What's on the horizon for pancreatic cancer treatment and earlier detection? In this episode, host Alisyn Camerota sits down with Dr. Andrew Ko, professor of medicine and associate chief of hematology oncology at UC San Francisco, to explore the most promising advances in the field.

Dr. Ko breaks down the current state of pancreatic cancer vaccines and explains why they're showing promise for earlier stage patients following surgery. He also discusses the landscape of immunotherapy, the excitement around RAS inhibitors, and emerging targets. The conversation also covers early detection, including blood-based screening tools and the potential role of AI in identifying pancreatic cancer before symptoms appear.

Links:

Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer
PanCAN
PanCAN Patient Services
Let's Win Clinical Trial Finder
PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder

Where does pancreatic cancer research stand today — and what does it mean for patients and families right now?

In this episode, host Alisyn Camerota sits down with Dr. Emil Lou, physician scientist and medical oncologist at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, to break down the latest developments in pancreatic cancer research. From KRAS-targeted therapies and the challenge of drug resistance, to the role of AI in early detection and treatment response, Dr. Lou offers an accessible and honest look at where we are, what's promising, and why research funding has never been more critical.

This episode is sponsored by Revolution Medicines.

For more information and resources, visit letswinpc.org and pancan.org. Use the Let's Win and PanCAN clinical trial finders to explore options.

Links:

Let’s Win Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services

In this continuation of our conversation about clinical trials, host Alisyn Camerota and Martin D Hynes, III, discuss the real obstacles patients face when pursuing clinical trials.

Marty, a chemist and pancreatic cancer survivor, explains that while clinical trials require additional testing beyond standard of care, pharmaceutical companies cover these costs, including scans, blood work, and often travel expenses and lodging for patients and caregivers.

He addresses concerns about leaving established care teams and emphasizes the importance of having an advocate to coordinate communication between medical teams. Marty and Alisyn discuss the complexities of genetic and tumor testing required for trial eligibility, the challenges patients face when too ill to travel, and privacy concerns around medical data sharing.

Despite these barriers, Marty is optimistic about improvements in trial access through organizations like Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN, which offer trial finders and patient navigation services. He shares that his recent checkup showed normal CA19-9 levels and clear scans, and encourages patients not to give up hope as treatments continue to improve.

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services

Let’s Win Doctor Finder