Ko AH et al. - The efficacy of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus apatorsen, an antisense oligonucleotide targeting heat shock protein 27 (Hsp27) mRNA, or placebo was evaluated in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer; however, the addition of apatorsen to chemotherapy did not improve outcomes in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer in the first-line setting.

Methods

• Patients were randomized to gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus apatorsen or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus placebo.
• Treatment was administered in 28-day cycles until progression or intolerable toxicity.
• Serum Hsp27 levels were analyzed at baseline and on treatment.
• The primary endpoint was OS.

Results

• 132 patients were enrolled.
• Median PFS and OS were 2.7 and 5.3 months,and 3.8 and 6.9 months, for gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus apatorsen and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus placebo, respectively.
• The objective response rate was 18% for both regimens.
• Patients with high serum levels of Hsp27 had a poor prognosis that derived limited benefit from the addition of apatorsen.