New hope for tough pancreatic cancers: drug combo aims to shrink tumors before surgery

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

Inclusion Criteria: * Imaging consistent with primary borderline resectable or locally advanced PDAC. PDAC may be confirmed by histology/cytology either at study-mandated laparoscopy or by prior biopsy/cytology * Indicated for laparoscopy * No prior therapy of any kind for PDAC * Acceptable laboratory values * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 - 2 * Ability to provide informed consent * No symptomatic pancreatitis * No other active medical issues which would confound interpretation of safety monitoring, efficacy results or prevent the subject from study participation * Subjects with childbearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception throughout study participation Exclusion Criteria: * Active non-pancreatic cancer that currently requires treatment or is being treated; diagnosis of another malignancy within the past 2 years. This criterion excludes a history of carcinoma in situ of the cervix, superficial non-melanoma skin cancers, or superficial bladder cancer that has been adequately treated, or stage 1 prostate cancer that does not require treatment or requires only treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists or antagonists if initiated at least 30 days prior to screening). Other potentially indolent cancers may be considered. * Contraindications or allergies to paclitaxel, PLGA (poly(lactic-co-glycolic ) acid), or contraindications to implantation of PTM-101 or chemotherapies in protocol (e.g., FOLFIRINOX, gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel) * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or active viral hepatitis * Active ongoing infection or autoimmune disease which may preclude laparoscopy, placement of PTM-101, administration of chemotherapy or surgical resection of pancreatic tumor * Inability to comply with activities and therapeutic interventions as outlined in the schedule of events * Currently enrolled in another investigational drug or device trial * Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding or who plan to become pregnant or breastfeed; men who plan to donate sperm or conceive a child * Any other medical or surgical conditions, including prior abdominal surgery, that would preclude safe laparoscopy or implantation in the opinion of the investigator