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Investigation of the safety and efficacy of irreversible electroporation (IRE) using the NanoKnife® System in patients with unresectable stage 3 pancreatic cancer who have received 3 months of chemotherapy (DIRECT/InspIRE Australia)

ACTRN 12621000955819

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate whether addition of a new therapy using the NanoKnife system improves survival in patients with unresectable stage 3 pancreatic cancer. The Nanoknife system is a type of irreversible electroporation (IRE) device. “Electroporation” is a cellular destruction technology that can be used to treat cancer. It uses electrical pulses to make small holes in cells that cause cell death. This destroys the targeted tissue in the body and the treated tissue is then removed by the body’s natural processes in a matter of weeks, mimicking natural cell death.

Intervention/Treatment

  • Irreversible Electroporation (IRE)

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Patient has a diagnosis of unresectable Stage 3 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cancer cytologically or pathologically confirmed as per American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) staging criteria.
  2. Patient is newly diagnosed and has only received a single line of therapy for at least 3 months prior to enrolment. They must have received either modified FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy.
  3. Patient has a tumour evaluated as Stage 3 according to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines, based on radiographic imaging or exploratory surgery.
  4. Maximum axial tumour dimension of less than or equal to 3.5cm, after receiving at least three months of treatment with a modified FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine-based regimen.
  5. Patient has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1.
  6. Patient has an American Society of Anaesthesiologists (ASA) classification of physical health status of 1 or 2.

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