Active clinical trials for "Bile Duct Neoplasms"

The purpose of this study is to examine the benefits of a clinical implementation of a DPYD-genotype test to patients starting treatment with fluoropyrimidines (Fluorouracil (5-FU), capecitabine, tegafur).

Bile duct cancer and pancreatic cancer are cancers that cannot be surgically removed. As the cancer grows, it blocks the drainage of the bile ducts that carry digestive juices from the gallbladder and pancreas to the small intestine. ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is often prescribed during which a tube with a tiny camera attached is inserted through the subject's mouth and advanced to a place in the small intestine where the bile duct empties. Through this scope the doctor enlarges the ducts with tiny balloons and places plastic or metal stents (straws) that help keep the bile ducts open so they can drain properly. However, due to the cancer, the stents are blocked eventually. The purpose of this registry is to record information and evaluate the impact of endoscopic radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probes in improving the management of bile duct cancer or pancreatic cancer by ablating the tissue in the bile duct(s) before the stent(s) are implanted. By using radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the tissue in the duct(s) prior to stent(s) insertion, the surrounding tissue becomes coagulated and this may delay tumor growth and the time before the stent lumen becomes blocked. Thereby, allowing increased periods between the need for intervention and further stent implantation(s). The registry will evaluate the efficacy and safety of RFA procedures conducted for pancreatico-biliary disorders

Malnutrition and loss of muscle mass frequently occur in patients undergoing chemotherapy and can negatively effect therapy outcome. Especially patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract are often affected by malnutrition. Therefore, this study aims to examine changes in nutritional status of patients with cancer of the gastrointestinal tract during chemotherapy. Findings of this study will help to improve nutritional treatment of patients undergoing chemotherapy.

RATIONALE: Gathering information about patients' quality of life during radiation therapy for cancer may help doctors plan the best treatment. PURPOSE: This randomized clinical trial is studying quality of life in patients undergoing radiation therapy for primary lung cancer, head and neck cancer, or gastrointestinal cancer.

This prospective, randomized, open-label and multicenter phase III study is aimed to estimate the survival benefit of Early Palliative Care (EPC) combined with standard oncology care including first-line chemotherapy (experimental arm) over standard oncology care only (standard arm), in patients with metastatic upper gastrointestinal cancers (gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, biliary tract cancers).

Reflexion on the therapeutic strategies to implement in patients at the end of life is advancing rapidly in France. However, beyond the choices presented to patients, sometimes even the decision to carry on, to limit or to stop treatments is also questioned. This decision is subjective; it is influenced by the patient's representation system (emotions, beliefs, values, practices, etc). In addition, even though he or she is the focus of the decision, the patient is not alone; other actors, accompanying the patient, play an important role in the final decision making. These actors, namely the doctors and close relatives, are also influenced in their decision making. This coexistence of representation systems may interfere with objective indicators that help in decision making (functional, clinical and biological) or with the knowledge acquired by doctors in their training and may complicate the decision-making process.

Major surgery is a stressful procedure; good recovery after surgery is important to patients and their doctors. Studies done at the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC) with cancer patients awaiting surgery have shown that exercise combined with simple diet recommendations (which may include a supplement) and relaxation techniques before surgery helped speed up the ability to resume walking after surgery. These results have made the investigators aware that exercise and good nutrition are as important before surgery as they are after surgery; while it is common practice to start strengthening the body after surgery (rehabilitation), there may be some advantage to begin this process before surgery (prehabilitation). The purpose of this study is to see if the following program, either before or after surgery, can help patients recover from liver, pancreas or bile duct surgery: Exercise that may help participants move and breath better, Nutrition advice and a supplement to make participants strong, Relaxation and anti-anxiety tips to help cope with the stress of upcoming surgery The investigators will see if following this program will have an effect on participants' ability to walk before and after surgery.

Successful palliation of biliary obstruction is the main goal for reducing morbidity and mortality in patients with biliary disease and biliary obstruction related to cholangiocarcinoma. Surgical intervention for the sale is unfortunately complicated by a 30-day postoperative mortality rate of between 7 and 24%. Moreover, because of recovery time the quality of life following surgery is only improved in a minority. At present endoscopic insertion of a plastic or metal stent is the method of choice to relieve obstructive jaundice without the high morbidity and mortality associated with surgery. But this relief is unfortunately temporary since stents tend to become obstructed and the fact that effective biliary drainage in the proximal lesion is challenging. Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) is a new therapeutic approach that specifically targets neoplastic cells. This therapy involves the intravenous administration of a photosensitizing agent followed by activation of the agent by illumination with non-thermal light of a specific wavelength, resulting in cell death from direct cytotoxicity and ischemic necrosis. A randomized controlled trial study by Ortner et all confirmed the significant advantage of PDT with regard to relief of jaundice, quality of life, and survival. In photodynamic therapy (PDT) the uniform distribution of externally applied light is desirable but often difficult to achieve. An optical fiber tip producing cylindrical or lateral light emission can facilitate the application of laser energy by direct implantation of the tip into solid tumors. However, currently used FDA approved glass diffusers used in standard of care PDT might break in the bile ducts causing injury since they are not meant to be used within bile ducts through an endoscope or choledochoscope. Hence, there is a need to evaluate and introduce more efficient and safe non-glass cylindrical optic fiber diffuser for photo dynamic therapy in the bile ducts. Recent studies have shown that the Pioneer plastic optic diffuser is safe and effective in photodynamic therapy, it can be also used via a choledochoscope. We aim to add to the clinical evidence by conducting an open label observational study trial using this fiber optic diffuser during photo dynamic therapy in the bile ducts.

This study will evaluate the performance of the EnLightTM and LightPathTM Imaging Systems in detecting tumour lesions in patients with gastric, pancreas, bile duct or duodenal cancer. EnLightTM will be used to detect positron emission and the LightPathTM system to detect Cerenkov Luminescence. Both are emitted by the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) agent. The study will also evaluate the patient safety and radiation safety of the EnLightTM, and the safety for the device operators and surgical staff of the LightPathTM Imaging System.

Endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatography (ERCP) is advanced endoscopic technique that allows minimally invasive management of biliary and pancreatic disorders. However, the incidence of infectious complication of ERCP is considerable. Transient blood stream infection after ERCP has been reported in a high ratio, up to 27% and post-ERCP infection accounts for about 10% of the major complications associated with mortality. Although prophylactic use of antibiotics is generally not recommend in all cases, debates about the prophylactic use of antibiotics continues and prophylactic use of antibiotics is recommend in case of ERCP that incomplete biliary drainage is expected. In this study, researchers will use prophylactic antibiotics in patients with biliary obstruction who have high-risk of post-ERCP bacteremia. Antibiotics regimen is selected based on the data of our institution, and administered to patients before ERCP procedure.