Abstract 5255: KRAS subtype may modify the poor immunotherapy response in pancreatic cancer: Evidence from early phase trials

Abstract Background: PDAC is characterized by a near universal presence of KRAS mutations and limited responsiveness to immunotherapy. Biologic heterogeneity among KRAS subtypes may shape tumor immunobiology and treatment resistance. Methods: We evaluated 109 patients with advanced PDAC treated on early phase trials (08/2014 to 08/2023). PFS and OS were estimated, cox regression models assessed clinical and molecular predictors of survival. Results: Of 109 patients, 64% had KRAS mutations, 18% were KRAS wild, and 17% had unknown KRAS status. Median age was 65 and 83% had liver metastases. KRAS subtype distribution was G12D (46%), G12V (31%), G12R (13%), and other variants (10%). Immunomodulatory agents were administered in 39% of patients, most commonly in the 1L (49%). mOS and PFS for the entire cohort were 5.65 and 2.73 months, respectively. The restricted mean OS (7.54 vs. 8.65, p=0.53) and PFS (3.82 vs. 4.24, p=0.7) did not differ between KRAS-mutant and KRAS wild. Among KRAS-mutant patients, those receiving immunomodulator therapy had shorter OS compared with those who did not, with the strongest association observed in KRAS G12D (Table 1). This pattern was not seen in the KRAS wild-type. On univariate analysis, immunotherapy exposure, number of prior treatment lines, and liver metastasis were each associated with inferior OS. On multivariate analysis, immunotherapy exposure demonstrated a non-significant trend toward inferior OS (HR 1.61, 95% Cl 0.98-2.66; p=0.06), while others remained independently associated with worse OS, suggesting confounding in the unadjusted association between immunotherapy and survival. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that among KRAS mutant PDAC - particularly G12D - receipt of immunotherapy in early phase trials was associated with shorter OS. This may reflect underlying biology or confounding by treatment line and disease burden and warrant validation by KRAS subtype-informed studies. Citation Format: Dilsa Mizrak Kaya, Yangruijue Ma, Tarik Demir, Aparna Kalyan, Sheetal Kircher, Mary Mulcahy, Al B. Benson III, Ruohui Chen, Devalingam Mahalingam. KRAS subtype may modify the poor immunotherapy response in pancreatic cancer: Evidence from early phase trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 5255.

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Journal
Cancer Research
Published
2026-04-03
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1158/1538-7445.am2026-5255
Primary Topic
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
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article
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article

Abstract 5255: KRAS subtype may modify the poor immunotherapy response in pancreatic cancer: Evidence from early phase trials

D. Mahalingam, M. F. Mulcahy, Ruohui Chen, Sheetal Kircher et al.
Cancer Research
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
article

Abstract 5255: KRAS subtype may modify the poor immunotherapy response in pancreatic cancer: Evidence from early phase trials

D. Mahalingam, M. F. Mulcahy, Ruohui Chen, Sheetal Kircher, Dılşa Mızrak Kaya, Yangruijue Ma, A.B. Benson, Tarik Demir, Aparna Kalyan
article en

Abstract

Abstract Background: PDAC is characterized by a near universal presence of KRAS mutations and limited responsiveness to immunotherapy. Biologic heterogeneity among KRAS subtypes may shape tumor immunobiology and treatment resistance. Methods: We evaluated 109 patients with advanced PDAC treated on early phase trials (08/2014 to 08/2023). PFS and OS were estimated, cox regression models assessed clinical and molecular predictors of survival. Results: Of 109 patients, 64% had KRAS mutations, 18% were KRAS wild, and 17% had unknown KRAS status. Median age was 65 and 83% had liver metastases. KRAS subtype distribution was G12D (46%), G12V (31%), G12R (13%), and other variants (10%). Immunomodulatory agents were administered in 39% of patients, most commonly in the 1L (49%). mOS and PFS for the entire cohort were 5.65 and 2.73 months, respectively. The restricted mean OS (7.54 vs. 8.65, p=0.53) and PFS (3.82 vs. 4.24, p=0.7) did not differ between KRAS-mutant and KRAS wild. Among KRAS-mutant patients, those receiving immunomodulator therapy had shorter OS compared with those who did not, with the strongest association observed in KRAS G12D (Table 1). This pattern was not seen in the KRAS wild-type. On univariate analysis, immunotherapy exposure, number of prior treatment lines, and liver metastasis were each associated with inferior OS. On multivariate analysis, immunotherapy exposure demonstrated a non-significant trend toward inferior OS (HR 1.61, 95% Cl 0.98-2.66; p=0.06), while others remained independently associated with worse OS, suggesting confounding in the unadjusted association between immunotherapy and survival. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that among KRAS mutant PDAC - particularly G12D - receipt of immunotherapy in early phase trials was associated with shorter OS. This may reflect underlying biology or confounding by treatment line and disease burden and warrant validation by KRAS subtype-informed studies. Citation Format: Dilsa Mizrak Kaya, Yangruijue Ma, Tarik Demir, Aparna Kalyan, Sheetal Kircher, Mary Mulcahy, Al B. Benson III, Ruohui Chen, Devalingam Mahalingam. KRAS subtype may modify the poor immunotherapy response in pancreatic cancer: Evidence from early phase trials [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 5255.

Cancer ResearchVol. 86(7_Supplement)
Northwestern University (US), The Ohio State University (US)
No poverty
Openalex Percentile: Top 32%
Pancreatic and Hepatic Oncology Research
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