Ko AH et al. - The efficacy of gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus apatorsen or placebo in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer has not been established. In the current study, 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 Arm A (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus apatorsen) or Arm B (gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel plus placebo).
• Treatment was administered in 28-day cycles, with restaging every 2 cycles, until progression or intolerable toxicity.
• Serum Hsp27 levels were analyzed at baseline and on treatment.

Results

• 132 patients were enrolled.
• Median PFS and OS were 2.7 and 5.3 months, respectively, for arm A, and 3.8 and 6.9 months, respectively, for arm B.
• The objective response rate was 18% for both arms.
• Patients with a high serum level of Hsp27 had a poor prognosis and may have derived modest benefit from the addition of apatorsen.