Electric field device shows promise in tough pancreatic cancer trial
NCT ID NCT03377491
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This phase 3 trial tested a wearable device called Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) combined with standard chemotherapy for people with locally advanced pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. The device sends low-intensity electric fields to the tumor area to disrupt cancer growth. The study enrolled 571 participants to see if adding TTFields to chemo improves overall survival compared to chemo alone.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) device plus chemotherapy (gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to slow or shrink pancreatic tumors, potentially extending life for people with this hard-to-treat cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 3 trial, but results are not yet known. The device adds complexity to treatment, and side effects from the device or chemo may limit benefits. Success is not guaranteed.
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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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
-
571 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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May 2018
- Finished
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Oct 2024
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 years and older
- 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.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 18 years of age and older 2. Life expectancy of ≥ 3 months 3. Histological/cytological diagnosis of de novo adenocarcinoma of the pancreas 4. Unresectable, locally advanced stage disease according to the following criteria: * Head/uncinate process: 1. Solid tumor contact with SMA\>180° 2. Solid tumor contact with the CA\>180° 3. Solid tumor contact with the first jejunal SMA branch 4. Unreconstructible SMV/PV due to tumor involvement or occlusion (can be d/t tumor or bland thrombus) 5. Contact with most proximal draining jejunal branch into SMV * Body and tail 1. Solid tumor contact of \>180° with the SMA or CA 2. Solid tumor contact with the CA and aortic involvement 3. Unreconstructible SMV/PV due to tumor involvement or occlusion (can be d/t tumor or bland thrombus) * No distant metastasis, including non-regional lymph node metastasis * No borderline resectable (per Al-Hawary MM, et al., Radiology 201414) 5. ECOG score 0-2 6. Amenable and assigned by the investigator to receive therapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel 7. Able to operate the NovoTTF-200T System independently or with the help of a caregiver 8. Signed informed consent form for the study protocol Exclusion Criteria: 1. Prior palliative treatment (e.g. surgery, radiation) to the tumor 2. Cancer requiring anti-tumor treatment within the 5 years before inclusion, excluding treated stage I prostate cancer, in situ cervical or uterus cancer, in situ breast cancer and non-melanomatous skin cancer. 3. Serious co-morbidities: 1. Clinically significant (as determined by the investigator) hematological, hepatic and renal dysfunction, defined as: Neutrophil count \< 1.5 x 10\^9/L and platelet count \< 100 x 10\^9/L; bilirubin \> 1.5 x Upper Limit of Normal (ULN); AST and/or ALT \> 2.5 x ULN; and serum creatinine \> 1.5 x ULN. 2. History of significant cardiovascular disease unless the disease is well controlled. Significant cardiac disease includes second/third degree heart block; significant ischemic heart disease; poorly controlled hypertension; congestive heart failure of the New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II or worse (slight limitation of physical activity; comfortable at rest, but ordinary activity results in fatigue, palpitation or dyspnea). 3. History of arrhythmia that is symptomatic or requires treatment. Patients with atrial fibrillation or flutter controlled by medication are not excluded from participation in the trial. 4. History of cerebrovascular accident (CVA) within 6 months prior to randomization or that is not stable. 5. Active infection or serious underlying medical condition that would impair the ability of the patient to receive protocol therapy. 6. History of any psychiatric condition that might impair patient's ability to understand or comply with the requirements of the study or to provide consent. 4. Concurrent anti-tumor therapy beyond gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel 5. Implantable electronic medical devices in the torso, such as pacemakers 6. Known severe hypersensitivities to medical adhesives or hydrogel, or to one of the chemotherapies used in this trial. 7. Pregnancy or breast-feeding (female patients with reproductive potential and their partners must accept to use effective contraception throughout the entire study period and for 3 months after the end of treatment). All patients who are capable of becoming pregnant must take a pregnancy test which is negative within 72 hours before beginning treatment. The definition of effective contraception is left up to the decision of the investigator. 8. Unable to follow the protocol for medical, psychological, familial, geographic or other reasons. 9. Admitted to an institution by administrative or court order.
