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Pancreas Cancer: Molecular Profiling as a Guide to Therapy Before and After Surgery (Personalized Medicine)

A Prospective Phase II Trial of Molecular Profiling to Guide Neoadjuvant Therapy for Resectable and Borderline Resectable Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreas

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01726582
Enrollment
229
Registered
2012-11-15
Start date
2011-11-30
Completion date
2022-04-11
Last updated
2023-08-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

Keywords

pancreas, adenocarcinoma, molecular profile, molecular profiling, pancreatic cancer, pancreas cancer, cancer, molecular target, pancreas head, pancreas neck, pancreas uncinate, pancreas body, pancreas tail

Brief summary

In this clinical trial, if the doctor knows or suspects that a growth in the pancreas is cancer (adenocarcinoma), then a sample of the growth is tested (the test is called molecular profiling). The results of the test are used by the doctor to recommend therapy (chemotherapy and radiation therapy) that the patient will receive before having surgery to remove the adenocarcinoma. When the patient goes to surgery, the adenocarcinoma that is removed is tested again. The results of that test are used to guide the choice of therapy after surgery. The chemotherapy drugs and the radiation therapy used in this clinical trial are already approved for treatment of pancreas cancer. This trial is intended to establish which treatment is best for a specific patient, based on test results from that patient's actual adenocarcinoma. In the past, the decision as to which treatment the patient will receive was not based on testing of the actual adenocarcinoma. See treatment pathways at http://www.mcw.edu/surgery/patientinfo/Pancreatic-Cancer-Trial.htm. Hypothesis: Resectability rate, overall survival rate and progression-free survival in subjects with adenocarcinoma of the pancreas will be superior for who receive targeted personalized therapy.

Interventions

DRUGMilestone 1: Targeted chemotherapy prior to surgery

The molecular profile from the biopsy before surgery will point to a particular chemotherapy treatment.

RADIATIONMilestone 2: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

DRUGMilestone 3: Targeted chemotherapy prior to surgery

The molecular profile from the biopsy before surgery will point to a particular chemotherapy treatment.

RADIATIONMilestone 3: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or IMRT techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

DRUGMilestone 4: standard FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy prior to surgery

A biopsy of the borderline tumor does not provide a molecular profile that can be used to target treatment. The treatment will be standard FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy regimen.

RADIATIONMilestone 4: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or IMRT techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

DRUGMilestone 5: Targeted chemotherapy after surgery

The molecular profile from the surgical specimen will point to a particular chemotherapy treatment.

RADIATIONMilestone 5: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or IMRT techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

DRUGMilestone 6: Gemcitabine after surgery

Chemotherapy treatment with Gemcitabine.

RADIATIONMilestone 6: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or IMRT techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

RADIATIONMilestone 7: Chemoradiotherapy (cXRT)

A radio-sensitizing chemotherapy agent (either Gemcitabine or Capecitabine) will be given. Using 3D conformal or IMRT techniques, patients will receive a total dose of 50.4 Gy prescribed to the 95% isodose at 1.8 Gy/fraction (28 fractions).

DRUGMilestone 8: Targeted chemotherapy after surgery

The molecular profile from the surgical specimen will point to a particular chemotherapy treatment.

DRUGMilestone 9: Gemcitabine after surgery

Chemotherapy treatment with Gemcitabine.

OTHERMilestone 10: No additional therapy after surgery

The molecular profile of the tumor that was removed during surgery points to a lack of treatment affect for available therapies. No additional therapy is recommended.

Sponsors

University of Cincinnati
CollaboratorOTHER
Medical College of Wisconsin
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* 18 years of age or older * Able to understand and provide written informed consent * Diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or high suspicion of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas based on CT and MRI findings as detailed below by Definition of.... Treatment Eligibility Criteria: * Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status less than or equal to 2 * Have biopsy-proven resectable or borderline resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas * Have adequate organ and bone marrow function as defined by: * total leukocytes greater than or equal to 3 x1000/μL * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> or equal to 1.5x 1000/μL * hemoglobin \> or equal to 9 g/dL * platelets \> or equal to 100 x 1000/μL * creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min or creatinine \< or equal to 1.5 mg/dL * bilirubin \< or equal to 2 mg/dL or \>2 and declining as described in the protocol * aspartate transaminases (AST/SGOT) \< or equal to3 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * alanine transaminases (ALT/SGPT) \< or equal to 3 x ULN * Female patients must be post menopausal for \> 1 year, surgically sterile, or have a negative pregnancy test and used at least one form of contraception for 4 weeks prior to Day 1 of the study, during study treatment and during the first 4 months after study treatment is discontinued. Male patients must be surgically sterile or use barrier contraception during the study and for 4 months after the last dose of any study drug. Definition of Resectable Pancreatic Cancer includes: * No evidence of extra-pancreatic disease * No evidence of tumor-arterial abutment (celiac, superior mesenteric artery or hepatic artery) * If tumor induced narrowing of the superior mesenteric vein, portal vein or superior mesenteric-portal vein confluence is present it must be \<50% of the diameter of the vessel * Ca19-9 \<5000, when bilirubin is \<2 (or \>2 and declining as described in the protocol) Definition of Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Cancer to include at least one of the following: * Tumor abutment \< or equal to 180 degrees of the superior mesenteric artery or celiac axis * Tumor abutment or encasement (\>180 degrees) of a short segment of the hepatic artery * Tumor induced narrowing of superior mesenteric vein, portal vein or superior mesenteric-portal vein of \>50% of the diameter of the vessel. * Short segment occlusion of the superior mesenteric vein, portal vein or superior mesenteric-portal vein confluence with a suitable portal vein above and superior mesenteric vein below, for reconstruction * CT or MRI findings suspicious for, but not diagnostic of, metastatic disease (based on multidisciplinary assessment at the Medical College of Wisconsin weekly pancreatic cancer conference) * Biopsy proven N1 disease (regional lymph nodes involved) from pre-referral biopsy or endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspirate * Resectable tumor and cancer antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) \>5000

