Using ultrasound to enhance chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer treatment

Optimizing Ultrasound Enhanced Delivery of Therapeutics

This study is testing if using ultrasound with chemotherapy can help people with pancreatic cancer live longer and feel better compared to just chemotherapy alone.

Quick facts

• Phase: PHASE1; PHASE2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 120 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Thomas Jefferson University (other)
• Drugs / interventions: chemotherapy
• Locations: 2 sites (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT04821284 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase I/II trial investigates the effects of sonoporation, a technique that combines ultrasound and microbubbles, to improve the efficacy of standard chemotherapy in patients with pancreatic cancer. The study aims to evaluate the safety and therapeutic benefits of sonoporation, focusing on progression-free survival and overall survival compared to chemotherapy alone. Secondary objectives include assessing treatment failure rates, the number of chemotherapy cycles, tumor volume changes, and other clinical parameters. Patients will receive standard chemotherapy agents alongside sonoporation to determine if this combination yields better outcomes.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with a new diagnosis of histologically verified pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are scheduled for standard chemotherapy.

Not a fit: Patients with non-pancreatic cancers or those who are not candidates for chemotherapy may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve survival rates and treatment outcomes for patients with pancreatic cancer.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of sonoporation in cancer treatment is a novel approach, preliminary studies have shown promise in enhancing chemotherapy effects, indicating potential for success.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

* Patient must be \>= 18 years old
* Patient has a new diagnosis of PDAC and is scheduled to undergo SoC chemotherapy

  * (International Classification of Diseases \[ICD\]-10 C25.0 Malignant neoplasm: Head of pancreas, C25.1: Malignant neoplasm: Body of pancreas, C25.2 Malignant neoplasm: Tail of pancreas, C25.3 Malignant neoplasm: Pancreatic duct and C25.9 Malignant neoplasm: Pancreas, unspecified). Any ICD-10 code in the C25 section (malignant neoplasm of pancreas) will be acceptable
  * Histologically verified, locally advanced (stage II/III) or metastatic (stage IV) adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
* The PDAC must be visible on grayscale ultrasound prior to injection of ultrasound contrast
* Must be ambulatory with an ECOG performance status between 0 and 2
* Female patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative urine pregnancy test and use (and agree to continue to use throughout the study) one of the following forms of contraception from the screening Visit until completion of the first study follow-up visit: hormonal (oral, implant or injection) begun \> 15 days prior to the screening visit, barrier (e.g., condom, diaphragm with spermicide), intra-uterine device or vasectomized partner (6 months minimum). Male patients must also agree to practice throughout the study an approved method of birth control.

  \* (Note: To be considered NOT of child-bearing potential, female patients must be postmenopausal \[with amenorrhea for at least 2 years prior to study entry\] or surgically sterile \[bilateral tubal ligation at least 6 months prior to study entry, or of a hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy\])
* Signed informed consent and expected cooperation of the patients for the treatment and follow up must be obtained and documented according to International Conference on Harmonization (ICH)/Good Clinical Practice (GCP), and national/local regulations

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patient participated in an investigational study within 7 days prior to study entry (or, if longer, within five half-lives of the last dose of any investigational drug
* Patient has severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or pulmonary hypertension or unstable cardiopulmonary conditions
* Patients who are medically unstable. For example:

  * Patients on life support or in a critical care unit
  * Patients with unstable occlusive disease (e.g., crescendo angina)
  * Patients with clinically unstable cardiac arrhythmias, such as recurrent ventricular tachycardia
  * Patients with uncontrolled congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \[NYHA\] class IV)
  * Patients with recent cerebral hemorrhage
  * Patients who have undergone surgery within 24 hours prior to the study sonographic examination
* Patient with a history of any psychiatric disorder or cognitive impairment that would interfere with participation in the study in the opinion of the investigator
* Patient requires dialysis or has severely impaired renal function, defined as a serum creatinine \>= 1.5 x ULN or calculated creatinine clearance \< 45 mL/min at the screening visit
* Patient has severe impairment of liver function, defined as a serum albumin level =\< 25 g/L and/or a prothrombin time international normalized ratio (INR) \> 2.3 (or activated partial thromboplastin time \[APTT\] \> 6 seconds above the upper limit of normal), or a Child Pugh Score C at the screening visit
* Patients diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), and/or hepatitis C virus (HCV)
* Patients with a history of anaphylactic allergy to eggs or egg products, manifested by one or more of the following symptoms: generalized urticaria, difficulty in breathing, swelling of the mouth and throat, hypotension, or shock. (Subjects with non anaphylactic allergies to eggs or egg products may be enrolled in the study, but must be watched carefully for 1 hour following the administration of Sonazoid)
* Patients that are allergic to any other component of Sonazoid
* Any reason why, in the opinion of the investigator, the patient should not participate
* Patient is pregnant or is breast-feeding

Where this trial is running

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and 1 other locations

• Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center at Thomas Jefferson University — Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States (RECRUITING)
• Haukeland University Hospital — Bergen, Norway (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Flemming Forsberg, PhD — Thomas Jefferson University
• Study coordinator: Flemming Forsberg, PhD

Conditions: Locally Advanced Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, Stage II Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IIA Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IIB Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Stage III Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8, Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma