Combining Chemotherapy with Targeted Ablation for Pancreatic Cancer
Official title: A single-arm phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of combination systematic chemotherapy and multiple rounds of endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation in pancreatic cancer
Funded at University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston · NIH-11160436 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research is testing a new way to treat pancreatic cancer by combining standard chemotherapy with a targeted heat treatment called radiofrequency ablation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Houston, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $651,173 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA277161-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11160436 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are patients diagnosed with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who may be eligible for systemic chemotherapy and local ablation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose pancreatic cancer is too advanced or who cannot tolerate chemotherapy or the ablation procedure may not receive benefit from this specific approach.
What this research studies
Pancreatic cancer is often hard to treat because it resists therapies and is usually found at a late stage. This approach aims to improve treatment by using a special heat treatment, called endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA), directly on the tumor. This heat treatment works alongside chemotherapy to potentially make both treatments more effective. Researchers are looking at how this combination affects the tumor and the body's immune response.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this combination treatment could offer a new and more effective option for patients with pancreatic cancer, potentially improving survival outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown that endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) is safe and feasible when used with chemotherapy in a small group of patients.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
Houston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thosani, Nirav — University of Texas Hlth Sci Ctr Houston
- Study coordinator: Thosani, Nirav
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.