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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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A.O. SS Antonio e Biagio e Cesare Arrigo
Alessandria, 15121, Italy
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A.O.U Città della Salute e della Scienza di Torino
Torino, 10126, Italy
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Accelerium S de RL de C.V.
Monterrey, Nuevo León, 64000, Mexico
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AdventHealth Neuro Oncology
Orlando, Florida, 32804, United States
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Adventist Health St. Helena - Martin-O'Neil Cancer Center (MOCC)
St. Helena, California, 94574, United States
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Ajou University Hospital
Suwon, 16499, South Korea
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Arizona Oncology Associates, PC- HOPE - US Oncology Research
Tucson, Arizona, 85711, United States
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Associated Neurologists of Southern Connecticut, P.C.
Milford, Connecticut, 06460, United States
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Astera Cancer Care
East Brunswick, New Jersey, 08816, United States
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Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi
Florence, 50134, Italy
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BRCR Medical Center INC
Plantation, Florida, 33324, United States
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Bacs-Kiskun County Hospital
Kecskemét, 6000, Hungary
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Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center
Gilbert, Arizona, 85234, United States
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Bassett Medical Center
Cooperstown, New York, 13326, United States
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Baylor Scott and White Medical Center
Temple, Texas, 76508, United States
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Beijing Cancer Hospital
Beijing, 100142, China
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Bekes County Hospital
Gyula, 5700, Hungary
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
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Boca Raton Regional Hospital, Lynn Cancer Institute
Boca Raton, Florida, 33486, United States
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Bonifatius Hospital Hematology and Oncology
Lingen, 49808, Germany
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CHA Bundang Medical Center, CHA University
Seongnam-si, South Korea
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Cancer Specialist of North Florida
Fleming Island, Florida, 32003, United States
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Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan, PC
Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
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Carl-von-Basedow-klinikum Saalekrei
Merseburg, 06217, Germany
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Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Los Angeles, California, 90048, United States
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Central Maine Medical Center, Clinical Research Department
Lewiston, Maine, 04240, United States
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Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Sherbrooke CIUSSS de l'Estrie - CHUS
Sherbrooke, Quebec, J1G 1B1, Canada
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Centre Hospitalier de Bretagne Sud /Site du Scorff
Lorient, 56322, France
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Centre Hospitalier de I'Universitaire de de Montreal (CHUM)
Montreal, Quebec, H2X 3E4, Canada
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Centre Léon Bérard
Lyon, France
-
Centre de Lutte Contre le Cancer (CLCC) - Centre Paul Strauss
Strasbourg, 67000, France
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Centro Hemato-Oncologico Privado CHOP
Toluca, 50080, Mexico
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Centro Potosino de Investigación Médica SC,
San Luis Potosí City, 78250, Mexico
-
Centro de Estudios de Alta Especialidad de Sinaloa, ubicado
Mazatlán, Sinaloa, 82110, Mexico
-
Centro de Investigación Médica Aguascalientes (CIMA),
Aguascalientes, 20116, Mexico
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Centro de Pesquisa Clínica e Ensino Florianópolis LTDA
Florianópolis, 88020, Brazil
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Centrum Medyczne MrukMed
Rzeszów, 35-021, Poland
