RETRACTED: A targeted combination therapy achieves effective pancreatic cancer regression and prevents tumor resistance

V Vasiliki Liaki (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) S Sara Barrambana (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) M Myrto Kostopoulou (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) C Carmen G. Lechuga (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) E Elena Zamorano-Dominguez (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) D Domingo Acosta (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) L Lucia Morales-Cacho (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) R Ruth Álvarez (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) P Pian Sun (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) B Blanca Rosas-Perez (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) R Rebeca Barrero (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) S Silvia Jiménez-Parrado (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) A Alejandra López-García (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) M Marta San Roman (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) J Juan Carlos López-Gil (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) M Matthias Drosten (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC)) B Bruno Sainz (Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC)) M Monica Musteanu E Eduardo Caleiras (Histopathology Unit, Biotechnology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) N Nelson Dusetti V Valeria Poli F Francisco Sánchez-Bueno (Department of Surgery, Hospital Clinico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica) C Carmen Guerra (Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas) M Mariano Barbacid

Abstract

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the lowest cancer survival rates. Recent studies using RAS inhibitors have opened the door to more efficacious therapies, although their beneficial effect is still limited mainly due to the rapid appearance of tumor resistance. Here, we demonstrate that genetic ablation of three independent nodes involved in downstream (RAF1), upstream (EGFR), and orthogonal (STAT3) KRAS signaling pathways leads to complete and permanent regression of orthotopic PDACs induced by KRAS/TP53 mutations. Likewise, a combination of selective inhibitors of KRAS (RMC-6236/daraxonrasib), EGFR family (afatinib), and STAT3 (SD36) induced the complete regression of orthotopic PDAC tumors with no evidence of tumor resistance for over 200 d posttreatment. This combination therapy also led to significant regression of genetically engineered mouse tumors as well as patient-derived tumor xenografts (PDX) in the absence of tumor relapses. Of importance, this combination therapy was well tolerated. In sum, these results should guide the development of new clinical trials that may benefit PDAC patients.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 122, Issue 49
Published December 09, 2025
ISSN 0027-8424
Publisher National Academy of Sciences

Authors (24)

V

Vasiliki Liaki

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

S

Sara Barrambana

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

M

Myrto Kostopoulou

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

C

Carmen G. Lechuga

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

E

Elena Zamorano-Dominguez

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

D

Domingo Acosta

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

L

Lucia Morales-Cacho

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

R

Ruth Álvarez

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

P

Pian Sun

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

B

Blanca Rosas-Perez

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

R

Rebeca Barrero

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

S

Silvia Jiménez-Parrado

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

A

Alejandra López-García

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

M

Marta San Roman

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

J

Juan Carlos López-Gil

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

M

Matthias Drosten

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC)

B

Bruno Sainz

Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red Cancer (CIBERONC)

M

Monica Musteanu

E

Eduardo Caleiras

Histopathology Unit, Biotechnology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

N

Nelson Dusetti

V

Valeria Poli

F

Francisco Sánchez-Bueno

Department of Surgery, Hospital Clinico Universitario Virgen de la Arrixaca and Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biomédica

C

Carmen Guerra

Experimental Oncology Group, Tumor Biology Program, Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas

M

Mariano Barbacid