Pamela Munster's story of cancer in the family
https://www.facingourrisk.org/XRAY/BRCA-family-pancreatic-cancer
Full article: https://www.wsj.com/articles/my-fathers-fight-against-the-breast-cancer-gene-1538146392?ns=prod/accounts-wsj
In her essay in The Washington Post, Dr. Pamela Munster recounts her family's history with cancer associated with a mutation in the BRCA2 gene. She details her father's extraordinary journey with pancreatic cancer, one of the most aggressive and deadly cancers. (11/27/18)
Questions To Ask Your Health Care Provider
- How do my genetic test results impact my risk of pancreatic cancer and other cancers?
- Given my risk for pancreatic cance, should I have pancreatic cancer screening?
- As a pancreatic cancer patient, am I eligible for genetic testing?
- Can you refer me for genetic counseling?
- Are there any clinical trials that I qualify for?
Open Clinical Trials
The following studies are looking at risk management for pancreatic cancer:
- NCT04970056: Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection for People at High Risk (PRECEDE). The study will collect clinical information, family history and samples (blood, saliva or cheek swab) from people and families at risk for pancreatic cancer.
- NCT02000089: Pancreatic Cancer Screening Study (CAPS5). The CAPS5 study is looking at screening for early cancer in people with an elevated lifetime risk of developing pancreatic cancer who are undergoing screening with endoscopic ultrasound, MRCP or CT scan.
- NCT03250078: A Pancreatic Cancer Screening Study in Hereditary High-Risk Individuals. The main goal of this study is to screen and detect pancreatic cancer and precursor lesions in individuals with a strong family history or genetic predisposition to pancreatic cancer. Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) will be utilized to screen for early-stage pancreatic cancer or precursor lesions.
- NCT03568630: Blood Markers of Early Pancreas Cancer. This study looks at whether identifying biomarkers of early pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) could facilitate screening for individuals with higher-than-average risk, expedite the diagnosis in individuals with symptoms and substantially improve an individual's chance of surviving the disease.
- NCT03250078: A Pancreatic Cancer Screening Study in Hereditary High-Risk Individuals. The goal of this study is to use Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Magnetic Cholangiopancreatography (MRI/MRCP) to screen for pancreatic cancer in individuals with a strong family history or genetic risk .
Other clinical trials for pancreatic cancer screening and prevention may be found here.
The following treatment studies are enrolling people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
- NCT04548752: Adding Pembrolizumab to Olaparib to Treat Pancreatic Cancer in People with an Inherited BRCA Mutation. This study researches whether adding the drug pembrolizumab to the PARP inhibitor olaparib works better than olaparib alone for treating metastatic pancreatic cancer in people with an inherited BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation.
- NCT04493060: Treating Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer with an Inherited or Tumor BRCA1/2 or PALB2 Mutation with Niraparib and Dostarlimab. This study looks at how well the PARP inhibitor niraparib and the immunotherapy drug dostarlimab work together for treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer and an inherited or tumor mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, BARD1, RAD51C or RAD51D.
- NCT04150042: SHARON: A Clinical Trial for Metastatic Cancer With an Inherited BRCA or PALB2 Mutation Using Chemotherapy and Patients’ Own Stem Cells. This study looks at whether melphalan, BCNU, vitamin B12b and vitamin C followed by autologous (self) bone marrow stem cell infusion is safe and effective for treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer or stage 4, HER2-negative breast cancer for people with a BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 inherited mutation.
- NCT04858334: Olaparib or Placebo in Patients with Surgically Removed Pancreatic Cancer who have a BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 Mutation (APOLLO). This study compares the usual approach (observation) to treatment for one year with olaparib in patients with a BRCA1, BRCA2 or PALB2 mutation.
- NCT04550494: Treating Metastatic Solid Tumors with an Inherited or Acquired Gene Mutation Using the PARP Inhibitor Talazoparib. This study looks at the safety and effectivenss of the drug talazoparib for treating people with advanced breast, gastric, ovarian, pancreatic or other cancers with an inherited mutation or an acquired mutation in certain DNA repair genes, such as BRCA1, BRCA2, ATM, CHEK2, PALB2 and others.
Other clinical trials for people with pancreatic cancer can be found here.
About FORCE
FORCE is a national nonprofit organization, established in 1999. Our mission is to improve the lives of individuals and families affected by adult hereditary cancers.