Pancreatic Cancer

Study: Combination maintenance therapy may benefit some people with metastatic pancreatic cancer

The phase 2 POLAR trial tested maintenance therapy with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) and Lynparza (olaparib) in metastatic pancreatic cancer patients whose disease had not worsened after platinum-based chemotherapy. Maintenance therapy is treatment given after initial treatment to help control cancer and delay it from growing or spreading. Although the study did not meet its main goals and included only a small number of participants, some people with a BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutation had long-lasting benefit. (posted 08/27/2026)

Study: Music therapy as effective as cognitive behavioral therapy for anxiety in cancer survivors

A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that music therapy delivered by telehealth worked just as well as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to reduce anxiety among cancer survivors. Both approaches led to meaningful and lasting improvements, not only in anxiety, but also in sleep, fatigue and overall quality of life. These findings give patients more flexible, evidence-based options for managing emotional health after cancer. (posted 6/12/2026)

Update: FDA grants expanded access to an investigational drug for pancreatic cancer

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted expanded access to the investigational drug daraxonrasib for people with previously treated pancreatic cancer. This allows more access to the drug outside of a clinical trial, even though it has not yet been approved by the FDA. (posted 5/29/2026)

Update: On August 26, 2026, the FDA approved Rasonque (daraxonrasib) for adults with metastatic pancreatic cancer who have received at least one systemic treatment (a treatment that travels throughout the entire body) or when combination chemotherapy is not an option.

Topic: Gastrointestinal cancer survivorship in younger adults includes challenges often overlooked

This review summarizes a presentation given at the 2026 American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Gastrointestinal Cancers Symposium. The presenter discussed survivorship concerns that younger adults with gastrointestinal (GI) cancer say their doctors often overlook. (posted 4/17/2026)

Study: Understanding inherited PALB2 mutations and risk of multiple cancers

Inherited mutations in the PALB2 gene are linked to increased risk of several cancers, including breast, pancreatic, ovarian, and prostate cancers. This study estimates the effect of an inherited PALB2 mutation on a person’s risk of developing each of these cancers. (posted 4/6/2026)

Study: Early trial of new vaccine shows promise for people with Lynch syndrome

The Nous-209 vaccine for preventing cancer in people with Lynch syndrome was tested in an early-phase study. The safety and immune response results were encouraging. An immune response was seen in most participants, suggesting that the vaccine may help reduce the chance of developing cancer in people with Lynch syndrome. (posted 3/23/2026)

Article: Pelvic health therapy improves quality of life after treatment or prevention

Pelvic health therapy can significantly improve comfort, function and quality of life for people experiencing pelvic pain, bladder or bowel issues, and sexual dysfunction after cancer treatment or preventive surgery. This article highlights the importance of restoring tissue mobility, strengthening the pelvic floor and providing emotional support to empower survivors and previvors. (posted 3/23/2026)

Guideline: FDA recommends testing to prevent serious side effects from 5-FU and capecitabine chemotherapy

A small number of people treated with the chemotherapy drugs 5-FU (5-fluorouracil) or capecitabine (Xeloda) can have serious or even life-threatening side effects because their body breaks down the drug more slowly than is typical. A genetic test called DPYD testing can help identify people at higher risk for serious side effects before treatment starts. (posted 2/11/26)

Topic: What patients need to know about liquid biopsies in cancer care

Liquid biopsies are tests that look for signs of cancer in blood or other body fluids. These signs can include cancer cells that have broken away from a tumor, pieces of cancer cell DNA and proteins or other biomarkers found in cancer cells. Liquid biopsies can be used to screen for cancer before a cancer diagnosis or guide treatment after a diagnosis. (posted 2/6/26)

Study: Understanding the risks of a second cancer after a breast cancer diagnosis in people with BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations

After breast cancer, people who have a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation face a greater risk of a second cancer compared to individuals without a BRCA mutation. This study helps to better understand this risk so that breast cancer survivors with mutations can receive informed, personalized plans for surveillance and follow-up care. (Posted 12/11/25)