Active clinical trials for "Pancreatic Neoplasms"

The aim of the PELICAN trial is to investigate the survival benefit of RFA plus standard palliative chemotherapy as compared to palliative chemotherapy alone in patients with LAPC after 2 months of induction chemotherapy.

This is a randomized prospective clinical study comparing a fine needle biopsy device and an aspiration needle.

Somatostatin receptors are overexpressed in GEP-NETs and can be visualized in vivo by radiolabeled somatostatin-analogs. During the last decades, conventional scintigraphy using 111In-DTPA-Octreotide (often named somatostatin receptor scintigraphy or SRS) was considered as the gold standard nuclear imaging technique in the evaluation of GEP-NETs. However, SRS may be suboptimal in this clinical setting because of the low intrinsic resolution of the technique and its selectivity for SST2 only. Its overall sensitivity is estimated to 60-70% (per lesion analysis), even when using the most recent SPECT-CT cameras. MRI have also a higher sensitivity than CT and SRS for the detection of liver metastases from GEP-NETs. In recent years, positron emission tomography (PET) imaging, a high resolution and sensitive technology, has gained an increasing role in oncology. It has also been evaluated in GEP-NETs with somatostatin agonists (SSTa) radiolabelled with Gallium-68 [68Ga], a positron emitter with very promising results. Its diagnostic sensitivity is clearly superior to SRS and many European centers have already replaced SRS by [68Ga]-PET-SSTa. Currently, three different [68Ga]-coupled peptides can be used in trials: DOTA-TOC, DOTA-TATE and DOTA-NOC with excellent affinities for SST2 (IC50: 2.5; 0.2 and 1.9 nM, respectively). Sensitivities of DOTA-TOC and DOTA-TATE PET/CT are quite similar. [68Ga]-DOTANOC which also binds to SST5 was recently found to detect significantly more lesions than the SST2-specific radiotracer [68Ga]-DOTATATE in patients with GEP-NETs but this requires further evaluation. It is therefore important to determine the interest of [68Ga]-DOTANOC combined with the standard diagnosis strategy in GEP-NETs and evaluate medicoeconomic impact of adding [68Ga]-DOTANOC in the work-up of patients. The investigators hypothesis is that [68Ga]-DOTANOC will modify the management in at least 20% of patients in a more adapted way according to the 2012 ENETS guidelines in comparison to the decision based on the standard imaging work up (multiphasic WB CT, liver MRI and SRS). 110 patients will be included prospectively in 5 different French experienced centers (Marseille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Paris, Clermond-Ferrand).

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the role of routine Staging Laparoscopy in patients with potentially resectable pancreatobiliary cancer.

This is a prospective study of left celiac plexus resection for pancreatic cancer at the body and tail during standard distal pancreatectomy.

The aim of this research study is to identify the best needle for performing biopsy during EUS procedures. There are two types of needles for performing biopsy: A FNA needle that provides a small sample of tissue for analysis and a 22G ProCore needle that provides larger amount of tissue. It is not clear at this point which of the two needles is superior for performing biopsy. This study will attempt to identify the better needle by assessing the performance of both needles in a randomized fashion.

Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the standards surgical procedure for various malignant and benign disease of the pancreas and periampullariy region. During the recent years, mortality rate of pancreaticoduodenectomy has decreased to 5% in specialized centers. Although, this procedure still carries considerable morbidity up to 40%, depending of definition of complications. Pancreatic fistula remains a common complication and the main cause of other morbidities and mortality. Pancreaticojejunal (PJ) anastomosis is the most often used method of reconstruction after pancreaticoduodenectomy. Several technique modifications such as placement of the stents, reinforcement of anasomosis with fibrin glue, pancreatic duct occlusion and pancreaticogastrostomy (PG) type of anastomosis was used in order to decrease pancreatic fistula rate. Since, some retrospective studies showed better results with some technique, several meta-analyses did not show any advantage of those various modifications. It was shown that the higher risk of pancreatic fistula was noticed in patients with soft residual pancreas and small diameter of pancreatic duct. There is only one randomized study in the literature dealing with this problem. This study did not reveal any significant differences between PG and PJ in patients with soft pancreas and small duct. In order to investigate once more this important issue, the researchers conducted randomized multicenter controlled trial.

Single operater pancreatico-cholangioscopy is performed through the working channel of conventional duodenoscopes. A visual evaluation of the biliary and pancreatic ductal systems is completed and obvious or suspicious macroscopic lesions are targeted by biopsy forceps. Evaluation of the usefulness of probe based confocal laser endomicroscopy in the evaluation of suspected premalignant lesions in the biliary duct and in the pancreas.

This study compares the 19G and 25G needles for procuring tissue samples from the pancreas during Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) procedures.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether duct-to-mucosa is better than invagination in pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy. This single-centre, open, randomized controlled trail is conducted following ISGPF criteria for pancreatic fistula (PF). The duration of the study is supposed to start from Jan 5th 2012 and last to Dec 2014, until 100 or more cases are accessible. Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, peri-ampullar carcinoma or other benign or malignant diseases which need to operate pancreaticoduodenectomy will be included. Main outcomes are pancreatic fistula rate, mortality, morbidity, reoperation and hospital stay. The investigators assumption that duct-to-mucosa is better than invagination.