Dr. Balachandran breaks down three promising vaccine approaches currently in development — including the mRNA vaccine his team is working on — and explains how each one works, who may be eligible for clinical trials, and why progress in pancreatic cancer could have implications for other cancer types as well.

PancChat is a collaboration between Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn More:

Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)

Let's Win Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services 

PancChat is a collaboration between Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn More:

• Canopy Collective EPI Pert White Paper 
• Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer 
• Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN) 
• Let's Win Clinical Trial Finder 
• PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder
• PanCAN Patient Services 

PancChat is a collaboration between Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN. Find us wherever you listen to podcasts.

Learn More:
Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer Action Network (PanCAN)

Let's Win Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services 

Dr. Ko breaks down the current state of pancreatic cancer vaccines and explains why they're showing promise for earlier stage patients following surgery. He also discusses the landscape of immunotherapy, the excitement around RAS inhibitors, and emerging targets. The conversation also covers early detection, including blood-based screening tools and the potential role of AI in identifying pancreatic cancer before symptoms appear.

Links:

Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer
PanCAN
PanCAN Patient Services
Let's Win Clinical Trial Finder
PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder 

In this episode, host Alisyn Camerota sits down with Dr. Emil Lou, physician scientist and medical oncologist at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, to break down the latest developments in pancreatic cancer research. From KRAS-targeted therapies and the challenge of drug resistance, to the role of AI in early detection and treatment response, Dr. Lou offers an accessible and honest look at where we are, what's promising, and why research funding has never been more critical.

This episode is sponsored by Revolution Medicines.

For more information and resources, visit letswinpc.org and pancan.org. Use the Let's Win and PanCAN clinical trial finders to explore options. 

Links:

Let’s Win Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services 

Marty, a chemist and pancreatic cancer survivor, explains that while clinical trials require additional testing beyond standard of care, pharmaceutical companies cover these costs, including scans, blood work, and often travel expenses and lodging for patients and caregivers.

He addresses concerns about leaving established care teams and emphasizes the importance of having an advocate to coordinate communication between medical teams. Marty and Alisyn discuss the complexities of genetic and tumor testing required for trial eligibility, the challenges patients face when too ill to travel, and privacy concerns around medical data sharing.

Despite these barriers, Marty is optimistic about improvements in trial access through organizations like Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN, which offer trial finders and patient navigation services. He shares that his recent checkup showed normal CA19-9 levels and clear scans, and encourages patients not to give up hope as treatments continue to improve. 

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Patient Services

Let’s Win Doctor Finder 

In 2021, Marty was diagnosed with stage I pancreatic cancer and found himself on the patient side of clinical trials for the first time. Despite his extensive professional experience, Marty faced significant barriers to enrolling in a clinical trial. He discusses common misconceptions that prevent patients from participating in trials, including fears about receiving placebos and concerns about being a "guinea pig." 

Marty explains that pancreatic cancer clinical trial participants always receive standard-of-care treatment, and he reframes clinical trial participation as a way to be a pioneer in breakthrough treatments. 

This is part one of a two-part conversation about the challenges patients face when seeking to join clinical trials. 

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

To learn more about pancreatic cancer clinical trials, visit Let’s Win and PanCAN.

Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial Finder

PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder  

Learn how awareness campaigns, patient voices, and international partnerships are helping drive progress in pancreatic cancer research, diagnosis, and care.

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

For more information and support, visit letswinpc.org and pancan.org. 

Resources:

letswinpc.org

pancan.org

Kerry shares her personal journey after losing her husband Steve to stage IV pancreatic cancer and how she channeled her grief into global advocacy work. As outgoing chair of the World Pancreatic Cancer (WPCC) Day Committee, Kerry discusses the importance of clinical trial awareness, how the World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition unites 100+ organizations worldwide, why patient empowerment matters across all healthcare systems, and the progress being made in pancreatic cancer survival rates.

"We are stronger together than we are alone." - Kerry McKean Kelly

Resources mentioned:

- Kelly's Heroes: http://www.kellysheroes.ngo/ 

- World Pancreatic Cancer Coalition: www.hellopancreas.com 

- PanCAN: www.pancan.org 

- Let's Win: www.letswinpc.org 

Thank you to our sponsor, Revolution Medicines.

