Surgical removal of pancreatic cancer with liver or lung metastases

Surgical Resection of Synchronous Pulmonary or Hepatic Oligometastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PHOLIPANC): A Phase II Single Arm Trial

This study is testing if surgery to remove pancreatic cancer that has spread to the liver or lungs can help patients who have already had chemotherapy and are doing well enough to have the operation.

Quick facts

• Phase: Not applicable
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 40 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years to 100 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy, radiation
• Locations: 1 site (Baltimore, Maryland)
• Trial ID: NCT06122480 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial focuses on patients with synchronous pulmonary or hepatic oligometastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have undergone neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Eligible participants will receive surgical resection of their tumors if they show a response or stable disease after initial treatment. The study aims to evaluate the feasibility and outcomes of synchronous surgical interventions in this specific patient population. Patients must meet strict eligibility criteria, including measurable disease and performance status, to participate.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with histologically confirmed limited hepatic or pulmonary metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma who have responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with progressive disease during or after the initial chemotherapy cycles will not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could improve survival rates and quality of life for patients with oligometastatic pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: Other studies have shown promising results with surgical interventions in oligometastatic cancers, suggesting potential for success in this approach.

Eligibility criteria

1. Inclusion Criteria at the Pre-Screening Enrollment

   * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of treatment-naïve limited hepatic or pulmonary metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas Meet the definition of limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis according to CT/MRI that is done prior to the starting of any anticancer treatment. Either CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis with intravenous contrast or a combination of MRI of abdomen and pelvis and CT scan of chest is acceptable radiographic imaging. CT/MRI can be done at an outside facility, but must be reviewed by a Johns Hopkins Medicine radiologist.
   * Measurable disease according to RECIST v1.1
   * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1
   * Being a candidate for the chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX or modified FOLFIRINOX
   * Patients ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent
   * Patient's written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedure
   * Patient's legal capacity to consent to participation in the clinical trial
2. Exclusion Criteria at the Pre-Screening Enrollment

   * Acinar cell carcinoma and/or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas
   * Symptomatic clinically significant ascites
   * Evidence of any distant metastases other than limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis as defined in inclusion criterion 1.
   * Evidence of simultaneous pulmonary and hepatic metastases
   * Any tumor-specific pretreatment of the adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (including but not limited to surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or ablative procedures). Currently being on FOLFIRINOX or modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) is allowed, unless more than 2 treatments of FOLFIRINOX or mFOLFIRINOX has been given.
   * Any malignancies other than adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in the 2 years before the start of the clinical trial except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis and T1)
   * Known HIV seropositivity
   * Known active or chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection
   * Any other severe concomitant disease or disorder, which could influence patient's ability to participate in the clinical trial and his/her safety during the trial or interfere with interpretation of results, e.g., severe hepatic, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric disorders

3.2 Eligibility Criteria for Study Entry Enrollment at the Pre-Surgery phase 3.2.1 Inclusion Criteria for study continuation at the Pre-Surgery phase

* ECOG performance status 0-1
* Received FOLFIRINOX, modified FOLFIRINOX or the further modified forms including FOLFIRI, FOLFOX, 5FU or capecitabine. Liposomal irinotecan is permitted. Switching to gemcitabine/nal-paclitaxel due to intolerability of FOLFIRINOX is also permitted.
* Radiographical evidence of disease response or stable disease with CA19-9 decrease \> 20% from the baseline or CA19-9 that is not detectable
* Patients ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent
* Patient's written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedure
* Patient's legal capacity to consent to participation in the clinical trial

3.2.2 Exclusion Criteria for Study Entry Enrollment at the Pre-surgery phase

* Symptomatic clinically significant ascites
* Evidence of any distant metastases other than limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis as defined in inclusion criterion 1.
* Evidence of simultaneous pulmonary and hepatic metastases
* Any malignancies other than adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in the 2 years before the start of the clinical trial except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis and T1)
* Pregnant or breast-feeding female
* Radiographic evidence of severe portal hypertension
* Liver cirrhosis ≥ Child Pugh B
* Known HIV seropositivity
* Active or chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection
* Clinically significant cardiovascular or vascular disease or disorder ≤6 months before enrolment into the clinical trial (e.g., myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, chronic heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) ≥ Grade 2, uncontrolled arrhythmia, cerebral infarction)
* Any other severe concomitant disease or disorder, which could influence patient's ability to participate in the clinical trial and his/her safety during the trial or interfere with interpretation of results, e.g., severe hepatic, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric disorders.
* Hepatic metastasis that are only amenable to ablation. However, if liver lesions are found intraoperatively and subsequently ablated and if the pancreatic surgery is distal pancreatectomy, the patients would still be considered evaluable. Ablation of liver lesions during the pancreatoduodenectomy is not allowed.
* Radiographical evidence of disease progression.

Where this trial is running

Baltimore, Maryland

• Johns Hopkins Hospital — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Jin He, MD, PhD — Johns Hopkins University
• Study coordinator: Jin He, MD, PhD

Conditions Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma; Oligometastatic Disease; Hepatic metastasis; Pulmonary metastasis; Oligometastasis; Surgical Resection