Adaptive chemotherapy approach for pancreatic cancer

Adaptive Modification of Neoadjuvant Therapy Based on Clinical Response in Patients With Localized Pancreatic Cancer

Phase 2 Interventional Medical College of Wisconsin · NCT03322995

This study is testing a flexible chemotherapy plan for people with pancreatic cancer to see if adjusting their treatment based on how well they respond can improve their outcomes.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment125 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorMedical College of Wisconsin Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations1 site (Milwaukee, Wisconsin)
Trial IDNCT03322995 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This open-label, phase II trial focuses on patients with resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer. Participants will receive standard chemotherapy and chemoradiation, with treatment adjustments made based on clinical assessments of their response to therapy. Response evaluations will include imaging, biomarker analysis, and performance status assessments. Depending on their treatment response, patients may continue with the same chemotherapy, switch to alternative therapies, or undergo chemoradiation, with surgical resection offered if appropriate.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with histologically confirmed resectable or borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma.

Not a fit: Patients with inoperable metastatic disease or those unable to meet the performance status criteria may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more personalized and effective treatment strategies for patients with pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promise with adaptive chemotherapy approaches in various cancers, suggesting potential for success in this novel application for pancreatic cancer.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA

* Be 18 years of age or older.
* Be able to understand and provide written informed consent or have a legally authorized representative (LAR).
* Have an Eastern Cooperative Group (ECOG) performance status \< 2 (please see the appendix).
* Have documentation of histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma. Biopsy must have been completed prior to start of treatment; additional biopsy is not required for the study.
* Have clinical stage consistent with resectable or borderline resectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, based on CT or MRI findings.
* Have adequate organ and bone marrow function, as defined by:

  * total leukocytes \>3 x10\^3/μL.
  * absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>1.5x 10\^3/μL.
  * hemoglobin \>9 g/dL.
  * platelets \>100 x 10\^3/μL.
  * creatinine clearance \>60 mL/min or creatinine \<1.5 mg/dL; bilirubin \< 2 mg/dL.
  * aspartate transaminases (AST/SGOT) and alanine transaminases (ALT/SGPT) \<3 x upper limit of normal (ULN). At two weeks from biliary decompression, if the subject's serum AST/ALT remains greater 3x ULN, but has demonstrated a progressive decline, the subject may be enrolled into the trial and appropriate modification and dose adjustments will be made to the assigned regimen. Eligibility of subjects whose AST/ALT remain elevated 3x ULN, without demonstrating a downward trend, will be determined at the discretion of the trial principal investigators.
* Subjects must be CA19-9 producers as defined by a pretreatment CA 19-9 \> 35 U/mL, when total bilirubin \<2 mg/dL.
* Female patients must be postmenopausal (absence of menses for \> 1 year), surgically sterile, or have a negative pregnancy test and use at least one form of contraception for four weeks prior to Day 1 of the study, during study treatment and during the first four months after study treatment is discontinued. Male patients must be surgically sterile or use barrier contraception during the study and for four months after the last dose of any study drug.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA

* Has received more than two months of FOLFIRINOX or mFOLFIRINOX chemotherapy as first-line therapy.
* No documentation of a CA19-9 value when total bilirubin \< 2 prior to initiation of chemotherapy.
* Has received any additional chemotherapy and/or radiation within three years prior to study enrollment.
* Has 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 or localized prostate cancer with normal prostate specific antigen) within three 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 (BMI \>55) or situations that would limit compliance with the study requirements or the ability to willingly give written informed consent.
* Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection.
* Pregnant or breastfeeding patients or any patient with childbearing potential not using contraception four weeks prior to treatment.

Where this trial is running

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Conditions Pancreatic CancerNeoadjuvantpancreatic adenocarcinomapancreas cancerpancreatic cancermolecular profilingCA19-9surgery
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.