, with a 5-year survival rate of only 10% worldwide. According to the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, risk factors include being male, older age, being African American, smoking and obesity.

The pancreas is an oblong-shaped organ tucked away behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. Its main functions are to produce enzymes that aid in digestion and to release hormones that help the body regulate blood sugar.

Mariano Barbacid is an award-winning scientist and head of the Experimental Oncology Group at CNIO. He is best known for his pioneering work in cancer genetics, especially the isolation of the first human oncogene HRAS in 1982. In 2020, he received the Echegaray Medal, the highest scientific honor given by the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences, in recognition of his brilliant contributions to cancer research and therapy.