View clinical trials related to Pancreatic Neoplasms.
Filter by:This phase II trial studies how well giving selumetinib and erlotinib hydrochloride together works in treating patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer that is refractory to chemotherapy. Selumetinib and erlotinib hydrochloride may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.
The research purpose of this project is to create a registry, and blood and tissue bank for individuals at high-risk for pancreatic cancer. We plan to conduct histopathological and molecular analysis of resected pancreatic tissue prospectively collected from a cohort of pancreatic cancer patients.
This study will evaluate efficacy, safety and tolerability of Avastin versus placebo added to a chemotherapeutic regimen in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer. The anticipated time of study treatment is until confirmed evidence of disease progression, and the target sample size is 500+ individuals.
Pancreatic cancer patients have one of the worst prognoses among all cancer types with a 5 year survival rate of less than 5%. Despite significant changes during the last decade in our molecular knowledge on this disease, the prognosis and management of pancreatic cancer have remained unchanged. With the advances in molecular biology, newer biologic agents such as erlotinib, are adding some benefit to the conventional cytotoxic agents. There is a growing body of literature suggesting that type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) may be associated with the development of pancreatic cancer, but this association is complex. Because various DM medications can affect directly the key factors mediating the association between DM and pancreatic cancer, understanding the effect of anti-diabetic therapies on pancreatic cancer is a critical step in fully characterizing the role of type 2 DM in the development of pancreatic cancer. Indeed, two epidemiologic studies have found that diabetic patients treated with metformin were less likely to develop cancer, but those treated with insulin were more likely to die of various kinds cancer. Not only does metformin ameliorate hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia, both of which are associated with the adverse impact of DM on cancer, metformin also has direct metabolic effects through activation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK regulates many metabolic enzymes and also inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway via phosphorylation and stabilization of the tumor suppressor gene TSC2. But there is an intensive cross-talk between various pathways. Inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt pathway, of which mTOR is one of the effector proteins, for instance may result in escape via the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway and vice verse. Indeed, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) activation leads to activation of the MAPK pathway and the PI3K pathway. Thus, since it is clear that blocking one pathway will not always be sufficient to produce a response in the presence of other activated pathways, the best change of success will be realized when using a combination of agents that inhibit separate pathways known to be critical to the survival of the tumour. In line with these observations, combining a small molecule against the EGFR and inhibition of the PI3K pathway by metformin might account for potential candidates of the above combinatorial approach. Therefore, in this study, the investigators want to determine the activity and safety of concurrent interruption of the MAPK and PI3K pathways by the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib and metformin, combined with gemcitabine in patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer.
Patients with pancreatic cancer are treated with combinations of surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, depending on the location of the cancer and other individual patient health factors. The goals of therapy are to reduce or eliminate the cancer cells, but without serious damage to normal cells. Investigators at The University of Michigan are conducting a research project, to see if treatment effects on an individual patient's cancer cells can be detected early by new imaging tests in patients with resectable pancreatic cancer undergoing neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy.
The aim is to propose and prospectively validate a diagnostic approach and model for prediction of mucinous versus non-mucinous, and malignant versus non-malignant pancreatic cysts using a combination of clinical, radiologic, and biomarker characteristics.
The purpose of this study is to: Find out the largest dose of sodium bicarbonate that can be given with gemcitabine. Determine if the combination of sodium bicarbonate and gemcitabine produces better control of pancreatic cancer than gemcitabine alone.
The purpose of the study is selecting second line therapy for patients with pancreatic cancer using molecular profiling will improve 1 year survival.
This pilot clinical trial studies vismodegib and gemcitabine hydrochloride in treating patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Vismodegib may stop the growth of pancreatic cancer by blocking blow flow to the tumor. Gemcitabine hydrochloride may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving vismodegib and gemcitabine hydrochloride may kill more tumor cells.
Covered self expandable metal stents (CSEMS) are three times larger in diameter than 10 Fr plastic stents. When compared to plastic stents, randomized trials have shown longer patency and fewer stent-related complications for CSEMS. The investigators hypothesize that placement of CSEMS would be a better treatment option for preoperative biliary decompression in patients with pancreatic cancer.