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Chonnam National University Hwasun Hospital
Hwasun, 58128, South Korea
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Clinica Universiatria de Navarra
Pamplona, 31008, Spain
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Clinique Sainte Anne - Groupe Hospitalier Saint-Vincent, Strasbourg Oncologie Libérale
Strasbourg, 67000, France
-
Clinique Universutaire Saint Luc - Institut Roi Albert II
Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, 1200, Belgium
-
Clinstile S.A. de C.V.,
Cuauhtémoc, 06700, Mexico
-
Clínica OncoStar - REDE D´OR
São Paulo, 04543, Brazil
-
Comprehensive Cancer Centers of Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89619, United States
-
Cotton O'Neil Cancer Center (Stormont-Vail Cancer Center)
Topeka, Kansas, 66606, United States
-
Dignity Health - Mercy Cancer Centers
Sacramento, California, 95816, United States
-
Dong-A University Hospital
Seogu, Busan, 602-715, South Korea
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FAICIC Clinical Research
Veracruz, 91900, Mexico
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Faculté de Médecine Campus Erasme
Anderlecht, 1070, Belgium
-
Florida Cancer Specialists
St. Petersburg, Florida, 33705, United States
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Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute - Colonial Office
Fort Myers, Florida, 33905, United States
-
Florida Hospital Tampa
Tampa, Florida, 33613, United States
-
Gabrail Cancer Research Center
Canton, Ohio, 44718, United States
-
Gachon University Gil Hospital
Incheon, 21565, South Korea
-
Geisinger Medical Center
Danville, Pennsylvania, 17822, United States
-
General University Hospital in Prague
Prague, 128 08, Czechia
-
Grandview Medical Center, Cancer Center
Birmingham, Alabama, 35243, United States
-
Greenslopes Private Hospital
Greenslopes, Queensland, 4120, Australia
-
Groupo Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas (COI) - Barra da Tijuca
Rio de Janeiro, 22775-001, Brazil
-
Guangdong provincial people's hospital
Guangzhou, 510000, China
-
HM Hospitales - Centro Integral Oncologico Clara Campal - CIOCC
Madrid, 28050, Spain
-
Hadassah Medical Center
Jerusalem, 9112000, Israel
-
Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital
Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150086, China
-
Henan Provincial Peoples Hospital
Zhengzhou, China
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Hopital haut-Léveque CHU Bordeaux - Service d'Hépato- Gastroentérologie et d'Oncologie digestive
Pessac, Bordeaux, 33604, France
-
Hospital Angeles San Luis
San Luis Potosí City, 78200, Mexico
-
Hospital General Universitario de Elche
Elche, Spain
-
Hospital Regional Universitario de Málaga
Málaga, 29010, Spain
-
Hospital São Lucas da PUCRS
Porto Alegre, 90610, Brazil
-
Hospital Universitario Marqués de Valdecilla
Santander, Spain
-
Hospital Universitario Ramon Y Cajal Carretera de Colmenar Viejo
Madrid, Spain
-
Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, 90035, Brazil
-
Hospitales Star Medica - Luna Parc
Estado de México, 54750, Mexico
-
Houston Methodist Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
-
Hôpital Privé des Côtes d'Armor
Plérin, 22190, France
-
Hôpital Fribourgeois/Freiburger Spital
Fribourg, 1708, Switzerland
-
IRPCc - Instituto Ribeirãopretano de Combate ao Câncer
Ribeirão Preto, 14015-130, Brazil
-
Illinois Cancer Specialist - US Oncology Research
Arlington Heights, Illinois, 60005, United States
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Infirmary Cancer Care
Mobile, Alabama, 36607, United States
-
Inha University Hospital
Incheon, 22332, South Korea
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Institut de Cancérologie de l'Ouest
Saint-Herblain, 44805, France
-
Instituto D'Or de Pesquisa e Ensino - Rio De Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro, 22271, Brazil
-
Instituto D´Or de Pesquisa e Ensino - Hospital São Rafael
São Marcos, 41253-190, Brazil
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Instituto Oncòlogico Dr. Rosell
Barcelona, 08028, Spain
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Instituto Valenciano de Oncología IVO
Valencia, 46009, Spain
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Irmandade da Santa Casa de Misericórdia de Porto Alegre
Porto Alegre, 90020-090, Brazil
-
Jan Mikulicz-Radecki University Teaching Hospital
Wroclaw, 50-556, Poland
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Jasz-Nagykun-Szolnok County Hospital
Szolnok, 5000, Hungary
-
Jilin Guowen Hospital
Jilin City, 136100, China
