A Bold Approach to a Relentless Disease

Launched in 2020, NeoPancONE set out to test a potentially life-extending treatment strategy for patients with operable pancreatic cancer which has been a disease known for its poor prognosis and limited treatment options. 

The Phase II trial, conducted across 10 leading cancer centres in Canada, explored the impact on patient outcomes of peri-operative chemotherapy, which is delivering chemotherapy both before and after surgery. This study specifically aimed to assess whether a key biomarker, GATA6, could help predict how patients respond to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (pre-surgical chemotherapy), using a modified FOLFIRINOX regimen. 

GATA6 is a genetic marker that influences how pancreatic cancer behaves. It can be detected through analysis of tumour biopsy samples. Low GATA6 levels have been linked to more aggressive cancer types, poor response to treatment, and lower survival rates, which suggests that GATA6 status could help tailor treatment strategies to individual patients.

Promising Findings That Could Transform Care

The eagerly awaited results were presented to an international audience of oncologists and researchers at ASCO 2025. Between September 2020 and September 2023, the NeoPancONE team evaluated 146 patients across eight Canadian centres, ultimately enrolling 84 participants. Patients ranged in age from 44 to 83 (average age 64), with 61% identifying as female. The majority had primary tumours located in the head or neck of the pancreas. 

Of the 84 enrolled patients, 73 successfully underwent surgery. Eight were unable to proceed to surgery due to disease progression, and three unfortunately died due to complications from neoadjuvant chemotherapy. 

Crucially, the study found that patients with high GATA6 levels had better outcomes. They experienced lower rates of disease progression, responded more favourably to chemotherapy, and had improved survival. In contrast, over half of the patients with low GATA6 saw their disease progress or passed away within six months of enrolling in the study.

A New Path Toward Personalized Treatment

These findings mark an exciting advance in the quest for more personalized, precise treatment of pancreatic cancer. GATA6 shows promise as a biomarker that could help identify pancreatic tumours, predict chemotherapy response, and guide treatment decisions. 

Pancreatic Cancer Canada continues to champion bold, innovative research like NeoPancONE, pushing the boundaries of what is possible to improve survival rates for this relentless disease.