title: Liposomal Irinotecan in the Treatment of Refractory Pancreatic Cancer.
abstract: Effective therapies against metastatic pancreatic cancer remain limited, and despite treatment, many will ultimately progress. Previously, few options were available for second line therapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer. Liposomal encapsulated irinotecan, in combination with leucovorin-modulated fluorouracil, was found to significantly increase overall survival in patients who have progressed after gemcitabine- based therapy in a large, international, randomized clinical trial (NAPOLI-1). We reviewed the background of systemic therapy for metastatic pancreatic cancer, examined putative mechanisms for the success of encapsulated drugs, and identified recent patent applications on the use of liposomal irinotecan in pancreatic cancer. The landmark NAPOLI-1 trial established a second-line option for those with metastatic pancreatic cancer refractory to gemcitabine chemotherapy, but effective therapies with long duration of response are still lacking. Alternative techniques targeting key driver genes in pancreatic cancer and novel methods of early detection and targeting drugs are currently being explored. How liposomal irinotecan can be integrated into chemotherapy regimens, including neoadjuvant or first line combinations, are currently being tested in clinical trials and covered by several new patent applications.
authors.forename: Harold
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bien
authors.forename: Gerardo G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Mackenzie
authors.affiliation: Stony Brook University, Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, HSC 15-053C, 101 Nicholls Rd, Stony Brook, NY 11794-8191, USA. Minsig.choi@stonybrookmedicine.edu.
authors.forename: Minsig
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Choi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000737:chemistry; D002166:Camptothecin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000737:chemistry; D021441:Carcinoma, Pancreatic Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D004339:Drug Compounding; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D006801:Humans; D000077146:Irinotecan; D008081:Liposomes; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D010330:Patents as Topic; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D008081:Liposomes; D000077146:Irinotecan; D002166:Camptothecin