Gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel with erlotinib for advanced basal-like pancreatic cancer

This Phase I/II clinical trial is being conducted at multiple centers to find out whether adding a low dose of EGFR blocking drugs to the standard chemotherapy combination of gemcitabine and nab paclitaxel (GnP) is safe, tolerable, and helpful for people with advanced pancreatic cancer. All participants are first tested with a tool called PurIST, which classifies tumors as either "basal-like" or "classical." People with basal-like tumors will receive GnP plus erlotinib during Phase I so researchers can determine the safest and most effective dose. Once that dose is identified, the study moves to Phase II, where people with basal-like tumors will be randomly assigned to receive either GnP alone or GnP with erlotinib. Phase II may also test new drug combinations if new treatments become approved during the study period. Overall, the trial plans to include up to about 52 basal-like patients in Phase I, roughly 82 basal-like patients in Phase II, and at least 52 classical patients, with the possibility of enrolling more if needed. People whose tumors are classified as classical will continue with standard treatments recommended by their doctors or other clinical trials. Across the entire study, researchers will carefully track long-term outcomes such as overall survival, how long patients live before the cancer progresses, and how well their tumors respond to treatment.