Onvansertib in Combination with NALIRIFOX for the Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
This phase Ib/II trial tests how well onvansertib in combination with nanoliposomal irinotecan, oxaliplatin, fluorouracil and leucovorin calcium (NALIRIFOX) works in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic). Onvansertib, an enzyme inhibitor, binds to a receptor called PLK1 found on some tumor cells and is involved with tumor cell growth. Onvansertib may prevent tumor growth and spread by blocking the function of PLK1. Oxaliplatin is in a class of medications called platinum-containing antineoplastic agents. It damages the cell’s DNA and may kill tumor cells. Irinotecan is in a class of anticancer medications called topoisomerase I inhibitors. It blocks a certain enzyme needed for cell division and DNA repair and may kill tumor cells. Nanoliposomal irinotecan is a form of the anticancer drug irinotecan that is contained inside very tiny, fat-like particles. Nanoliposomal irinotecan may have fewer side effects and work better than other forms of the drug. Fluorouracil is a type of chemotherapy called an antimetabolite, which is a drug that mimics a natural chemical and prevents its use in cells. It interferes with the production of a key component of DNA, which prevents the DNA from copying itself. This causes tumor cells and other rapidly dividing cells to die. Fluorouracil also gets incorporated into RNA and DNA, disrupting critical cell functions. Leucovorin calcium is a type of drug called a folic acid analog, which means it is similar to the vitamin folic acid. It is used in combination with certain chemotherapy drugs to enhance their ability to kill tumor cells (for example, fluorouracil) or to lessen their harmful side effects (for example, methotrexate). Giving onvansertib in combination with NALIRIFOX may be effective in treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.