For more information and support, visit letswinpc.org and pancan.org. 

Dr. Maoz, an attending physician in the Division of Genetics and Prevention and faculty member at Harvard Medical School, explains why genetic testing is now the standard of care, identifies the most common hereditary mutations linked to pancreatic cancer, and discusses what results mean for patients and their families — including when no actionable mutations are found. Learn about the critical role of family history in understanding pancreatic cancer risk.

Jessica, a genetic counselor specializing in pancreatic cancer, explains why patients should get tested, how genetic counselors guide patients through the testing process, and addresses common fears and misconceptions. Learn how to navigate conversations with family members about inherited risk and what genetic test results mean for relatives.

Dr. Merchant explains the differences between open surgery, minimally invasive laparoscopic procedures, and robotic surgery, and shares how surgeons determine the best approach for each patient and tumor. He also outlines the additional surgeries that may be part of comprehensive pancreatic cancer treatment.

Links:

Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer

PanCAN

PanCAN Patient Services

Understanding Distal Pancreatectomy

Whipple Procedure

Learn More:

Let's Win Pancreatic Cancer

PanCAN

PanCAN's Patient Services

The Anatomy of a Whipple Procedure

Understanding Distal Pancreatectomy 

Dr. Andrew Hendifar heads the Gastrointestinal Disease Research Group and founded their Hematology and Oncology Fellowship Program at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He works with SWOG and the NIH’s Neuroendocrine Tumor Task Force., Dr. Hendifar is a member of PanCAN’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board.

Learn more about how clinical trials work on the Let’s Win What Is a Clinical Trial? Page or PanCAN’s Clinical Trials page.

You can explore available clinical trials through the Let’s Win’s Trial Finder or the PanCAN Clinical Trial Finder.

For a personalized search, PanCAN’s Patient Services is also here to help. 

Dr. Michael Pishvaian is the director of Gastrointestinal, Developmental Therapeutics, and Clinical Research Programs for the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center in the Greater Washington D.C. area and an associate professor at the School of Medicine. He is the Vice Chair of PanCAN’s Scientific and Medical Advisory Board and a member of the Let’s Win Scientific Advisory Board.

For more information about treatments visit Let’s Win’s Treatment Options section and PanCAN’s Pancreatic Cancer Treatment page. PanCAN’s Patient Services can also provide free,  personalized information about treatments.

Sponsored by Revolution Medicines. 

In this episode of PancChat, host Alisyn Camerota speaks with leading experts Dr. Michael Goggins (Johns Hopkins) and Dr. Anirban Maitra (MD Anderson / NYU Langone) about identifying higher-risk individuals and creating personalized surveillance plans.

From genetic mutations like BRCA to family history, pancreatic cysts, and new-onset diabetes — the doctors break down what puts someone at increased risk — and how that translates into screening recommendations. They discuss the importance of working with specialized centers, the role of annual MRIs and endoscopic ultrasounds, and why starting surveillance around age 50 (or earlier for some genetic conditions) can be potentially life-saving.

Whether you have a family history, carry a genetic mutation, or are navigating risk assessment for yourself or a loved one, this episode offers expert guidance to help you make informed decisions about pancreatic cancer surveillance.

Don’t forget to follow PancChat to get new episodes — delivered twice a month — right in your podcast feed. Available on all major platforms, wherever you get your podcasts.

Resources:

letswinpc.org

pancan.org

Whether you’re a healthcare provider, a patient, or simply interested in cancer prevention, this conversation offers valuable insights and actionable guidance for early detection and monitoring. Tune in to learn more about the latest research and resources available from Let’s Win Pancreatic Cancer and PanCAN. 

They discuss the current state of pancreatic cancer treatment, including promising developments in KRAS inhibitors and cancer vaccines, as well as the practical challenges patients face in accessing clinical trials. 

The conversation also explores how advocacy, research, and early detection efforts are shaping the future of care.

 For more information, visit letswinpc.org and pancan.org

From our nearly nine years as a chat on Twitter/X to increasing federal research funding and improved patient survival rates, this episode explores how advocacy has transformed the landscape. Hear how collaboration, education, and unrelenting dedication are shaping the future of how we communicate about pancreatic cancer.