MIAMI — A clinical trial combining IL1RAP-targeted therapy with chemoimmunotherapy is advancing for patients with operable pancreatic cancer prior to surgery. This development follows preclinical research conducted by researchers at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, part of the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine.

The study findings were published in the journal JCI Insight. Jashodeep Datta, M.D., a pancreatic and hepatobiliary surgical oncologist at Sylvester, is the senior author of the study. Dr. Datta also serves as the co-leader of the Gastrointestinal Site Disease Group at Sylvester. Peter Hosein, M.D., a professor of clinical medicine at the Miller School and co-leader of the Gastrointestinal Cancers Site Disease Group at Sylvester, is a co-author of the study. Dr. Hosein is also the associate director for clinical research at SPCRI.

Preclinical research by the Sylvester team found that inhibiting IL1RAP decreases immune-suppressive cells. The research also showed that inhibiting IL1RAP makes T cells more active and effective, and tumors show less fibrosis. IL1RAP is a receptor involved in inflammatory signaling.

"When we target IL1RAP, we are blocking a shared 'helper' receptor that many inflammatory signals rely on to transmit their message," Dr. Datta said. "We're testing a clear, patient-centered strategy to disrupt IL1RAP using a treatment plan that can be delivered in the clinic." Dr. Datta added, "Moving this work into a clinical trial is a landmark development for our GI cancer program at Sylvester."

The research received support from a Translational Research Grant from the V Foundation. This grant provides $800,000 distributed over four years. "Every new approach helps us learn more," Dr. Hosein said. He added, "This trial gives us a unique window to connect the science directly to patient outcomes, which is essential for moving the field forward." The study has the DOI 10.1172/jci.insight.202487.