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Active, not recruitingNCT02892305Updated Aug 27, 2026

Hepatic Resection for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

An observational study in Pancreatic Neoplasms, Neoplasm Metastasis and Liver Metastases, sponsored by Duke University. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 90 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-08-27.

Sponsored by Duke University · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
18
Ages
18 Years to 90 Years
Sex
All
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Study summary

The purpose of this study is to demonstrate the feasibility of an aggressive multimodal approach among patients with stage IV pancreatic cancer (PAC) with isolated, low-volume hepatic metastasis (LVHM). We will evaluate and describe the surgical and overall outcomes of an initial cohort of subjects who undergo pancreatectomy and hepatic resection/ablation for PAC with LVHM. The end of study results will be reviewed by the Hepatiobiliary Multidisciplinary Conference (HDMC) and Surgery Audit Committee (SAC) to determine the appropriateness of adding this treatment arm for patients with oligometastatic metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Read the detailed description

This is a small interventional pilot study that will be conducted as a single-site study at Duke University Health System (DUHS). All subjects with pancreatic cancer and low-volume liver metastases (\< or = 3 lesions) who meet criteria for pancreatic and liver resection will be offered the opportunity to participate. Potential subjects will be referred by the Medical Oncology physicians at Duke if they feel like the patient would be suitable for this study. We anticipate enrolling 15 subjects to include 10 evaluable subjects in the analysis.

Any subject who consents to the study will proceed with primary resection, including pancreaticoduodenectomy or distal pancreatectomy, and liver resection/ablation of the metastases.

Screening will include a medical record review, standard of care CT scan/MRI, clinical evaluation including physical, vitals, height weight and routine blood tests.

Preoperative data such as sex, race, age at resection, ASA class, race, body mass index (BMI), pretreatment staging, CA 19-9 (missing in open PD), tumor size (cm), and neoadjuvant therapy (no; yes), time to initiation and completion will also be captured.

Perioperative data like date of surgery, OR time, ASA class, intra-operative transfusion requirements, fluid administration, EBL, operative complications (including but not limited to infection, bleeding, need for re-operation, thrombus, pancreatic leak, bile leak, liver failure, nutritional data like use of TPN and tube feedings, and length of stay will be collected.

Post-operative data regarding re-admission and surveillance data for oncologic outcomes such as re-operation, final pathology margin status, nodal status, and postoperative CA 19-9, as well as DFS and OS, including date of death if applicable, during the provided follow up period.

To ensure accurate and complete incorporation of medical data, a database of perioperative outcomes will be prospectively maintained during the subject's hospital stay and for the first 3 months following surgery. Duke University is a member of the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP), with 100% participation in Hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) procedures. As such, all preoperative data and 30-day outcomes are collected by a fully trained Surgical Clinical Reviewer and are available within our electronic medical record (EMR). NSQIP provides a robust, audited dataset that has been validated to optimize the accuracy of data collection, substantially reducing the cost and resource requirements of data extraction. Following this 30-day period, data will be collected at regularly scheduled clinic visits, which typically occur weekly until 6-12 weeks post-surgery, then 3-4 months for the first year, and every 6 months thereafter and stored in a local, REDCap database.

Subjects' medical records will be continually reviewed for surgical complications and for overall survival (date of subject death).

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Conditions studied

  • Pancreatic Neoplasms
  • Neoplasm Metastasis
  • Liver Metastases

Keywords

  • Pancreaticoduodenectomy
  • Hepatectomy
  • Liver ablation
  • Whipple
03

In context

Pancreatic Neoplasms

3,235 studies on the registry are indexed under Pancreatic Neoplasms; 899 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 18 is below the median of 200 across 620 observational studies indexed under Pancreatic Neoplasms.

Browse Pancreatic Neoplasms studies →

Lead sponsor

Duke University is the lead sponsor of 2,025 studies on the registry; 275 are open to participants now.

Of its 194 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 159 (82%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

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Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 90 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

Patients with biopsy-proven, or radiographically evident, resectable pancreatic head cancer who are found to have low-volume hepatic metastases at time of pancreaticoduodenectomy.

Inclusion criteria

  • Subject must be at least 18 years of age and at least the minimum Age of Majority according to applicable State or Country Law
  • Subject is a surgical candidate, (i.e., is able to undergo general anesthesia and surgical resection for diagnosis of cancer)
  • The Hepatobiliary Multidisciplinary Committee (HDMC) must approved of this intervention.
  • Insurance pre-authorization must be received unless the subject decides to pay out of pocket..
  • Subject has been informed of the study procedures and the treatment and has signed an informed consent form
  • less than or equal to 3 liver lesions

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Subject is not a suitable candidate for surgical intervention
  • The Hepatobiliary Multidisciplinary Committee (HDMC) disapproves of this intervention.
  • Insurance will not cover the procedure or subject not willing to pay out of pocket.
  • Pregnant women
  • Non-English speaking Subjects
05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
18 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • PAC with LVLM

    Patients with pancreatic cancer and low-volume liver metastasis

    Procedure: Hepatic Resection or Ablation with Pancreaticoduodenectomy

Interventions

  • ProcedureHepatic Resection or Ablation with Pancreaticoduodenectomy

    Patients will undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy, or the Whipple procedure, which involves removal of the head of the pancreas, the duodenum, and a portion of the stomach, as well as the gallbladder and a portion of the bile duct. The patient will also undergo a Hepatectomy, the surgical resection or removal of all or part of the liver or Microwave Ablation (MWA) if determined by the surgeon to be the best course of care.

    Also known as: Whipple, Hepatectomy, Microwave Ablation

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What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. 90-day mortality

    Number of deaths within 90 days of operation

    Time frame: 90 days postoperatively

  2. Disease Progression

    Time to disease progression

    Time frame: up to 1 year postoperatively

  3. Overall Survival

    Number of months until death

    Time frame: up to 1 year postoperatively

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative length of stay

    Number of days in the hospital post-surgery

    Time frame: 90 days postoperatively

  2. Frequency of pancreatic leak

    Number of leaks (Types A, B, C and bile)

    Time frame: 1-2 weeks postoperatively

  3. Readmission to hospital

    Number of patients readmitted to the hospital post-operatively

    Time frame: 90 days postoperatively

  4. Margin status

    Number of patients with positive margins

    Time frame: 90 days postoperatively

  5. Lymph node status

    Number of positive lymph nodes

    Time frame: 90 days postoperatively

  6. Time to Adjuvant therapy

    Length of time to treatment after surgery

    Time frame: Up to 5 years postoperatively

  7. OR time

    Length of time in the OR during surgery

    Time frame: 1-2 days

  8. Intraoperative estimated blood loss

    Amount of blood loss during surgery in milliliters

    Time frame: 1-2 days

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Study locations

1 site
  • Duke University Health System
    Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
08

References and documents

Publications

  • Argentiero A, Calabrese A, Sciacovelli AM, Delcuratolo S, Solimando AG, Brunetti O. Complete Response of Synchronous Liver Metastasis in a Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma, When Surgery Could Represent a Therapeutic Option. Can J Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2020 Oct 9;2020:8679751. doi: 10.1155/2020/8679751. eCollection 2020. PubMed 33102398 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

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Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Aug 27, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
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Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02892305
Lead sponsor
Duke University
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Sep 8, 2016
Start date
May 18, 2018
Primary completion
May 17, 2023
Completion
Jun 30, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 27, 2026

Study contacts

Sabino Zani, MD
principal investigator · Duke Health

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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