Concepts in Development

The AGITG research development strategy and prioritisation framework outline the process by which concepts progress from embryonic ideas to funded trials. The concepts listed below have been identified as a research priority for AGITG by the Working Parties, Consumer Advisory Panel and Scientific Advisory Committee, and are currently seeking funds to commence the trial.

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PemOla

TUMOUR: Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the 10 most common cancer types. Despite modern interventions, outcomes have changed little in the last 50 years and PDAC is projected to be the second most common cause of cancer death by 2030. Up to 80% of patients are diagnosed with the disease too late for surgery and median survival with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) is under 1 year even with optimal chemotherapy. Developing more effective treatments for mPDAC is a global unmet need. Precision medicine approaches to PDAC are attractive given the heterogeneity of this disease and the poor outcomes with conventional chemotherapy.

Currently, immunotherapy is not routinely established as an effective treatment for patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The study aims to understand whether patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer will respond well to immunotherapy comprising of the two drugs, pembrolizumab and olaparib.

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PRECISE

TUMOUR: Oesophageal Cancer

Oesophageal cancer (OAC) prognosis remains poor. Standard of care for operable disease is pre-operative chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy then surgery +/- immunotherapy. Long term survival requires an effective anti-tumour immune response, which may be better achieved before surgery. PRECISE aims to determine whether moving post-operative immunotherapy to the pre-operative and post-operative setting combined with personalized chemo/radiotherapy improves response rate and survival outcomes.