A small clinical trial led by researchers at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute suggests that a vitamin D analog may help improve treatment outcomes in pancreatic cancer. The study tested paricalcitol, an FDA-approved drug used for kidney disease, in combination with standard chemotherapy for 36 patients with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Researchers found that paricalcitol altered the tumor microenvironment by reducing the activity of fibroblasts that protect pancreatic tumors and by increasing the presence of cancer-fighting T cells. The combination was generally safe and well tolerated.
Although the trial was primarily designed to evaluate safety, patients receiving paricalcitol achieved a higher chemotherapy response rate than those receiving placebo (42% vs. 9%) and showed better progression-free survival at one year. Patients with high vitamin D receptor expression had the longest overall survival, suggesting a potential biomarker for future treatment selection. Larger studies are planned to confirm the survival benefits of this approach.