23/05/2026 03:27 - Salud
Visualización molecular 3D de la proteína KRAS siendo atacada por moléculas inhibidoras, representando el avance científico en tratamiento de cáncer de páncreas, estilo de ilustración médica profesional con iluminación dramática
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) 2026 Annual Congress marked a turning point in pancreatic cancer treatment. After nearly half a century since the discovery of RAS in the 1970s, the label of KRAS as "the undruggable target" has finally been dismantled.
Dr. Emil Lou, oncologist at the Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, presented groundbreaking findings that could transform how we treat one of the world's deadliest cancers.
KRAS has over a dozen different variants, each with biochemically different "pockets." Think of it as trying to grab the steering wheel of a car that's constantly moving at high speed. Traditional inhibitors only worked after "stopping the car," but pan-RAS inhibitors can take control while it's still moving.
| Drug | Type | Response Rate | Key Finding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Setidegrasib | Protein degrader (IV) | 24% | 10.3 months median overall survival in 3rd line |
| Zoldonrasib (RMC-9805) | Oral selective G12D inhibitor | ~37% | FDA breakthrough therapy designation 2026 |
| Daraxonrasib (RMC-6236) | Oral pan-RAS inhibitor | 47-58% | Up to 90% disease control rate |
Published in The New England Journal of Medicine (March 2026). This IV-administered protein degrader doesn't just block the protein—it marks it for destruction, preventing recycling.
21 patients treated in third-line setting with metastatic stage IV pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.
Received FDA breakthrough therapy designation in early 2026. This oral inhibitor targets the G12D variant, showing remarkable results in heavily pre-treated patients.
Median progression-free survival of 11.1 months in non-small cell lung cancer cohort.
The most promising: as first-line therapy, 47% response rate as monotherapy, rising to 58% when combined with chemotherapy.
6-month survival rate near 90% with combination therapy—remarkable for a disease with historically poor prognosis.
For the first time, targeted therapy can be considered from the first line of treatment, rather than waiting until patients have exhausted standard chemotherapy options like FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel.
Standard chemotherapy achieves approximately 30% response rates in earlier treatment stages. These new inhibitors are significantly outperforming that benchmark.
The safety profile appears manageable:
Multidisciplinary care involving dermatologists will be important for managing side effects while maintaining quality of life.
Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials are already being prepared. The medical community anticipates more data at upcoming ASCO meetings.
2026 will be remembered as a pivotal year for precision oncology in pancreatic cancer, bringing hope to patients and families who have long awaited effective targeted treatments.
Source: Dr. Emil Lou, Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota. Presented at AACR 2026 Annual Congress. Published in Medscape, May 20, 2026.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
