Surgery for spread pancreatic cancer? small trial halted early
NCT ID NCT06122480
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether surgically removing both the main pancreatic tumor and any limited spread to the liver or lungs could help people with pancreatic cancer live longer. Only 5 people enrolled before the trial was stopped early. Participants first received chemotherapy, then surgery if the cancer remained limited. The goal was to see if this aggressive approach improves survival compared to historical data.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- surgery to remove the primary pancreatic tumor and any liver or lung metastases
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could show that surgery plus chemotherapy improves survival for patients with limited spread of pancreatic cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very small, early-phase trial that was terminated early, so results are limited. Surgery for metastatic pancreatic cancer carries significant risks and may not benefit everyone.
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.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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5 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2024
- Finished
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Apr 2026
- Lead sponsor
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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.
- Ages
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18 to 100 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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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 Hide 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.
1. Inclusion Criteria at the Pre-Screening Enrollment * Histologically confirmed diagnosis of treatment-naïve limited hepatic or pulmonary metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas Meet the definition of limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis according to CT/MRI that is done prior to the starting of any anticancer treatment. Either CT scan of chest, abdomen, and pelvis with intravenous contrast or a combination of MRI of abdomen and pelvis and CT scan of chest is acceptable radiographic imaging. CT/MRI can be done at an outside facility, but must be reviewed by a Johns Hopkins Medicine radiologist. * Measurable disease according to RECIST v1.1 * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1 * Being a candidate for the chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX or modified FOLFIRINOX * Patients ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent * Patient's written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedure * Patient's legal capacity to consent to participation in the clinical trial 2. Exclusion Criteria at the Pre-Screening Enrollment * Acinar cell carcinoma and/or neuroendocrine carcinoma of the pancreas * Symptomatic clinically significant ascites * Evidence of any distant metastases other than limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis as defined in inclusion criterion 1. * Evidence of simultaneous pulmonary and hepatic metastases * Any tumor-specific pretreatment of the adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (including but not limited to surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or ablative procedures). Currently being on FOLFIRINOX or modified FOLFIRINOX (mFOLFIRINOX) is allowed, unless more than 2 treatments of FOLFIRINOX or mFOLFIRINOX has been given. * Any malignancies other than adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in the 2 years before the start of the clinical trial except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis and T1) * Known HIV seropositivity * Known active or chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection * Any other severe concomitant disease or disorder, which could influence patient's ability to participate in the clinical trial and his/her safety during the trial or interfere with interpretation of results, e.g., severe hepatic, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric disorders 3.2 Eligibility Criteria for Study Entry Enrollment at the Pre-Surgery phase 3.2.1 Inclusion Criteria for study continuation at the Pre-Surgery phase * ECOG performance status 0-1 * Received FOLFIRINOX, modified FOLFIRINOX or the further modified forms including FOLFIRI, FOLFOX, 5FU or capecitabine. Liposomal irinotecan is permitted. Switching to gemcitabine/nal-paclitaxel due to intolerability of FOLFIRINOX is also permitted. * Radiographical evidence of disease response or stable disease with CA19-9 decrease \> 20% from the baseline or CA19-9 that is not detectable * Patients ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent * Patient's written informed consent prior to any trial-specific procedure * Patient's legal capacity to consent to participation in the clinical trial 3.2.2 Exclusion Criteria for Study Entry Enrollment at the Pre-surgery phase * Symptomatic clinically significant ascites * Evidence of any distant metastases other than limited hepatic or pulmonary metastasis as defined in inclusion criterion 1. * Evidence of simultaneous pulmonary and hepatic metastases * Any malignancies other than adenocarcinoma of the pancreas in the 2 years before the start of the clinical trial except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer or superficial bladder tumors (Ta, Tis and T1) * Pregnant or breast-feeding female * Radiographic evidence of severe portal hypertension * Liver cirrhosis ≥ Child Pugh B * Known HIV seropositivity * Active or chronic Hepatitis B or Hepatitis C infection * Clinically significant cardiovascular or vascular disease or disorder ≤6 months before enrolment into the clinical trial (e.g., myocardial infarction, unstable angina pectoris, chronic heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) ≥ Grade 2, uncontrolled arrhythmia, cerebral infarction) * Any other severe concomitant disease or disorder, which could influence patient's ability to participate in the clinical trial and his/her safety during the trial or interfere with interpretation of results, e.g., severe hepatic, renal, pulmonary, cardiovascular, metabolic or psychiatric disorders. * Hepatic metastasis that are only amenable to ablation. However, if liver lesions are found intraoperatively and subsequently ablated and if the pancreatic surgery is distal pancreatectomy, the patients would still be considered evaluable. Ablation of liver lesions during the pancreatoduodenectomy is not allowed. * Radiographical evidence of disease progression.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
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