Breakthrough Study: Spanish Researchers Cure Pancreatic Cancer in Mice Using Triple Therapy - Video

Experimental Triple Therapy Completely Eliminates Pancreatic Tumors in Mice. A team of scientists at the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO) has developed a groundbreaking triple-drug therapy that eradicated pancreatic tumors in mice without causing major side effects. The experimental treatment “completely and permanently eliminated” tumors, and the cancer did not return or develop resistance for over 200 days after treatment—a remarkable outcome for a cancer type notorious for aggressive relapse.

The study is published in the journal PNAS (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences).

“This combination therapy also led to significant regression of genetically engineered mouse tumors as well as patient-derived tumor xenografts, without tumor relapses,” the study authors said. Importantly, the therapy was well tolerated across multiple mouse models.

The triple combination includes an experimental drug already approved for lung cancer, a protein degrader, and an additional targeted therapy. Together, the three agents triggered complete tumor disappearance in mice, showing a potential new approach for treating a cancer that is typically resistant to conventional drugs.

Despite the promising results, researchers caution that the therapy is not yet ready for humans. Mariano Barbacid, head of the Experimental Oncology Group at CNIO, told PNAS, “Although experimental results like those described here have never been obtained before, we are not yet in a position to carry out clinical trials with the triple therapy.” Optimizing the treatment for clinical use will be a complex process requiring further research.

Pancreatic cancer forms in the pancreas, an organ that produces insulin and digestive enzymes, and is often diagnosed at a late stage. According to the World Cancer Research Fund, it is the 12th most common cancer worldwide. In the U.S., it accounts for 3% of all cancers but nearly 8% of cancer-related deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2026, about 67,530 people will be diagnosed, with approximately 52,740 deaths expected.

While human applications remain years away, the CNIO findings represent a major step toward potentially transformative pancreatic cancer treatments.

REFERENCE: Vasiliki Liaki, Sara Barrambana, Myrto Kostopoulou, Mariano Barbacid. Et al.; A targeted combination therapy achieves effective pancreatic cancer regression and prevents tumor resistance; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences; https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2523039122