Testing Higher Dose Radiation Therapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Phase 3

Recruiting

• Conditions: Locally Advanced Unresectable Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma; Stage II Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8; Stage III Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8; Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer AJCC v8
• Interventions: Procedure: Biopsy Procedure; Procedure: Biospecimen Collection; Drug: Capecitabine; Procedure: Computed Tomography; Drug: Fluorouracil; Radiation: Dose-escalated Radiation Therapy; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Irinotecan Hydrochloride; Drug: Irinotecan Sucrosofate; Drug: Leucovorin Calcium; Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Drug: Nab-paclitaxel; Other: Observation Activity; Drug: Oxaliplatin; Other: Questionnaire Administration; Radiation: Radiation Therapy

• Registration Number: NCT06958328
• Lead Sponsor: NRG Oncology

Brief Summary

This phase III trial compares the effect of dose-escalated radiation therapy to usual care in patients with locally advanced unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who have received an initial 4-6 months of chemotherapy. Usual care options include additional chemotherapy, observation, or standard lower-dose radiation therapy. These treatments may delay tumor growth but have not been shown to improve survival. Radiation therapy uses high energy X-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Dose-escalated radiation therapy involves the precise delivery of higher doses to the tumor, often over a shorter period of time. This trial assesses whether using dose-escalated radiation therapy can prolong survival.

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate whether dose-escalated radiation therapy (RT) improves 3-year overall survival (OS) compared to standard treatments without dose-escalated RT, in locally advanced pancreatic cancer patients without radiographic progression and with biochemical response after an initial interval of chemotherapy.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To evaluate and compare local progression between the two treatment arms. II. To evaluate and compare progression-free survival (PFS) between the two treatment arms.

III. To evaluate and compare chemotherapy-free interval between the two treatment arms.

IV. To evaluate and compare toxicity within and between the two treatment arms.

HEALTH-RELATED QUALITY-OF-LIFE (HRQOL) OBJECTIVES:

I. Primary: To compare Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Hepatobiliary (FACT-Hep) Total Score at 6 months between the two treatment arms.

II. Secondary: To compare nadir of HRQoL scores over course of study participation between the two treatment arms.

III. Secondary: To evaluate HRQoL scores over time between the two treatment arms.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. Biospecimen collection for future correlative analyses.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I (STANDARD OF CARE): Patients are assigned to 1 of 3 treatment options per physician's decision.

OPTION 1: Patients continue to receive fluorouracil, irinotecan hydrochloride, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin (FOLFIRINOX or modified FOLFIRINOX \[mFOLFIRINOX\]) or fluorouracil, liposomal irinotecan, leucovorin calcium, and oxaliplatin (NALIRIFOX) or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel per standard of care for a total of 6 months of treatment. Patients may continue treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion.

OPTION 2: Patients undergo standard dose radiation therapy once daily for 28 or 30 fractions and receive concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine per standard of care during radiation therapy. After completing concurrent chemoradiation, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion.

OPTION 3: Patients undergo observation per standard of care. (It is recommended \[but not required\] that this option only be for patients that have already completed total 6 months chemotherapy pre-randomization.)

Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.

ARM II (DOSE-ESCALATED RADIATION THERAPY): Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.

Patients are followed every 3 months from study entry for 2 years then annually for 3 years.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-25
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-04-25
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-06
• Study Start: 2025-08-21
• Status Verified: 2025-09
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-09-16
• Last Update Posted: 2025-09-22
• Primary Completion: 2030-10-21
• Study Completion: 2030-10-21

