Background: The phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway which is aberrantly stimulated in many tumors has emerged as a potential target for anticancer therapy. Although several class I PI3K inhibitors are under development, there is considerable evidence suggesting that targeting a single isoform of PI3K (p110α) would have sufficient antitumor activity and improved therapeutic window. The PI3K pathway is frequently activated and plays an important role in pancreatic cancer. Further, PI3KCA mutations, the gene encoding isoform p110α, are observed in this disease. BYL719 is an oral class I α-specific PI3K inhibitor that showed anti-tumor activity in different preclinical models. Recently, the first in human phase 1 trial of BYL719 defined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) at 400 mg once daily. Methods: This is a single institution, open label, single group, phase I study with cohort expansion that utilizes the standard 3+3 design for dose. The primary objective is to determine the MTD of BYL719 in combination with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel as frontline therapy in patients with locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Up to 24 patients will be enrolled in 4 dose escalation levels. The MTD is defined as the highest dose level at which 1 or less of 6 patients experience a dose limiting toxicity (DLT). Once the MTD is reached and/or the recommended dose for expansion is determined, an additional dose expansion cohort of 15 patients will be included. Secondary endpoints include characterizing the safety profile at the MTD and DLTs associated with it as well as obtaining pharmacokinetic data. Peripheral blood and pre-treatment tumor samples will be collected for evaluation of biomarkers that could predict treatment response, including levels of pAKT, p4EBP1 and pS6. BYL719 will be administered daily. Standard doses of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel will be given on days 1, 8 and 15 of the 28 days cycle. Patients will get restaging scans every 2 cycles. As per September 2015, twelve patients have been included in this study which is currently enrolling patients on cohort 3. Clinical trial information: NCT02155088 Clinical trial information: NCT02155088