The Prevention of Progression to Pancreatic Cancer Trial (The 3P-C Trial)

This is a phase 2 multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial of patients who have high-risk intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) of the pancreas. Patients will be randomized in a 1:1 fashion and stratified by whether the patient had high-grade dysplasia (yes vs. no vs. no resection) identified in the initial resection specimen (for resected subjects), and whether or not the patient is taking metformin at the time of randomization. Patients will be required to have undergone an MRI or CT angiogram for IPMN active surveillance in accordance with the standard practice at the enrolling institution within 3 months of study entry. The CT imaging study will be used to document baseline IPMN characteristics and to ensure that there is no evidence of a preexisting pancreatic cancer.

Following randomization, patients will take the study drug or placebo twice daily for up to 3 years. Both the study drug arm and the placebo arm will undergo standard laboratory, radiographic, and endoscopic assessment for IPMN progression. Every 6 months, patients will undergo assessment of serum CMP, CBC, and CA19-9. EUS will be performed 6 months after randomization (+/- 4 weeks) and then annually. CT or MRI will be performed 1 year after randomization (+/- 4 weeks) and then annually. The intent of these timings is to have the EUS and CT/MRI be on an alternating 6-month schedule per standard of care.

Patients, nurses, and physicians will be blinded to the randomization. Study drug will be provided to patients in the outpatient clinic or mailed to their home. Pill diaries will be provided at the time that the study drugs are given and will be evaluated every 6 months, at the time of routine follow-up.

Safety and efficacy will be assessed throughout the treatment period. Assessment for study drug complications will be made by phone call every other month (in between routine follow-up) and at routine follow-up every 6 months by the attending surgeon or designee, until the end of the study. If a complication is identified, the study drug will be discontinued. Patient evaluations will be scheduled bi-annually for the primary endpoint and off-schedule evaluations may be made to address symptoms or clinical concerns as they arise.

The investigators plan to accrue 100 patients and will follow all patients for up to 3 additional years until protocol defined progression or study closure, whichever occurs first.

Inclusion criteria

• Subject is a man or woman between the ages of 21 and 85 (inclusive) years.
• Subject has high-risk IPMN as defined below.

• Patient (previously resected) has undergone partial pancreatectomy for non-invasive IPMN AND has new or residual cyst(s) > 1 cm and/or
• Patient (not previously resected) has a radiographic lesion of the pancreas consistent with IPMN as documented by: Cyst fluid CEA > 192 ng/ml OR presence of GNAS or RNF 43 mutation noted in cyst fluid OR MRI imaging confirmation of "likely", "probable" or "confirmed" communication with main pancreatic duct

AND at least one of the following worrisome features:

• Cyst > 2.5 cm
• Thickened/enhancing cyst walls
• Main pancreatic duct > 5mm
• Abrupt change in caliber of pancreatic duct with distal atrophy
• Subjects has ECOG of 0-2
• Subject is medically fit to undergo EUS.
• Female subjects who are of childbearing potential or are capable of becoming pregnant must be willing to use appropriate methods of contraception for the length of the study.
• Subject is able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Subject has pathologic evidence of pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
• Subject takes a systemic corticosteroid or NSAID more than 3 times per week.
• Subject has a known history of or currently existing allergy to NSAIDs, aspirin induced asthma, gastric ulcers, non-iatrogenic intestinal perforation, or gastrointestinal bleeding from NSAID usage for which intervention was required..
• Subject has an ongoing history of renal insufficiency (eGFR <50 mL/minute/1.73 m2), cardiovascular disease, gastrointestinal disorder, or any other condition that serves as a contraindication to the use of sulindac in the opinion of the treating investigator.
• Myocardial infarction or coronary artery bypass grafting within six months of study entry.
• Diagnosis of Congestive Heart Failure.
• Severe adverse drug reaction to contrast agents that cannot be managed with routine premedication prior to imaging.
• Diagnosis for (other) prior malignancy (except in situ and non-melanoma skin cancers) and are actively receiving antineoplastic or immuno therapy within 90 days of randomization.
• History of medical procedure that would prevent an endoscopic ultrasound from being performed (such as Roux-en-Y, prior total gastrectomy).
• Subject is lactating or pregnant.