Immune monotherapy does not appear to work in patients with
pancreatic cancer so far. We are conducting a clinical trial that combines programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) inhibitor with
chemotherapy and concurrent
radiotherapy as induction
therapy for patients with locally advanced
pancreatic cancer (LAPC) and borderline resectable
pancreatic cancer (BRPC). Here, we report a case with a
pathologic complete response (pCR) and no postoperative complications after the induction
therapy. The patient received four cycles of induction
therapy and achieved a partial response (PR) with a significant decline of
tumor marker carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9). Also, peripheral blood samples were collected during the treatment to investigate serial
circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) dynamic changes in predicting the
tumor response and outcomes in patients. Our result suggested that PD-1 blockade plus
chemotherapy and concurrent
radiotherapy is a promising mode as induction
therapy for patients with potentially resectable
pancreatic cancer. In this case, serial ctDNA alterations accurately provide a comprehensive outlook of the
tumor status and monitor the response to the
therapy, as validated by standard imaging.