Other treatments (immunotherapy/targeted therapies)

Treatment options for pancreatic cancer beyond traditional chemotherapy and radiotherapy include immunotherapy and targeted therapies. The role for these treatments is still evolving and not all are reimbursed in Australia. 

Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy leverages the body’s immune system to fight cancer. However, pancreatic cancer has ways of hiding from the immune system, making immunotherapy less effective on its own. Researchers are working on new ways to overcome this, including testing drugs called immune checkpoint inhibitors in clinical trials. Scientists are also exploring whether combining immunotherapy with chemotherapy, radiation, or targeted therapies can help the immune system work better against pancreatic cancer.

Targeted Therapies

Targeted therapies act on specific changes in cancer cells that help them grow and survive. To benefit from a targeted therapy, your cancer needs to have actionable changes (mutations) or biomarkers.

Examples of targeted therapies include PARP inhibitors such as Olaparib for people with germline BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations and KRAS-targeted therapies. 

While these treatments aren't yet widely available for all people with pancreatic cancer, they provide hope for precision medicine and better outcomes in the future.