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NCT Number: NCT01591733

FOLFIRINOX + RT for Pancreatic Cancer

This research study is a Phase II clinical trial. Phase II clinical trials test the effectiveness of a therapy to learn whether the therapy works in treating a specific cancer. "Investigational" means that the therapy is still being studied and that research doctors are trying to find out more about it-such as the safest dose to use, the side effects it may cause, and if therapy is effective for treating different types of cancer. Proton beam radiation therapy is an FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) approved radiation delivery system.

Proton beam radiation therapy is known to spare surrounding normal tissues from radiation as it delivers less radiation beyond the area of the target tissues. This may reduce side effects that patients would normally experience with standard (photon) radiation therapy, which tends to include more normal tissue along with tumor target tissue.

Researchers in the laboratory have discovered that there are pathways inside the cells that can lead to growth and survival of the tumor. The chemotherapy drugs FOLFIRINOX and capecitabine are targeted towards blocking the pathways that allow cancer cells to divide, and may result in the tumor shrinking in size.

In this research study, the investigators are looking to determine if proton beam radiation in combination with FOLFIRINOX and capecitabine is effective in controlling the growth of your cancer.

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Key information

Conditions

Pancreatic Cancer Digestive System Diseases Digestive System Neoplasms Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Endocrine System Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Pancreatic Diseases Pancreatic Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 2

Primary location

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

About this study

For weeks 1-8, you will only be receiving FOLFIRINOX via IV infusion. The treatment plan will begin with four cycles (8 weeks) of FOLFIRINOX. Each cycle is 14 days long. You will receive FOLFIRINOX therapy on days 1, 2 and 3 of each of the four cycles. The FOLFIRINOX treatment is broken up into three different drugs. 5-FU will be administered over two hours on day one of each cycle, and then continuously with a pump for days 2 and 3. Oxaliplatin will be delivered by intravenous (infusion) over 120 minutes. Irinotecan will be given by IV for 90 minutes. All parts of this treatment will be received as an outpatient.

If after 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX therapy, your tumor has not spread, you will receive a further 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX. If after 8 total cycles of FOLFIRINOX your cancer is clearly resectable, you will proceed to phase 2 of treatment with capecitabine and radiation therapy.

You will take tablets of capecitabine by mouth for a total of 10 days (Monday through Friday) during the two weeks after your FOLFIRINOX treatment.

You will be given a drug diary for capecitabine which contains instructions on how to take the drug.

Short course radiation: You will receive proton radiation treatment for five days (Monday through Friday) after your FOLFIRINOX treatment, during the time of your capecitabine treatment, or photon radiation for ten days (Monday through Friday for two weeks). You will also be assessed at least once during this treatment course for any side effects you may be experiencing.

You will receive study radiation treatment as an outpatient at the Francis H. Burr Proton Center or the Clark Center for Radiation Oncology at the Massachusetts General Hospital Surgery is expected to occur approximately one to four weeks after completion of capecitabine therapy.

After your surgery, you may receive additional chemotherapy at the discretion of your treating physician and be followed as per standard of care.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Cytologic or histologic proof pancreatic ductal carcinoma
  • Borderline resectable
  • Life expectancy of at least 3 months
  • ECOG Performance Status ≤ 1
  • Adequate organ and bone marrow function
  • No treatment of other invasive cancers within the last 5 years with greater than 5% risk of recurrence at the time of eligibility screening. Carcinoma in-situ and basal cell carcinoma/squamous cell carcinoma of the skin are allowed
  • > 4 weeks since major surgery, excluding laparoscopy

Exclusion criteria

  • Evidence of metastatic disease
  • Pregnant or breastfeeding
  • Other serious uncontrolled medical conditions
  • Prior chemotherapy, targeted/biologic therapy or radiation for treatment of the pancreatic tumor
  • Prior systemic fluoropyrimidine therapy
  • History of uncontrolled seizures, central nervous system disorders or psychiatric disability
  • Individuals on cimetidine

Treatment and study plan

Folfirinox

Drug

Up to Eight-14 day cycles

Other names: 5-FU, Oxaliplatin, Irinotecan

Capecitabine

Drug

Orally, for 10 days

Short course radiation

Radiation

Five or ten days

Surgery

Procedure

1-4 weeks after completion of capecitabine therapy

Primary outcomes

  1. Rate of R0 Resection

    Time frame: Post-surgery (about 4 months post baseline)

    The rate of R0 resection of patients with borderline-resectable adenocarcinoma of the head of the pancreas, along with borderline-resectable and resectable adenocarcinoma of the body and tail of the pancreas. R0 resection means that following surgery, no cancer cells are seen microscopically at the resection margin.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Median Progression-Free Survival

    Time frame: From the start of treatment until death or disease progression, median duration of follow-up of 14.7 months

    The median progression free survival as measured from the start of treatment until the time of disease progression or death, whichever occurs first. Disease status was evaluated using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors). Disease progression is defined as having at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter (LD) of target lesion, taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded since the treatment started or the appearance of one or more new lesions.

  2. Median Overall Survival

    Time frame: From the start of treatment until up to 5 years of follow-up, median duration of follow-up of 37.7 months

    Median overall survival, as measured from the start of treatment until up to 5 years of follow-up.

  3. Preoperative Toxicity of Grade 3 or Worse Related to FOLFIRINOX and Chemoradiation

    Time frame: From the start of treatment until the end of chemoradiation, about 4 months

    Frequency of grade 3 or greater adverse events deemed related to FOLFIRINOX+short course radiation therapy. Adverse events were assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4).

  4. The Proportion of Participants With Surgery Related Adverse Events

    Time frame: At the time of surgery, 30 days post-surgery

    The number of participants with surgery related any grade adverse events following pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy after receiving preoperative FOLFIRINOX and preoperative short course radiation therapy. Adverse events were assessed using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4).

  5. 30 Day Post-operative Mortality Rate

    Time frame: 30 days post surgery (about 6 months from baseline)

    The number of participants that died within 30 days after undergoing pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy.

  6. Local Control Rates

    Time frame: From the start of treatment until the end of treatment with FOLFIRINOX, or until disease progression (median duration of follow-up of approximately 14 months)

    The number of participants that achieved local control. Local control was evaluated using RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors). Local Failure is defined as progression of the primary tumor, or to the reappearance of tumor at the primary site.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Massachusetts General Hospital

Other

Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Registry information

Official study title

Phase II Study of Preoperative FOLFIRINOX Followed by Accelerated Short Course Radiation Therapy for Borderline-Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

Important dates

Study start
2012
Primary completion
2017
Study completion
2021
First posted
May 4, 2012
Registry last updated
Sep 4, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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