Madrid – A wave of hopeful, and in some cases desperate, inquiries has flooded the Spanish National Cancer Research Center (CNIO) following the announcement of a potential breakthrough in pancreatic cancer treatment. On January 27th, CNIO scientist Mariano Barbacid presented findings from a study on mice that he described as “cured” of the disease, sparking both excitement and scrutiny.
The research, published in the journal PNAS on December 2nd, details a triple therapy designed to combat pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, the most common form of pancreatic cancer. While the study demonstrated complete and durable elimination of tumors in the tested mice, experts caution that translating these results to human patients remains a significant challenge. Historically, between 90% and 94% of preclinical research – studies conducted on animals or cells – fail when progressing to clinical trials involving humans, according to a report by Science Presse.
The initial announcement, amplified by a February 2nd appearance on the popular Spanish television program El Hormiguero, led to over a hundred individuals with pancreatic cancer contacting the CNIO seeking access to the treatment. Some patients even travelled to the research institution in Madrid hoping to speak directly with Barbacid, according to reporting by El País.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, concerns have emerged regarding potential conflicts of interest. El País reported that Barbacid, along with colleagues Carmen Guerra and Vasiliki Liaki, founded Vega Oncotargets in April 2024, a company that holds a patent for the experimental therapy. The company’s website, until recently, proclaimed they had achieved “the first effective therapy against pancreatic cancer,” a claim that has been questioned. The CNIO’s initial press release and Barbacid’s television interview did not disclose these commercial ties, prompting criticism from colleagues within the center.
The publication process itself has also drawn attention. Barbacid’s status as a member of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences allowed for an expedited peer-review process in PNAS. An analysis of articles published in PNAS between 2007 and 2020 revealed that studies authored by Academy members, denoted with the term “contributed,” were, on average, less frequently cited and underwent less rigorous review.
This represents not the first time Barbacid’s research announcements have faced scrutiny. In 2011, while director of the CNIO, he announced a potential mechanism for preventing lung cancer in mice. The Spanish Ministry of Science, in an unusual move, criticized Barbacid for creating “false expectations,” stating that findings in mice should not be presented as imminent cures for humans.
Further questions have been raised regarding the study’s data integrity. Biologist David Sholto identified duplicated images within the published research, suggesting that images purportedly representing distinct cells were, in fact, identical copies.
The CRIS Cancer Foundation launched a crowdfunding campaign on January 31st, centered around Barbacid’s research, aiming to raise 30 million euros to fund clinical trials. The campaign’s promotional video states that Barbacid “managed to cure pancreatic cancer in mice and now needs our support to cure it in humans.”
