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Active, Not Recruiting

NCT Number: NCT04002479

Alpha Radiation Emitters Device for the Treatment of Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

A unique approach for cancer treatment employing intratumoral diffusing alpha radiation emitter device for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Active, Not Recruiting

This study is active but is not currently recruiting participants.

Key information

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Montréal (CHUM), Montreal, Quebec, Canada

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About this study

This is a prospective, single-center, open label, single arm study. The study is designed to evaluate the feasibility, safety and preliminary efficacy of intratumoral alpha radiation mediated treatment with Alpha DaRT seeds for the treatment of advanced pancreatic cancer.

The study will be comprised of a screening period, DaRT insertion visit, acute follow-up phase of 4-6 weeks and a long-term follow up phase of 24 months. The total duration of the study will be 24 months from the DaRT insertion procedure.

30 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer will be recruited by the investigational site.

Eligible patients who meet inclusion/exclusion criteria (as assessed during the screening period) will be invited to the site for the procedure of DaRT seeds insertion. The patients will be monitored for a period of 24 months post insertion.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

  • Histologically and/or cytologically proven locally advanced (Stage II or III) or metastatic (Stage IV) pancreatic, adenocarcinoma
  • Inoperable pancreatic cancer due to at least one of the following: a) unresectability, b) metastatic disease, c) medically unfit for surgery
  • ECOG performance status ≤ 2
  • Measurable lesion per RECIST (version 1.1) criteria
  • Maximum lesion of 4cm in the longest diameter (including primary tumor and regional lymph nodes)
  • ≥ 18 years of age
  • Estimated life expectancy of at least 12 weeks
  • Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) will have evidence of negative pregnancy test
  • Subjects are willing to sign an informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Prior chemotherapy does not exclude the patient
  • Prior abdominal radiation therapy
  • Concomitant chemotherapy or immunotherapy
  • Borderline resectable pancreatic cancer and medically fit for surgery
  • Connective tissue disease (scleroderma, lupus)
  • Patients with significant comorbidities that the treating physician deems may conflict with the endpoints of the study (e.g., poorly controlled autoimmune diseases, vasculitis, etc.)
  • Patients undergoing systemic immunosuppressive therapy excepting intermittent, brief use of systemic corticosteroids
  • Volunteers participating in another interventional study in the past 30 days which might conflict with the endpoints of this study or the evaluation of response or toxicity of DaRT
  • High probability of protocol non-compliance (in opinion of investigator)
  • Patients not willing to sign an informed consent form
  • Women who are pregnant or lactating

Treatment and study plan

Radiation: Diffusing Alpha Radiation Emitters Therapy (DaRT)

Device

An intratumoral insertion of radioactive sources [Ra-224 containing stainless-steel 316LVM tubes- (Alpha DaRT seeds)]. The seeds release by recoil into the tumor short-lived alpha-emitting atoms.

Primary outcomes

  1. Feasibility - DaRT seed placement

    Time frame: Day 0 (Day of insertion)

    Assessment of the DaRT seed placement within the tumor or less than 5 mm from the tumor using CT imaging on the day of DaRT insertion.

  2. Safety - Adverse events

    Time frame: 3 months

    Assessment of the frequency, severity and causality of acute AEs and SAEs related to DaRT seeds insertion. AEs and SAEs will be assessed and graded according to Common Terminology and Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0

  3. Safety - Adverse events

    Time frame: 3 to 24 months

    Assessment of the frequency, severity and causality of Late AEs and SAEs related to DaRT seeds insertion. AEs and SAEs will be assessed and graded according to Common Terminology and Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0. The follow up will be carried out by phone calls every 2 months during the time between 3 to 24 months after DaRT seeds insertion

Secondary outcomes

  1. Efficiency - Short-term effect

    Time frame: 4-6 weeks after DaRT seeds insertion

    Assessment of the objective response rate (ORR) following DaRT seeds insertion using CT scan

  2. Tissue damage evaluation

    Time frame: Day -14 to 60 days after insertion

    Measuring CA19-9 as a marker to tissue damage. Elevation during treatment, and reduction as a result of tumor ablation. Serum levels of CA 19-9 can be measured using chemiluminescent assay on an Unicel DxI 800 analyzer (BeckmanCoulter, Brea, CA, USA).

  3. Efficiency - Long-term effect

    Time frame: 2 years following DaRT seeds insertion

    Assessment of the overall survival (OS) following DaRT seeds insertion

  4. Stent durability

    Time frame: Day of DaRT insertion up to 24 months.

    Stent durability will be assessed by the time elapsed from DaRT insertion to the need for follow-up referral for ERCP for stent change due to tumor ingrowth

  5. Change in quality of life: EORTC-QLQ-C30

    Time frame: Day -14 to 60 days after insertion

    Assessment of patient reported health-related Quality of Life (QoL) outcomes after DaRT treatment, using QoL questionnaires EORTC-QLQ-C30 (version 3.0). Scale range in score from 0 (best) to 100(worst).

  6. Change in quality of life: QLQ-PAN26

    Time frame: Day -14 to 60 days after insertion

    Assessment of patient reported health-related Quality of Life (QoL) outcomes after DaRT treatment, using QoL questionnaires QLQ-PAN26. The module comprises 26 questions assessing pain, dietary changes, jaundice, altered bowel habit, emotional problems related to pancreatic cancer, and other symptoms (cachexia, indigestion, flatulence, dry mouth, taste changes).

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Alpha Tau Medical LTD.

Industry

Registry information

Official study title

A Feasibility and Safety Study of Intratumoral Diffusing Alpha Radiation Emitters on Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Important dates

Study start
2020
Primary completion
2026
Study completion
2026
First posted
Jun 28, 2019
Registry last updated
Dec 2, 2025

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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