Endoscopic Ultrasound-guided RadioFrequency Ablation for the Treatment Pancreatic NeuroEndocrine Neoplasms

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Neuroendocrine Tumor Gastrointestinal, Hormone-Secreting; Neuroendocrine Carcinoma; Neuroendocrine Tumors; Pancreas Neoplasm
• Interventions: Device: EUS guided radiofrequency ablation

• Registration Number: NCT03834701
• Lead Sponsor: Catholic University of the Sacred Heart

Brief Summary

This study evaluates the possibility and the safety of performing local therapy for Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) using radiofrequency ablation of the tumor under ultrasonography (EUS) guidance.

Detailed Description

Pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (PanNENs) are rare, but their incidence has significantly increased in the last decades. The mainstay treatment of PanNENs is surgery, which is associated with a significant benefit in term of survival but also with significant short- and long-term adverse events.

Based on the above data, less invasive alternative therapeutic interventions to avoid short- and long-term adverse events of surgery are needed.

In this context radiofrequency ablation has been reported to be effective in the treatment of these tumors in absence of major adverse events. However, the available studies on the matter are limited by small sample size and lack of standardized criteria for patient selection.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2019-02-04
• Study First Submitted QC: 2019-02-06
• Study First Posted: 2019-02-08
• Study Start: 2019-09-01
• Primary Completion: 2024-01-01
• Status Verified: 2024-02
• Study Completion: 2024-02-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-02-12
• Last Update Posted: 2024-02-13

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

For all patients

• Age ≥18 years and <80 years
• Signed written informed consent
• Distance from the main pancreatic duct ≥2mm
• Able to undergo endoscopic ultrasound examination
• Homogeneous enhancement at contrast harmonic EUS (CH-EUS)

For patients with functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (F-PanNENs), almost all insulinomas

• Definitive diagnosis of a clinical syndrome related to excessive insulin secretion fasting test, insulin blood levels, C-peptide blood levels)
• Single lesion visualized at CT, and/or MRI, and/or EUS
• Size < 20mm

For patients with non functional pancreatic neuroendocrine neoplasms (NF-PanNENs)

• EUS fine needle biopsy (FNB) proven NF-PanNENs
• 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT positive for a pancreatic lesion and negative for lymph nodes, liver, and other distant metastases
• Hyper- or Iso-enhancing pattern at MRI and/or CT with negative lymph nodes, liver, and other distant metastases
• G1 or G2 ≤ 5% on histological examination of EUS-guided biopsy samples utilizing EUS-FNB needles
• Diameter between 15mm and 25mm,
• Absence of symptoms
• Absence of inner calcifications

Exclusion Criteria

• For all patients
• Known bleeding disorder that cannot be sufficiently corrected with co-fact or fresh frozen plasma (FFP)
• Use of anticoagulants that cannot be discontinued
• INR >1.5 or platelet count <50.000
• Previous inclusion in other studies
• Pregnancy
• Minimal distance from the main pancreatic duct <1mm
• Inability to sign the informed consent
• Heterogeneous enhancement at contrast harmonic EUS (CH-EUS)

For patients with F-PanNENs (almost all insulinomas)

• Diagnosis work up negative excessive hormone secretion syndrome
• Multiple lesions visualized at CT, and/or MRI, and/or EUS
• Size > 20mm
• For patients with NF-PanNENs
• G2>5% or G3 on histological examination of EUS-guided biopsy samples
• Diameter <15 mm and >25 mm
• Presence of symptoms
• Presence of calcifications
• Hypo-enhancing pattern at MRI and/or CT
• 68Ga-DOTATATE PET/CT positive for lymph nodes, liver, and other distant metastasis
• Diagnosis on multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) syndrome or Von Hippel Lindau syndrome
• Previous inclusion in other studies

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
EUS guided radiofrequency ablation	EUS guided radiofrequency ablation	Radiofrequency ablation will be performed using a system that consists of an 19-gauge needle electrode (140-cm long), a radiofrequency generator, and an inner cooling system that circulates chilled saline solution during the RFA procedure.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Incidence of adverse events (AEs) after EUS-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA)	1 year	AEs will be classified as procedural when they occur during the procedure; post-procedural when they will occur up to 14 days after the procedure; late when they will occur more than 14 days after the procedure. Minor AEs will be those that need no therapy and have no sequelae (A) or have minor therapy or consequence, including overnight admission (B). Major events include those that require major therapy or hospitalization (24- 48 hours) (C); major therapy, need unplanned increase in level of care, or hospitalization \>48 hours (D); or result in permanent adverse sequelae (E) and death (F).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Rates of secondary surgery	1 year	Number of patients who will require secondary surgey due to adverse events occurence, no response/failed or partial/recurrence outcome to the RFA treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (2)

Universita' del Sacro Cuore; 🇮🇹 Rome, Italy

Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli; 🇮🇹 Roma, RM, Italy