Immunotherapy

What is immunotherapy and how can it help those that have been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer? Learn the ins and outs of immunotherapy-related treatments, clinical trials, and vaccines, and how they can be integrated into your treatment plan.

55 Articles

Dr. Vinod Balachandran
Research
January 16, 2018 • 3 Min

Neoantigens Provide New Hope for Pancreatic Cancer Treatments

Vinod Balachandran’s team identified increased T cells in the tumors of long-term pancreatic cancer survivors, with a role for neoantigens in immunotherapy.

Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee
Research
November 20, 2017 • 4 Min

Overcoming Challenges to Vaccine Immunotherapy

Dr. Elizabeth Jaffee explains the challenges facing the scientists developing vaccine-based immunotherapy for pancreatic cancer.

DNA double helix
Research
October 25, 2017 • 4 Min

More Research Needed for Pancreatic Cancer Immunotherapy

Dr. Luis Diaz provides a status check for immunotherapy treatments for pancreatic cancer, including an explanation of different types.

Dr. Luis Diaz
Research
July 14, 2017 • 5 Min

An Immunotherapy Game Changer

Immunotherapy with Keytruda (pembrolizumab) is approved for use in cancer patients with certain genetic defects in their tumors.

Microscope image of a cross section of circular pancreas cells with lighter centers, stained pink
Research
March 23, 2017 • 2 Min

Two Types of Immunotherapy for Surgically Removable Pancreatic Cancer

A clinical trial compares the effectiveness of two different types of immunotherapy with standard treatment after pancreatic cancer surgery.

Close-up image of the top of a centrifuge, over the central axis
Research
January 2, 2017 • 2 Min

Testing Targeted Immunotherapy Against Pancreatic Cancer

Targeted immunotherapy is the focus of a clinical trial that tests the drug ibrutinib, approved for leukemia treatment, against pancreatic cancer.

White gloved hands of a lab worker filling a pipette
Research
November 21, 2016 • 4 Min

Immunotherapy Treatments Provide Hope to Pancreatic Cancer Patients

Dr. Robert Vonderheide of the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania describes immunotherapy trials for pancreatic cancer.

microscope slide of Pancreas cross section embedded in paraffin wax, stained lavender, 10x magnification,
Research
November 11, 2016 • 2 Min

Immunotherapy to Help Shrink Pancreatic Tumors for Surgery

Researchers are looking at adding checkpoint drugs–a type of immunotherapy–to standard chemoradiation to shrink pancreatic cancer for surgery.

Mcrofuge tubes with writing on the caps, sitting in an orange rack
Research
April 18, 2016 • 5 Min

Putting the Immune System on the Offensive

A discussion of immunology in cancer treatment, focusing on the work of Elizabeth Jaffe, M.D., and her cancer vaccine and checkpoint inhibitors.

microscope image of a cell nucleus and cytoskeleton stained with bright green, blue, and pink
Research
April 3, 2016 • 2 Min

Comparing the Effectiveness of Vaccine Therapy With or Without Additional Immunotherapy

Can the immunotherapy combination of cancer vaccines and a checkpoint blockade drug work against metastatic pancreatic cancer?