Exclusion criteria

Any patient with one or more of the following will be excluded: * Have received chemotherapy or chemoradiation within 5 years prior of study enrollment * Have any previous history of another malignancy (other than cured basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or cured in-situ carcinoma of the cervix) within 5 years of study enrollment * Uncontrolled comorbidities including, but not limited to, ongoing or active serious infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, unstable cardiac arrhythmias, psychiatric illness, excessive obesity, or situations that would limit compliance with the study requirements or the ability to willingly give written informed consent * Known human immunodeficiency virus, hepatitis B virus, or hepatitis C virus infection * Pregnant or breast-feeding patients or any patient with child-bearing potential not using contraception 4 weeks prior to, during and 4 months after study treatment is discontinued

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Subjects Completing Therapy Including Surgical Resection.At time of surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)This outcome measure is the number of subjects completing therapy up to and including surgical resection. In this context, surgical excision of residual tumor is an option in the progression of usual care. Surgery was contraindicated for some participants. This measure is the number of subject who were eligible for and completed the surgical procedure.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Survival in Months5 yearsThis measure is the median time of survival (in months) at five years from the initiation of therapy. Results will be presented for two cohorts: subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection; and subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy but without surgical resection.
Progression-free Survival5 yearsThis measure is the number of subjects not experiencing tumor progression at five years from initiating therapy.
Use of Biomarkers to Determine Course of TreatmentInitiation of therapy (approximately 4 to 12 weeks after screening) until surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)The number of subjects for whom a biomarker (i.e., molecular profile) was used to determine the course of treatment.
Histologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.At time of surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)The number of tumors showing a histologic response. Histological response will be measured using the Ryan Score method as defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition (see Edge, 2010). Grading categories are defined as: Grade 0 (complete response); Grade 1 (near complete response); Grade 2 (partial response); and Grade 3 (poor or no response).

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Milestones Related to Therapy
Milestone 1: Targeted chemotherapy prior to surgery: 8 weeks targeted chemotherapy; restaging. Milestone 2: Before surgery: Chemoradiotherapy (cRXT); restaging Milestone 3: Before surgery: 8 weeks targeted chemotherapy; restaging; chemoradiotherapy (cXRT); restaging. Milestone 4: standard FOLFIRINOX chemotherapy prior to surgery: 8 weeks FOLFIRINOX (standard chemotherapy); restaging; standard chemoradiotherapy (cXRT); restaging. Milestone 5: After surgery: 8 weeks targeted chemotherapy; restaging; chemoradiotherapy (cXRT); restaging. Milestone 6: Gemcitabine after surgery: 8 weeks standard Gemcitabine (chemotherapy); restaging; chemoradiotherapy (cXRT); restaging. Milestone 7: After surgery: chemoradiotherapy (cXRT); restaging. Milestone 8: Gemcitabine after surgery: 8 weeks Gemcitabine (chemotherapy); restaging; 8 weeks Gemcitabine (chemotherapy); restaging. Milestone 9: No additional therapy after surgery. Milestone 10: After surgery no additional treatment.
130
Total130

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000
Overall StudyDeath85
Overall StudyPhysician Decision99

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicMilestones Related to Therapy
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
72 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
58 Participants
Age, Continuous65.1 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 8.9
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
6 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
124 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
3 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
122 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
130 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
55 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
75 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
85 / 130
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 0
serious
Total, serious adverse events
50 / 130

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Subjects Completing Therapy Including Surgical Resection.

This outcome measure is the number of subjects completing therapy up to and including surgical resection. In this context, surgical excision of residual tumor is an option in the progression of usual care. Surgery was contraindicated for some participants. This measure is the number of subject who were eligible for and completed the surgical procedure.

Time frame: At time of surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyNumber of Subjects Completing Therapy Including Surgical Resection.107 Participants
Secondary

Histologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.

The number of tumors showing a histologic response. Histological response will be measured using the Ryan Score method as defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer, 7th edition (see Edge, 2010). Grading categories are defined as: Grade 0 (complete response); Grade 1 (near complete response); Grade 2 (partial response); and Grade 3 (poor or no response).

Time frame: At time of surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)

Population: Pathology results were not reported for two subject.

ArmMeasureCategoryValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyHistologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.Complete Response2 Participants
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyHistologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.Near Complete Response17 Participants
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyHistologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.Partial Response44 Participants
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyHistologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.Poor or No Response42 Participants
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyHistologic Response to Targeted Chemotherapeutic Regimens in Resected Tumors.Results Not Available2 Participants
Secondary

Overall Survival in Months

This measure is the median time of survival (in months) at five years from the initiation of therapy. Results will be presented for two cohorts: subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection; and subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy but without surgical resection.

Time frame: 5 years

Population: Results will be presented for two cohorts: subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy and surgical resection; and subjects completing neoadjuvant therapy but without surgical resection.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyOverall Survival in Months45 Months
Milestones Related to Therapy (Non-Resected)Overall Survival in Months11 Months
Secondary

Progression-free Survival

This measure is the number of subjects not experiencing tumor progression at five years from initiating therapy.

Time frame: 5 years

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyProgression-free Survival36 Participants
Secondary

Use of Biomarkers to Determine Course of Treatment

The number of subjects for whom a biomarker (i.e., molecular profile) was used to determine the course of treatment.

Time frame: Initiation of therapy (approximately 4 to 12 weeks after screening) until surgery (approximately 10 to 20 weeks after screening)

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Milestones Related to Usual TherapyUse of Biomarkers to Determine Course of Treatment92 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026