Human pancreatic cancer overexpresses a number of important tyrosine kinase (TK) growth factors receptors and ligands, including expression of both PDGF and PDGF receptors. Drugs that can selectively inhibit TKs are likely to be of benefit in pancreatic cancer. Masitinib is a TK inhibitor, selectively and effectively inhibiting c-Kit (mast cell growth factor receptor), PDGF receptor, FGF receptor and to a lower extent the FAK kinases. Pre-clinical and clinical studies have shown that masitinib can reverse resistance of pancreatic tumor cell lines to gemcitabine. Based on pre-clinical and phase 2 clinical studies, masitinib can be considered as a good candidate to use in combination with gemcitabine in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
