Background and aim:
Pancreatic cancer, characterized by its aggressive nature and dismal prognosis, exhibits one of the lowest 5-year survival rates among all solid tumors, standing at a mere 7%. Alarming projections suggest that by the year 2030, it will ascend to become the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. This dire scenario is further compounded by the stealthy onset of the disease, with an overwhelming 80-85% of patients already presenting with unresectable pancreatic cancer at the time of initial diagnosis.
Clinical trials have endeavored to extend the survival of this challenging patient subset through the administration of chemotherapy or chemoradiotherapy. While these interventions have shown some promise, the overall response rate remains disappointingly low, and patients continue to grapple with a bleak prognosis, often surviving less than a year. This unmet medical need underscores the critical demand for more effective therapeutic modalities in the management of pancreatic cancer, as the lack of viable treatment options remains a primary driver of its high mortality rate.
The traditional therapeutic landscape for unresectable pancreatic cancer primarily relies on single-agent chemotherapy. However, there is a growing realization within the medical community that a paradigm shift toward a multidisciplinary approach is imperative. The crux of achieving long-term survival for pancreatic cancer patients lies in the attainment of a durable anti-tumor response.
Targeted PD-(L)1 immunotherapy, renowned for its ability to induce enduring anti-tumor responses by harnessing the body's own immune system, has yielded remarkable results in various malignancies. Paradoxically, the success of single-agent immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer has been elusive, a phenomenon possibly attributed to the tumor's intrinsic genetic mutations and the hostile, immunosuppressive microenvironment that envelops pancreatic tumors.
Radiation therapy has emerged as a potential ally in this battle against pancreatic cancer. It has been demonstrated to augment the release of tumor-associated antigens, thereby priming the immune system for a more robust response. In response to the resistance encountered with PD-(L)1 monotherapy, researchers have embarked on a journey of preclinical and clinical investigations aimed at validating the combinatorial approach of PD-(L)1 inhibitors alongside chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
The fundamental premise underlying the synergy of radiation and immunotherapy is rooted in the non-invasive initiation of the immune system against tumor cells. Radiation serves as a catalyst, promoting antigen presentation and co-stimulation, culminating in the generation of an immune response targeted at epitopes that had remained concealed within distant metastases. Immune checkpoint inhibitors play a pivotal role in reversing the immunosuppressive effects of the tumor microenvironment, thereby fostering a milieu conducive to anti-tumor immunity.
While the efficacy of this integrative approach remains uncharted territory, current recommendations advocate for a first-line treatment strategy consisting of chemotherapy with optional radiation therapy. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy are not currently included in the initial treatment regimen. Consequently, the primary aim of our study is to explore and elucidate the outcomes of combining Sintilimab with radiation therapy and chemotherapy in the treatment of unresectable pancreatic cancer, offering a glimmer of hope in a landscape fraught with challenges and adversity.
