Recent Advancements in Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy

The overarching goal of this review is to highlight the current progress of immunotherapy in pancreatic cancer. Despite all the efforts, pancreatic cancer remains a disease that is refractory to almost all therapies and immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer remains in its infancy. In this review, we summarize promising advances and major hurdles in developing immunotherapeutic strategies for pancreatic cancer as presented in recent publications and a clinical trial database. Notably, a combination regimen of chemotherapy followed by immunotherapy appears to be superior to chemotherapy alone, wherein chemotherapeutic agents may play a dual role by reducing overall tumor burden through direct killing of cancerous cells and by indirect release of proinflammatory molecules and tumor associated antigens which, when presented in an immunogenic fashion, may function as an in situ “vaccine”. Critically, the timing of administration of standard chemotherapy can markedly impact the induction of antitumor responses. We anticipate that among the gamut of combination immunotherapy and chemo-radiation therapies that are now being evaluated, we will eventually be able to optimize a regimen that can generate long-lasting responses and usher a new weapon in the fight against pancreatic cancer.