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 356

Inclusion Criteria

• At time of enrollment, the patient must have received 4-6 months of active chemotherapy with FOLFIRINOX (8-12 cycles) or NALIRIFOX (8-12 cycles) or gemcitabine/nab-paclitaxel (4-6 cycles) (1 regimen, no sequential chemotherapy). "Active chemotherapy" refers to time on chemotherapy not counting treatment breaks (i.e. if a patient had 1 month of chemotherapy followed by 1 month break, this would count as 1 month chemotherapy). Study registration must occur within 45 days of last day of chemotherapy cycle
• BASELINE PRE-ENTRY CHEMOTHERAPY REQUIREMENTS:
• Pathologically (histologically or cytologically) proven diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
• Locally advanced unresectable disease (as defined per the National Comprehensive Cancer Network [NCCN] guidelines and institutional tumor board review)
• Patients must have baseline pre-chemotherapy scans for staging. Options include: CT chest/abdomen/pelvis, CT chest/MRI abdomen/pelvis, or CT chest/CT pelvis/MRI abdomen performed prior to enrollment
• Age ≥ 18 years
• Performance status Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) 0-2
• Baseline CA19-9 with a normal bilirubin level (defined as ≤ 1.2 mg/dl)
• Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ≤ 3 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
• POST PRE-ENTRY CHEMOTHERAPY REQUIREMENTS:
• If baseline CA19-9 is elevated (defined as > 37 u/mL) the post-pre-entry chemotherapy CA19-9 must be less than 37 u/mL or a 50% decline from pre-chemotherapy level with absolute value less than 100u/mL
• If baseline CA19-9 is not elevated (defined as ≤ 37 u/mL) the post-pre-entry chemotherapy CA19-9 must remain ≤ 37 u/mL
• No active duodenal or gastric ulcers
• No direct tumor invasion of the bowel or stomach
• Restaging scans showing at least stable disease (no progression). Options for scans include: CT chest/abdomen/pelvis, CT chest/MRI abdomen/pelvis, or CT chest/CT pelvis/MRI abdomen performed prior to enrollment, with restaging CT showing at least stable disease
• Not pregnant and not nursing
• No cardiac condition that was the primary reason for hospitalization in the last 6 months
• New York Heart Association Functional Classification II or better (NYHA Functional Classification III/IV are not eligible) (Note: Patients with known history or current symptoms of cardiac disease, or history of treatment with cardiotoxic agents, should have a clinical risk assessment of cardiac function using the New York Heart Association Functional Classification.)
• HIV-infected patients on effective anti-retroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Biopsy Procedure	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Biospecimen Collection	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Capecitabine	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Computed Tomography	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Fluorouracil	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Gemcitabine	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Irinotecan Hydrochloride	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Irinotecan Sucrosofate	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Leucovorin Calcium	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Nab-paclitaxel	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Observation Activity	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Oxaliplatin	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Questionnaire Administration	See Detailed Description.
Arm I (Options 1, 2, or 3)	Radiation Therapy	See Detailed Description.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Biopsy Procedure	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Biospecimen Collection	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Capecitabine	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Computed Tomography	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Dose-escalated Radiation Therapy	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Fluorouracil	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Magnetic Resonance Imaging	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.
Arm II (dose-escalated RT)	Questionnaire Administration	Patients undergo dose-escalated RT daily, every other day, or twice weekly for 5 fractions or daily for 25 fractions (with or without concurrent fluorouracil or capecitabine for 25 fractions only). The 5-fraction regimen is preferred when feasible. After completing dose-escalated RT, patients who received less than 6 months of chemotherapy at study entry are encouraged to receive the remaining chemotherapy to total 6 months of chemotherapy. Patients may continue chemotherapy treatment beyond 6 months at physician's discretion. Additionally, patients undergo blood sample collection, CT, MRI and tumor tissue biopsy throughout the study.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall survival (OS)	From randomization to the date of death or last follow-up, assessed up to 3 years	OS will be estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method (Kaplan 1958). The 3-year OS estimates between the two arms will be compared using a Z-test. A logistic regression model will be used to analyze the effects of factors, in addition to treatment, including, but not limited to the stratification factor, which may be associated with 3-year OS. The primary hypothesis of improved 3-year OS will be tested with a 1-sided significance level of 0.023 (level based on not having stopped at either of the 2 planned interim analyses).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Local progression (LP)	From randomization to date of failure, date of death (competing event), or last known follow-up date, assessed up to 5 years	Defined as progression of the primary tumor/nodes as determined by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors criteria. LP will be estimated by the cumulative incidence method (Kalbfleish 1980), with death as a competing risk, and compared between treatment arms using Gray's test (Gray 1988). The Fine-Gray regression model will be used to analyze the effects of factors, in addition to treatment, which may be associated with LP (Fine 1999).
Progression-free survival (PFS)	From the date of randomization to the date of first PFS failure or last follow-up for patients without a reported PFS event, assessed up to 5 years	Defined as local progression, distant failure, or death due to any cause. PFS will be estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method (Kaplan 1958) and estimates between treatment arms will be compared using the log-rank test (Mantel 1966). The Cox proportional hazard regression model will be used to analyze the effects of factors, in addition to treatment, which may be associated with PFS (Cox 1972).
Chemotherapy-free interval (CFI)	From the date of last dose of initial chemotherapy to the date of first dose of second line chemotherapy for progression, assessed up to 5 years	Defined as the time in months without chemotherapy for locally advanced pancreatic cancer post the initial chemotherapy treatment. Mean CFI will be compared between treatment arms using a Z-test. Regression modeling will be used to analyze the effects of factors, in addition to treatment, which may be associated with CFI.
Long-term radiation-related ≥ grade 3 adverse events	Up to 1 year after randomization	The percentage of patients on the dose-escalated radiation therapy arm will be reported.
Incidence of ≥ grade 3 adverse events	Up to 90 days after randomization	The percentage of patients will be compared between the treatment arms using a Z-test.

Trial Locations

Locations (98)

Arizona Center for Cancer Care - Gilbert; 🇺🇸 Gilbert, Arizona, United States

Arizona Center for Cancer Care-Peoria; 🇺🇸 Peoria, Arizona, United States

Arizona Center for Cancer Care - Phoenix; 🇺🇸 Phoenix, Arizona, United States

Arizona Center for Cancer Care - Scottsdale; 🇺🇸 Scottsdale, Arizona, United States

Arizona Center for Cancer Care-Surprise; 🇺🇸 Surprise, Arizona, United States

Arizona Center for Cancer Care; 🇺🇸 Tempe, Arizona, United States

NEA Baptist Memorial Hospital and Fowler Family Cancer Center - Jonesboro; 🇺🇸 Jonesboro, Arkansas, United States

AIS Cancer Center at San Joaquin Community Hospital; 🇺🇸 Bakersfield, California, United States

Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Herrick Campus; 🇺🇸 Berkeley, California, United States

Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-Cameron Park; 🇺🇸 Cameron Park, California, United States

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