Probing Pathways for Pancreatic Cancer

have been investigated as therapies to promote neuronal regeneration. Seeking to close in on driver mutations, Biankin and his team have generated more than 80 xenografts from the patient samples. They also are sequencing 40 cell lines created from the xenografts and are working with centers around the world to amass about 100 such cell lines. Beyond the axon-guidance pathway, Biankin estimates that about 30% of pancreatic cancers might be treated by rescuing or repurposing existing drugs used for other conditions, or agents in clinical trials for other cancers. Pursuing this approach, the Australian Pancreatic Cancer Genome Initiative and partners are launching the “Individualised Molecular Pancreatic Cancer Therapy” (IMPaCT) trial. IMPaCT will screen patients genetically and treat them with drugs targeting 1 of 3 actionable phenotypes: HER2 amplifi cation, DNA damage repair defects, or responsiveness to EGFR inhibitors. ■