KRASG12C‐inhibitor‐based combination therapies for pancreatic cancer: insights from drug screening

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has limited treatment options, emphasizing the urgent need for effective therapies. The predominant driver in PDAC is mutated KRAS proto‐oncogene, KRA, present in 90% of patients. The emergence of direct KRAS inhibitors presents a promising avenue for treatment, particularly those targeting the KRASG12C mutated allele, which show encouraging results in clinical trials. However, the development of resistance necessitates exploring potent combination therapies. Our objective was to identify effective KRASG12C‐inhibitor combination therapies through unbiased drug screening. Results revealed synergistic effects with son of sevenless homolog 1 (SOS1) inhibitors, tyrosine‐protein phosphatase non‐receptor type 11 (PTPN11)/Src homology region 2 domain‐containing phosphatase‐2 (SHP2) inhibitors, and broad‐spectrum multi‐kinase inhibitors. Validation in a novel and unique KRASG12C‐mutated patient‐derived organoid model confirmed the described hits from the screening experiment. Our findings propose strategies to enhance KRASG12C‐inhibitor efficacy, guiding clinical trial design and molecular tumor boards. Through unbiased drug screening experiments in the context of pancreatic cancer, we observed that KRASG12C inhibitors combine favorably with inhibitors of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2, a broad‐acting kinase inhibitor, and inhibitors of the guanine nucleotide exchange factor SOS1. These combinations are effective in a novel KRASG12C‐driven patient‐derived organoid model.