The effectiveness of using sotorasib to treat pancreatic cancer with G12C KRAS mutation
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Reviewed by Dat Tien Nguyen, B.A, ScM.
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Posted on February 10th, 2023
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The KRAS protein is extremely essential for the intracellular signaling required for cellular development. Mutations in this protein frequently disrupt the cell cycle and increase the risk of cancer. A glycine-to-cysteine mutation at amino acid position #12 (G12C) of the KRAS protein is the underlying cause behind 1% to 2% of all pancreatic cancer cases. Due to the high toxicity of the current treatment, a new therapy is needed. Sotorasib is a small molecule that can bind to and inactivate the mutated G12C KRAS, and a recent study conducted by Amgen had recently released their findings on the medication’s effectiveness.
The phase I and II clinical trial included 38 patients who had metastatic pancreatic cancer and had previously received chemotherapy. These patients received 1 pill containing 960 mg of Sotorasib once daily for 18 weeks. By the end of the study, 30 out of 38 patients - 79% of the study cohort experienced some degree of shrinkage to their tumor. 8 out of the 38 patients - 21% of the participants, experienced at least a 30% decrease in the diameter of the tumor; however, the medication did not result in complete tumor shrinkage in any of the patients. The treatment took a median period of 1.5 months to elicit a response. In terms of safety, 42% of all patients reported adverse events; diarrhea and fatigue are the most common reported problems. 16% of all the side effects are moderate, and none was fatal or cause the patient to stop taking sotorasib.
The phase I and II clinical trial included 38 patients who had metastatic pancreatic cancer and had previously received chemotherapy. These patients received 1 pill containing 960 mg of Sotorasib once daily for 18 weeks. By the end of the study, 30 out of 38 patients - 79% of the study cohort experienced some degree of shrinkage to their tumor. 8 out of the 38 patients - 21% of the participants, experienced at least a 30% decrease in the diameter of the tumor; however, the medication did not result in complete tumor shrinkage in any of the patients. The treatment took a median period of 1.5 months to elicit a response. In terms of safety, 42% of all patients reported adverse events; diarrhea and fatigue are the most common reported problems. 16% of all the side effects are moderate, and none was fatal or cause the patient to stop taking sotorasib.