A Phase II Multicentre Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Cystic Tu… (NCT02343692) | Clinical Trial Compass
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A Phase II Multicentre Trial of Endoscopic Ultrasound Guided Radiofrequency Ablation of Cystic Tumours of the Pancreas
Australia, United Kingdom97 participantsStarted 2016-03
Plain-language summary
Up to 13.5% of patients that undergo a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan of their abdomen without pancreatic symptoms are found to have an incidental pancreatic cyst, with the frequency increasing with age. In a post-mortem series, 25% of patients had a pancreatic cyst, of which 32% were potentially premalignant and 3% malignant. Premalignant cysts are currently either observed or removed surgically according to international guidelines. Observation is associated with significant anxiety for patients and a growing cost to the National Health Service, while surgery for this usually benign condition is associated with not insignificant morbidity and mortality. Premalignant pancreatic cysts may be indolent for a number of years before malignant transformation, creating a window of opportunity for minimally invasive intervention and cure. New early treatment options for premalignant tumours are urgently required. This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel minimally invasive technique for the treatment of pancreatic cystic tumours; endoscopic ultrasound guided radiofrequency ablation (EUSRFA).
If successful it will offer an alternative to long term observation or surgery for patients with this condition.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. A diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic tumour based on multidisciplinary review of imaging, for which further surveillance with non-invasive imaging is indicated.
. Pancreatic cystic tumour between 0.5 and 3cm in size. Cysts greater than 3cm or with mural nodules can be included only if patients are unsuitable for surgical resection.
. ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2.
. Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks.
. Age \>18 years.
. Capable of giving written informed consent.
. Women of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test (qualitative serum hCG) in the week before treatment, AND be using an adequate contraception method, which must be continued for at least 1 week after RF.
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
. A diagnosis of a pancreatic cystic tumour where surgical resection is indicated.
. Pancreatic cysts greater than 3cm or less than 0.5cm in size.
. Benign pancreatic cysts (e.g. pseudocyst).
. Serous cystadenomas.
. Pancreatic cysts with malignant transformation.
. Cysts involving or in close proximity to vessels or the biliary tree where the zone of ablation is likely to compromise these structures.
. Cysts arising from the main pancreatic duct.
. History of active or prior malignancy that will interfere with the response evaluation (exceptions include in-situ carcinoma of the cervix treated by cone-biopsy/resection, nonmetastatic basal and/or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin, any early stage (stage l) malignancy adequately resected for cure greater than 5 years previously).