Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy in pancreatic cancer: terra incognita

Pancreatic cancer is among the most aggressive of all malignancies and urgently requires effective therapeutic strategies. One promising treatment for solid tumors, like those found in pancreatic tissues, is the use of immune checkpoint inhibitors. These inhibitors have not yet undergone clinical trials in patients with pancreatic cancer, but some studies have revealed promising preliminary findings, such as delay in disease progression and enhancement of overall survival when immune checkpoint inhibitors are administered alone or in combination with other therapies. The present article is a review of current immunotherapeutic strategies and clinical trials for pancreatic cancer.