Understanding why some pancreatic cancers respond to pembrolizumab and olaparib
Homologous recombination deficiency and beyond in pancreatic cancer: evaluating the regulators of response to pembrolizumab and olaparib (POLAR) from the immune and genomic perspectives
This work looks at whether combining the immunotherapy pembrolizumab with the DNA-repair drug olaparib helps people with pancreatic cancer, especially those whose tumors have BRCA, PALB2, or other DNA-repair problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11169818 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will analyze tumor samples and clinical records to find genetic changes and immune features that predict response to olaparib and pembrolizumab. They will use genomic sequencing to detect homologous recombination defects (like BRCA or PALB2 loss) and lab tests to measure immune cells and antigen presentation in the tumor. The team will compare these molecular and immune profiles with how patients responded to DNA-damaging drugs and immunotherapy. Findings may guide who should be offered the drug combination and inform future clinical trials testing these treatments together.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with advanced or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have or are willing to test for BRCA, PALB2, or other homologous recombination gene changes, or who can provide tumor samples for immune and genomic profiling, are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients with early-stage disease already treated with curative intent, those without DNA-repair defects, or those unable or unwilling to undergo genetic testing or immunotherapy are unlikely to benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify which pancreatic cancer patients are most likely to benefit from olaparib plus pembrolizumab and help personalize treatment options.
How similar studies have performed: PARP inhibitors are already used as maintenance for BRCA-mutant pancreatic cancer and early research hints that combining PARP inhibitors with PD-1 blockers may help some patients, but the combination is still under active testing.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'reilly, Eileen Mary — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: O'reilly, Eileen Mary
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.