Phase 2 PANOVA-4 trial shows significant improvement in disease control rate with TTFields combined with atezolizumab and chemotherapy in metastatic pancreatic cancer
Written By: Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD
Reviewed By: Pharmacally Editorial Team
Novocure has reported positive results from the Phase 2 PANOVA-4 trial (NCT06390059) evaluating Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy in combination with atezolizumab (Tecentriq), gemcitabine, and nab-paclitaxel as a first-line treatment for metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC).
The study met its pre-specified primary endpoint, demonstrating a statistically significant improvement in disease control rate (DCR) compared with historical outcomes from the Phase 3 MPACT trial (NCT00844649). Among patients treated with TTFields therapy together with atezolizumab and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (n=78), the DCR reached 74.4%, compared with 48% in patients treated with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone (n=431) in the MPACT study, representing a 26.4% difference (one-sided p<0.001).
In the PANOVA-4 trial, DCR was defined as the proportion of patients achieving stable disease for at least 16 weeks or a confirmed partial or complete response according to RECIST v1.1 criteria.
Commenting on the results, Uri Weinberg, MD, PhD, Chief Medical and Innovation Officer at Novocure, said the findings highlight the potential of TTFields therapy to improve outcomes in pancreatic cancer. He also thanked the patients, caregivers, and investigators involved and noted that the company plans to present the full dataset at a future scientific meeting.
Secondary endpoints also showed encouraging activity. The objective response rate (ORR) reached 34.6% (95% CI: 24.2–46.2), while the median overall survival (OS) was 9.7 months (95% CI: 7.9–12.7). Additional endpoints being evaluated include progression-free survival, one-year survival rate, six-month progression-free survival, duration of response, and the incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events.
Patients received TTFields therapy for a median duration of 25.6 weeks, while the median systemic treatment consisted of six cycles of atezolizumab and gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel. The therapy was generally well tolerated, with device-related safety findings consistent with prior clinical studies of TTFields.
Novocure plans to present additional data from the PANOVA-4 trial at an upcoming scientific forum.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive malignancies and the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. About 67,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and the disease has a five-year survival rate of around 13%. Standard treatment for metastatic disease primarily involves systemic chemotherapy, while participation in clinical trials is often encouraged.
Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) therapy uses low-intensity electric fields to disrupt cancer cell division, selectively targeting tumor cells while sparing healthy tissue. The therapy can be combined with other treatment approaches and has demonstrated enhanced anti-tumor activity in preclinical solid tumor models.
References
Novocure Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 PANOVA-4 Clinical Trial of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer, 26 March 2026, Novocure Announces Positive Topline Results from Phase 2 PANOVA-4 Clinical Trial of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) Therapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer | Novocure.com
EF-39 PANOVA-4: Study of Tumor Treating Fields Concomitant With Atezolizumab, Gemcitabine and Nab-Paclitaxel as First-Line Treatment for Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT06390059, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06390059
Phase III Study of ABI-007(Albumin-bound Paclitaxel) Plus Gemcitabine Versus Gemcitabine in Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas, ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT00844649, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT00844649
About the Writer
Karthik Teja Macharla, PharmD is a Pharm.D. graduate with a strong interest in clinical research, pharmacovigilance, and medical writing. In his words, he is passionate about converting complex medical information into clear, evidence-based scientific communication, committed to contributing to patient safety and advancing healthcare through accurate and impactful medical content.
