Upon learning he had metastatic pancreatic cancer, Ben Sasse, a former U.S. senator from Nebraska, was determined to act swiftly. His doctors suggested enrolling in a clinical trial as it might be his best chance to extend his life. He readily embraced the idea, willing to try anything that could help.
Sasse stated to STAT last month, “To have any real chance of outliving the three to four-month prognosis we were given, participating in an aggressive trial was necessary.”
This led him to join an early phase clinical trial for daraxonrasib, a first-line therapy developed by Revolution Medicines, also known as Rev Med. The publication of early phase data from this next-generation targeted therapy generated significant excitement within the pancreatic cancer community. Even before the company announced positive topline Phase 3 results on Monday, experts in pancreatic cancer were optimistic about its approval.
The promising topline results support this expectation. The RASolute 302 trial revealed that daraxonrasib, when used alone, can significantly extend the survival of advanced pancreatic cancer patients to 13.2 months, compared to 6.7 months with chemotherapy as a second-line treatment. Using daraxonrasib as a frontline therapy, as Sasse has done, could offer even greater advantages over chemotherapy.
Sasse mentioned that the treatment might have already prolonged his life beyond what he initially anticipated after his diagnosis last December. “Considering the initial prognosis and the typical outlook for pancreatic cancer, this experience seems to have enhanced both the quantity and quality of my life,” he shared.
STAT interviewed Sasse about his journey with daraxonrasib for an upcoming feature exploring the breakthrough of the new drug. This interview has been condensed for brevity and clarity.
How did you first discover you had pancreatic cancer?
In October, I started experiencing two major symptoms: significant back pain and stomach cramping. Having grown up on a farm, I’m familiar with aches and pains, but this was different. The pain was intense and persistent, affecting me 70% of my waking hours, starting in the back and radiating to the front, causing severe discomfort.
Initially, I thought I had pulled some muscles. Blood tests showed nothing unusual. My doctor suggested scheduling scans, and I received a call on a Friday morning with concerning news. My child was set to graduate from college the next day, and despite the doctor’s stress and hesitation, I urged him to give me the full details.
He informed me, “Your torso has numerous tumors, and there’s a significant mass in the pancreas.”
What was your reaction to this news?
I focused on my kids and decided to schedule biopsies for the following Monday. It was clear that things were not looking good. As a Christian, the phrase “to live is Christ and to die is gain” came to mind, and I considered how to best support my family during the time I had left. I decided not to let this overshadow my child’s graduation, so I avoided dwelling on it for the next 36 hours, though it was challenging.
How did you find out about the clinical trial? What was the enrollment process like?
MD Anderson and Memorial Sloan Kettering were two places where we could quickly determine my tumor’s genetic profile. We spent about a day and a half at each location over the next six days. It was evident that traditional chemotherapy wasn’t a viable option, given the poor survival rates for pancreatic cancer.
At MD Anderson, I heard about the trial, and we traveled to Memorial Sloan Kettering to meet Dr. Eileen O’Reilly, recognized as a leading pancreatic cancer expert in the U.S. She advised that if I had the opportunity to join the trial, I should take it. It became apparent that I was waiting for their approval to participate.
What has your experience with the drug been like?
I’ve experienced significant benefits from the treatment. Separating the effects of morphine from the early trial benefits was difficult, as I was in severe pain. When I started the treatment, the tumor reacted, causing a resurgence of back pain and requiring morphine. Dr. Bob Wolff at MD Anderson reassured me that this was a positive sign, indicating the tumor was responding. I also experienced severe facial bleeding and had to pause the treatment temporarily for antibiotics before resuming.
Currently, my CA 19-9 levels have drastically decreased, which is fantastic. Initially, they were over 8,000, but they dropped to 374 in mid-March, indicating a 60% reduction in tumor volume. My pain has significantly lessened.
What does participating in a trial that represents a major advancement in pancreatic cancer treatment mean to you?
I am deeply grateful to those dedicating their expertise to this research. My team at MD Anderson, including Bob Wolff and Shubham Pant, has been outstanding. While the primary goal of a trial is to gather data to improve future clinical care, I understood and appreciated that.
I am incredibly thankful for the care at MD Anderson, which has been exceptional. Not being confined to a hospital allows me more time with my family, which is invaluable.
