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Can removing liver tumors alongside the whipple procedure extend life in stage IV pancreatic cancer?

NCT ID NCT02892305

Disease control Sponsor: Duke University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

This study's is highlighted.

Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing This study
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Aug 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

Researchers at Duke University are testing whether combining the Whipple procedure with surgical removal or ablation of liver tumors can help people with stage IV pancreatic cancer that has spread only to the liver. The study enrolls 18 adults who are healthy enough for major surgery. The goal is to see if this aggressive approach is safe and feasible, measuring survival, disease progression, and complications within 90 days of the operation.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
Surgery combining the Whipple procedure with removal or ablation of liver tumors
What this could lead to
If successful, this approach could offer a treatment option for people with stage IV pancreatic cancer that has spread only to the liver, potentially extending survival.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early feasibility study with only 18 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Surgery carries risks like pancreatic leaks, infections, and complications from anesthesia.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Participants

18 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

May 2018

Expected to finish

Jun 2027

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Who is studied

Patients with biopsy-proven, or radiographically evident, resectable pancreatic head cancer who are found to have low-volume hepatic metastases at time of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Ages

18 to 90 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Subject must be at least 18 years of age and at least the minimum Age of Majority according to applicable State or Country Law * Subject is a surgical candidate, (i.e., is able to undergo general anesthesia and surgical resection for diagnosis of cancer) * The Hepatobiliary Multidisciplinary Committee (HDMC) must approved of this intervention. * Insurance pre-authorization must be received unless the subject decides to pay out of pocket.. * Subject has been informed of the study procedures and the treatment and has signed an informed consent form * less than or equal to 3 liver lesions Exclusion Criteria: * Subject is not a suitable candidate for surgical intervention * The Hepatobiliary Multidisciplinary Committee (HDMC) disapproves of this intervention. * Insurance will not cover the procedure or subject not willing to pay out of pocket. * Pregnant women * Non-English speaking Subjects

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

exocrine pancreatic carcinoma metastatic neoplasm Neoplasm Metastasis pancreatic neoplasm

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Liver metastases Neoplasm metastasis Pancreatic neoplasms

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Duke University Health System

    Durham, North Carolina, 27710, United States

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