Phase I/II Study of LDE225 in Combination with Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer.

Background: Desmoplasia is a central feature of the tumor microenvironment in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). LDE225 is a pharmacological Hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor and is thought to specifically target tumor stroma. We investigated the combined use of LDE225 and chemotherapy to treat PDAC patients.

Radiofrequency and Microwave Ablation Compared to Systemic Chemotherapy and to Partial Hepatectomy in the Treatment of Colorectal Liver Metastases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Purpose: To assess safety and outcome of radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and microwave ablation (MWA) as compared to systemic chemotherapy and partial hepatectomy (PH) in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM).

Methods: MEDLINE, Embase and the Cochrane Library were searched. Randomized trials and comparative observational studies with multivariate analysis and/or matching were included.

A phase Ib study of everolimus combined with metformin for patients with advanced cancer.

Background The efficacy to monotherapy with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus in advanced cancer is often limited due to therapy resistance. Combining everolimus with metformin may decrease the chance of therapy resistance. Methods Patients received everolimus and metformin in a 3 + 3 dose-escalation scheme.

A phase II study to evaluate LY2603618 in combination with gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to determine whether checkpoint kinase 1 inihibitor (CHK1), LY2603618, and gemcitabine prolong overall survival (OS) compared to gemcitabine alone in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Methods: Patients with Stage II-IV locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer were randomized (2:1) to either 230 mg of LY2603618/1000 mg/m gemcitabine combined or 1000 mg/m gemcitabine alone. OS was assessed using both a Bayesian augment control model and traditional frequentist analysis for inference.

Dabigatran potentiates gemcitabine-induced growth inhibition of pancreatic cancer in mice.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal solid malignancies with little treatment options. We have recently shown that expression of protease activated receptor (PAR)-1 in the tumor microenvironment drives progression and induces chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer. As thrombin is the prototypical PAR-1 agonist, here we addressed the effect of the direct thrombin inhibitor dabigatran on pancreatic cancer growth and drug resistance in an orthotropic pancreatic cancer model.