Comparison of Chemotherapy Before and After Surgery Versus After Surgery Alone for the Treatment … (NCT04559139) | Clinical Trial Compass
Active — Not RecruitingPhase 2/3
Comparison of Chemotherapy Before and After Surgery Versus After Surgery Alone for the Treatment of Gallbladder Cancer
United States186 participantsStarted 2021-02-24
Plain-language summary
This phase II/III trial compares the effect of adding chemotherapy before and after surgery versus after surgery alone (usual treatment) in treating patients with stage II-III gallbladder cancer. Chemotherapy drugs, such as gemcitabine and cisplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving chemotherapy before surgery may make the tumor smaller; therefore, may reduce the extent of surgery. Additionally, it may make it easier for the surgeon to distinguish between normal and cancerous tissue. Giving chemotherapy after surgery may kill any remaining tumor cells. This study will determine whether giving chemotherapy before surgery increases the length of time before the cancer may return and whether it will increase a patient's life span compared to the usual approach.
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:
* Patient must have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1
* Patient must have histologically-confirmed T2 or T3 gallbladder cancer discovered incidentally at the time of or following routine cholecystectomy for presumed benign disease
* NOTE: Patients with histologically-confirmed Tis, T1a, T1b, or T4 tumors are not eligible
* Patient must have undergone initial cholecystectomy within 12 weeks prior to randomization
* Patient must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
* Leukocytes \>= 3,000/mcL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Absolute neutrophil count \>= 1,500/mcL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Platelets \>= 100,000/mcL (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Total bilirubin =\< institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) except in patients with Gilbert's syndrome. Patients with Gilbert's syndrome are eligible if direct bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN of the direct bilirubin (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase \[SGOT\]) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase \[SGPT\]) =\< 2.5 x institutional ULN (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Serum creatinine =\< institutional ULN OR creatinine clearance \>= 50 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 (Based on Cockcroft Gault estimation) (obtained =\< 28 days prior to randomization)
* Hu…
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.
1This trial is comparing chemotherapy given both before and after surgery versus chemotherapy given only after surgery — based on my stage and overall health, which of those two approaches would I have been assigned to, and does my doctor think one is more appropriate for me?
2Since this trial is in Phase 2/3, what does that mean for how much is already known about the safety and effectiveness of giving chemotherapy before surgery for gallbladder cancer at my stage?
3The trial is no longer enrolling new patients, so I can't join — but are the treatment strategies being tested here, like neoadjuvant chemotherapy before surgery, something my doctor could still offer me as part of my standard care plan?
4Since the main thing this trial is measuring is overall survival, has my doctor seen any early findings or published data from similar studies that might help us understand whether chemotherapy before surgery could make a difference for someone at my stage of gallbladder cancer?
5What are the realistic risks of receiving chemotherapy before surgery — such as delaying the operation or side effects affecting my ability to tolerate surgery — and how would my doctor weigh those risks against the potential benefits for my specific situation?
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.
What they're measuring
1
Difference in overall survival
Timeframe: Time from randomization to death or last follow-up, assessed up to 5 years