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KS Winterthur
Winterthur, 8401, Switzerland
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Kaleida Health
Buffalo, New York, 14210, United States
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Karmanos Cancer Institute
Detroit, Michigan, 48201, United States
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Keimyung University, Dongsan hospital
Daegu, 42601, South Korea
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Klinikum Chemnitz gGmbH
Chemnitz, 09116, Germany
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Klinikum Klagenfurt am Wörthersee
Klagenfurt, Wörthersee, 9020, Austria
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Klinikum München Bogenhausen, Klinik für Gastroenterologie und Gastroenterologische Onkologie
München, 81925, Germany
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Korea University Guro Hospital
Seoul, 08308, South Korea
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Landes-Krankenhaus Steyr
Steyr, 4400, Austria
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Linyi Cancer Hospital
Linyi, Shandong, 276000, China
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London Regional Cancer Program, London Health Sciences Centre
London, Ontario, N6A 5W9, Canada
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Loyola University Medical Center
Maywood, Illinois, 60153, United States
-
Maryland Oncology Hematology, P.A - US Oncology Research
Columbia, Maryland, 21044, United States
-
Masaryk Institute of Oncology
Brno-střed, 60200, Czechia
-
Mayo Clinic Hospital - Florida
Jacksonville, Florida, 32224, United States
-
Mediadvance Clinical
Chihuahua City, Chih., 31210, Mexico
-
Medical University Graz
Graz, 17070, Austria
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Klinik fur Gastroenterologie, Hepatologie und Endokrinologie
Hanover, Germany
-
Methodist Regional Cancer Center
Dallas, Texas, 75203, United States
-
MidAmerica Division
Kansas City, Missouri, 64132, United States
-
Monash Medical Centre
Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
-
Mount Sinai Medical Center
Miami Beach, Florida, 33140, United States
-
NYU Langone Arena Oncology
Lake Success, New York, 11042, United States
-
National Cancer Center
Gyeonggi-do, 10408, South Korea
-
National Institute of Oncology
Budapest, 1122, Hungary
-
Nebraska Methodist Hospital
Omaha, Nebraska, 68114, United States
-
Nemocnice Na Bulovce
Prague, 180 81, Czechia
-
Nemocnice Nový Jičín
Nový Jičín, 741 01, Czechia
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New York Hospital Queens
Flushing, New York, 11355, United States
-
NorthShore University HealthSystem
Evanston, Illinois, 60201, United States
-
Norton Cancer Institute, Norton Healthcare Pavilion
Louisville, Kentucky, 40202, United States
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Novant Health Oncology Specialists
Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27103, United States
-
Núcleo de Pesquisa Clínica da Rede São Camilo
São Paulo, 04014-002, Brazil
-
Ochsner Medical Center
New Orleans, Louisiana, 70121, United States
-
Oncocenter - Puebla
Puebla City, 72530, Mexico
-
Oncoclinicas Group Botafogo
Rio de Janeiro, 22250-040, Brazil
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Oncology Clinic Clinical Hospital of Przemienienia Pańskiego UM in Poznaniu
Poznan, 60-596, Poland
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Oncology and Hematology Associates of Southwest Virginia, Inc., DBA Blue Ridge Cancer Care - US Oncology Research
Roanoke, Virginia, 24014, United States
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Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic University Clinical Center Non-Invasive Medicine Center
Warsaw, 02-507, Poland
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Oncology and Radiotherapy Clinic, Oncology Center - Institute
Warsaw, 02-034, Poland
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Oncosite - Centro de Pesquisa Clinica Em Oncologia Ltda
Ijuí, 98700, Brazil
-
OptumCare Cancer Care
Las Vegas, Nevada, 89102, United States
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Ospedale San Giovanni Calibita Fatebenefratelli Isola Tiberina
Roma, 00186, Italy
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Pacific Cancer Medical Center
Anaheim, California, 92801, United States
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Peking Union Medical College Hospital
Beijing, China
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Peking University People'S Hospital
Beijing, China
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Phylasis Clinicas Research S. de R.L. de C.V.
