Blow to pancreatic cancer: they manage to eliminate it completely

Researchers of the National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) have achieved completely eliminate pancreatic tumors in experimental mouse models using a triple therapeutic combinationa milestone reached for the first time that opens the door to human treatments for one of the deadliest cancers.

The study, led by the director of the CNIO Experimental Oncology Group, Mariano Barbacid, and that has had financing from the Cris Against Cancer Foundationhas focused on pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA), which represents the majority of pancreatic tumors.

The results, published in ‘Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences‘ (PNAS) after six years of work, have demonstrated the curative effectiveness of a strategy that attacks three key points of the tumor: KRASwhich is the mutation that starts pancreatic cancer, EGFR and STAT3proteins involved in cell signaling that promote tumor proliferation, survival and growth.

🔴 Today is a very special day for oncological research against pancreatic cancer.

Together with the team of Dr. #MarianoBarbacidwe present a before and after in pancreatic cancer: targeted therapies that double survival. pic.twitter.com/5QFUL3WUYv

— CRIS against cancer (@criscancer) January 27, 2026

Researchers have combined the use of RMC-6236, a KRAS inhibitor; afatinib, EGFR inhibitor; and SD36, a STAT3 degrader, with which they have managed to induce the complete and long-lasting regression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma in mouse models in which genetically modified tumor cells were implanted in the pancreas and carrying human cancer cells.

In mice that were implanted with tumor cells, treatment with the combination of inhibitors caused the animals survived without any alteration obvious at least 250 days. By analyzing your pancreas, no tumor remains were detected, nor does the tissue surrounding the tumor, known as stroma, allow the mice to be defined as tumor-free.

After that, they tested the triple therapy in genetically modified mice, with the aim of getting closer to the characteristics of human tumors. All animals reduced their tumor burden with complete regressions in nine of 12 mice, living at least 100 days free of disease and without registering recurrences. In another test, using RMC-6236 as monotherapy, they managed to double survival in all mice, but none survived the treatment.

Finally, the research group injected the tumor from six patients into a total of 18 immunodeficient mice. Although these tumors do not have the same properties as when they were found in patients, they do maintain some of their characteristics. In 16 of the 18 mice treated with triple therapy, the tumor disappeared, without recurrences being observed in 80 of the 120 days that the treatment lasted.

The team of researchers, which includes Carmen Guerra as co-lead author and Vasiliki Liaki and Sara Barrambana as first authors, has highlighted that, in addition to achieving a “significant and lasting regression” of these tumors, the triple therapy did not cause “significant toxicities” in the animals.

When will it reach humans?

Mariano Barbacid has explained that the process to bring the triple therapy to a clinical trial with humans will be long, since requires financing and progress in regulatory processes corresponding. If everything progresses at an adequate pace, the researcher is confident that these studies can be underway within a period of three years.

Even so, he highlighted that the KRAS inhibitor, RMC-6236, also known as daraxonrasib and developed by the biotechnology company Revolution Medicinescould be authorized throughout this year or early 2027. According to studies by this company, the inhibitor used in monotherapy, even in the second line in metastatic tumors, allows a 14 month survivalthus doubling that achieved with chemotherapy regimens.

The study has had financial support from the Cris Contra el Cancer Foundation. As detailed by its president, Lola Manterolathe foundation’s donors have managed to contribute 3.6 million euros to the project throughout its six years of duration.

Manterola has valued the public-private collaboration model to promote “successful” projects like this and open a door of hope to patients. In Spain, they are diagnosed more than 10,300 cases of pancreatic cancer a year and only between eight and 10 percent of patients survive five years after diagnosis.

The soprano Cristina Domínguez, who was diagnosed with metastatic pancreatic cancer in 2015, participated in the presentation of the study. In her intervention, she thanked the researchers for their work and the funding provided by entities such as Cris Contra el Cancer, which allows patients to access treatment regardless of their economic situation. “Without them I would not be here, I have left behind many people who have not achieved it,” he stated.