Irinotecan hydrochloride liposome HR070803 in combination with 5-fluorouracil and leucovorin in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma following prior gemcitabine-based therapy (PAN-HEROIC-1): a phase 3 trial

Liposomal irinotecan has shown promising antitumor activity in patients with advanced or metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) who have undergone prior gemcitabine-based therapies. This randomized, double-blind, parallel-controlled, multicenter phase 3 study (NCT05074589) assessed the efficacy and safety of liposomal irinotecan HR070803 combined with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) in this patient population. Patients with unresectable, locally advanced, or metastatic PDAC who had previously received gemcitabine-based therapies were randomized 1:1 to receive either HR070803 (60 mg/m² anhydrous irinotecan hydrochloride, equal to 56.5 mg/m² free base) or placebo, both in combination with 5-FU (2000 mg/m²) and LV (200 mg/m²), all given intravenously every two weeks. The primary endpoint of the study was overall survival (OS). A total of 298 patients were enrolled and received HR070803 plus 5-FU/LV (HR070803 group, n = 149) or placebo plus 5-FU/LV (placebo group, n = 149). Median OS was significantly improved in the HR070803 group compared to the placebo group (7.4 months [95% CI 6.1–8.4] versus 5.0 months [95% CI 4.3–6.0]; HR 0.63 [95% CI 0.48–0.84]; two-sided p = 0.0019). The most common grade ≥ 3 adverse events in the HR070803 group were increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (19.0% versus 11.6% in placebo group) and decreased neutrophil count (12.9% versus 0 in placebo group). No treatment-related deaths occurred in the HR070803 group, while the placebo group reported one treatment-related death (abdominal infection). HR070803 in combination with 5-FU/LV has shown promising efficacy and manageable safety in advanced or metastatic PDAC in the second-line setting, representing a potential option in this patient population.