Cuautitlán Izcalli, 54769, Mexico
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Phylasis Clinicas Research S.de R.L. de C.V. (PCR)-Toluca
Toluca, 50180, Mexico
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Piedmont Cancer Institute
Atlanta, Georgia, 30318, United States
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Providence Medical Foundation
Fullerton, California, 92835, United States
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Queen Mary Hospital
Hong Kong, Hong Kong
-
Rabin Medical Center
Petah Tikva, 4941492, Israel
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Rambam Health Care Campus, Oncology Institute
Haifa, 3109601, Israel
-
Renown Regional Medical Center & Renown Institute for Cancer
Reno, Nevada, 89502, United States
-
Ridley-Tree Cancer Center
Santa Barbara, California, 93105, United States
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
-
Saint Elizabeth Healthcare
Edgewood, Kentucky, 41017, United States
-
Samsung Medical Center
Seoul, 06351, South Korea
-
Seattle Cancer Care Alliance
Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
-
Seoul National University Bundang Hospital
Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13620, South Korea
-
Service d'Oncologie médicale du Pr. Andre, Hôpital Saint-Antoine
Paris, 75012, France
-
Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System
Seoul, 03722, South Korea
-
Shanghai Changhai Hospital
Shanghai, 200433, China
-
Shanxi Provincial Cancer Hospital
Shanxi, 030013, China
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Sheba Pancreatic Cancer Center - SPCC
Ramat Gan, Israel
-
Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine
Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
-
Sourasky Medical Center, Oncology Department
Tel Aviv, 64239, Israel
-
St. John of God Murdoch Hospital
Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
-
Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital Sun Yat-sen University
Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510000, China
-
Sutter Cancer Center Sacramento
Sacramento, California, 95816, United States
-
Sydney Adventist Hospital
Wahroonga, NSW 2076, Australia
-
Tennessee Cancer Specialists
Knoxville, Tennessee, 37909-1327, United States
-
Tennessee Oncology
Nashville, Tennessee, 37203, United States
-
Texas Oncology - Baylor - US Oncology Research
Dallas, Texas, 75246, United States
-
Texas Oncology - Beaumont Mamie McFaddin Ward Cancer Center - US Oncology Research
Beaumont, Texas, 77702, United States
-
Texas Oncology - Bedford - US Oncology Reasearch
Bedford, Texas, 76022, United States
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Texas Oncology - El Paso Cancer Treatment Center Gateway - US Oncology Research
El Paso, Texas, 79915, United States
-
Texas Oncology - Tyler - US Oncology Research
Tyler, Texas, 75702, United States
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The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital
Seoul, 06591, South Korea
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi 'an Jiaotong University
Xi'an, Shaanxi, 710061, China
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The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University
Zhengzhou, 450052, China
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The first hospital of Jilin University
Changchun, 130021, China
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Toledo Clinic Cancer Centers
Toledo, Ohio, 44614, United States
-
Tolna County Hospital
Szekszárd, 7100, Hungary
-
Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wuhan, Hubei, 430014, China
-
UMass Memorial Medical Center
Worcester, Massachusetts, 01605, United States
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UT/Erlanger Oncology & Hematology
Chattanooga, Tennessee, 37403, United States
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UZ Leuven
Leuven, 3000, Belgium
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Union Hospital affiliated to Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Wuhan, Hubei, 430000, China
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Univ. Klinik für Innere Medizin III der PMU
Salzburg, 5020, Austria
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Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon - Hospital Universitario "Dr. Jose Eleuterio Gonzalez"
Monterrey, 64460, Mexico
-
University Hospital Centre Zagreb
Zagreb, 10000, Croatia
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University Hospital Olomouc
Olomouc, 779 00, Czechia
-
University of Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, Arizona, 85724-5024, United States
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University of Kansas Medical Cancer Center
Fairway, Kansas, 66205, United States
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University of Maryland Comprehensive Cancer Center
Baltimore, Maryland, 21201, United States
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University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
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University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
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Università Campus Bio-Medico di Rome
Roma, 00128, Italy
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Universitätsklinikum Ulm
Ulm, D-89081, Germany
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VK und K Studien GbR Landshut-Achdorf
Landshut, 84036, Germany
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Vall d´Hebron University Hospital
Barcelona, Spain
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Virginia Mason Medical Center
Seattle, Washington, 98101, United States
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Vista Oncology Inc PS
Olympia, Washington, 98506, United States
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Vita Medical Associates, P.C.
Fountain Hill, Pennsylvania, 18015, United States
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West Virginia University Cancer Institute
Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, United States
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Westmead Hosptial
Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
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White Plains Hospital - Center for Cancer Care
White Plains, New York, 10601, United States
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Willamette Valley Cancer Institute and Research Center - US Oncology Research
Eugene, Oregon, 97401, United States
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Xingtai People's Hospital
Xingtai, China
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