Province of Ontario Strategy for Personalized Management of Pancreatic Cancer Trial

This study is being done to answer the following question: Can creating 3D models using tumour samples and looking at genetic information from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) tumours, help us to provide more patients with a specific, personalized treatment? Two groups of patients with PDAC are eligible to enroll 1) PDAC patients that will go straight to surgery 2) PDAC patients where the disease is either too advanced for a surgical option, or the disease has spread to other areas in the body. Patients will have tumour tissue taken either during their surgery or from a biopsy at enrolment. Background history, outcome data, questionnaires, series of blood draws and stool samples will be collected for analyses. All electronic medical record information will also be collected.

Researchers are looking for better ways of understanding and treating pancreatic cancer by looking to see how useful it is to know about changes and characteristics in the genes in the tumour (molecules that contain instructions for the development and functioning of the cells). Results from analyzed data may be useful in choosing treatments for enrolled patients and for patients in the future. Patients current treatment plan will not change if they choose to take part in this study.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients must have either upfront resectable PDAC or advanced (unresectable or metastatic) PDAC (borderline PDAC and those planned for neoadjuvant chemotherapy excluded)
• Patients with a histological or radiological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). For patients awaiting histological confirmation, tissue obtained at study enrolment or can suffice. For those patients who undergo a resection, surgical tissue will be used.
• For patients enrolling with resectable PDAC (cohort 1) - the definition of resectability will be according to NCCN guidelines and the patient must be planned for a surgery first approach.
• For patients with advanced PDAC (cohort 2), all stages are eligible including locally advanced unresectable, first-line metastatic, second-line (or beyond) metastatic.
• In advanced PDAC patients (cohort 2) where a single lesion is to be biopsied, the lesion should be amenable to a core needle biopsy as judged by a staff radiologist. A minimum of 4 to 6 x 18 Gauge (G) good quality tumour cores must be safely obtainable under CT or US guidance.
• Patients must have a life expectancy of ≥ 6 months
• ECOG 0-1
• Patient must be suitable for systemic therapy
• Patients should have organ function deemed sufficiently adequate to receive systemic therapy

Exclusion criteria

• Certain histologies are excluded: colloid, high grade neuroendocrine;
• For patients enrolling in cohort 2 - Patients without a tumour lesion amenable to biopsy or with tumour lesions that are not safe for sampling a minimum of 4 to 6 x 18G good quality tumour cores by image guided core needle biopsy as judged by a staff radiologist.
• Patients who are not fit enough to undergo a tumour biopsy for any reason as judged by the investigator; this includes patients who cannot stop anticoagulation therapy.
• For cohort 1 - patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy are excluded, (neoadjuvant immunotherapy is permitted)