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RecruitingNCT03492151CLIMBUpdated Aug 22, 2025

Confocal Laser Endomicroscopy as an Imaging Biomarker for the Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cystic Lesions

An observational study in Pancreatic Cyst, sponsored by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. Recruiting at 10 sites in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2025-08-22.

Sponsored by Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
500
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The study schema is shown in Figure 4. (A) All patients referred to one of the participating academic centers for EUS evaluation of the PCL will be enrolled in the protocol if they satisfy inclusion criteria. Patient consent will be obtained during the clinic visit or prior to their EUS. EUS-guided nCLE imaging is first performed (B) followed by EUS-guided FNA and aspiration of cyst fluid. The cyst fluid is analyzed for CEA and cytology. As per institutional standard of care, the cyst fluid is also sent for molecular analysis. The results of the cyst fluid molecular analysis (B) will be utilized for the most likely diagnosis. Based on institutional multidisciplinary tumor board meetings, surgery is performed as indicated (C). Surgical histopathology serves as "gold standard" for diagnosis. It is anticipated that the majority of patients will undergo surgical resection after their EUS.

02

Conditions studied

  • Pancreatic Cyst

Keywords

  • Confocal laser endomicroscopy
  • pancreatic cancer
  • IPMN
03

Who can participate

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

Study population

Subjects for this study will be identified from patients referred for diagnostic EUS-FNA of PCLs for a non-study indication by a physician responsible for their care (i.e., gastroenterologists, oncologists, general internists, and surgeons) either at the primary study center.

Inclusion criteria

  • Patient age 18 years or older
  • All patients referred for EUS-FNA of accessible PCL where surgery is contemplated
  • Minimum cyst size should be ≥ 2.0 cm as determined by prior cross-sectional imaging studies

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Unable to obtain informed consent
  • Unable to tolerate the procedure
  • Women with known pregnancy at time of procedure
  • Patient age less than 18 years
  • Bleeding diathesis
  • Known allergy to fluorescein
  • Prior pancreatic cancer
  • Prior pancreatic surgery
04

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Prospective
Enrollment
500 participants (estimated)
Patient registry
No
Biospecimen retention
None retained
05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Accuracy of PCL diagnosis

    Diagnostic accuracy of confocal laser endomicroscopy and/or cyst fluid molecular markers and/or composite clinical and imaging features for the diagnosis of mucinous PCLs, PCLs with malignant potential, specific PCL types, and mucinous PCLs with advanced neoplasia.

    Time frame: 48 months

  2. Accuracy of risk-stratification of IPMNs

    Diagnostic accuracy of confocal laser endomicroscopy and/or composite clinical and imaging features for the risk stratification of IPMNs

    Time frame: 48 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. Imaging quality

    Optimal quality of imaging obtained during in vivo confocal laser endomicroscopy of pancreatic cystic lesions

    Time frame: 48 months

06

Study locations

9 of 10 sites recruiting
  • Mayo Clinic Scottsdale Campus
    Scottsdale, Arizona 85259, United States
    Recruiting
  • Stanford Hospital
    Stanford, California 94305, United States
    Recruiting
  • Yale School of Medicine
    New Haven, Connecticut 06510, United States
    Recruiting
  • Parkview Hospital Randallia
    Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805, United States
    Active, not recruiting
  • The Johns Hopkins Hospital
    Baltimore, Maryland 21287, United States
    • Kylie Ning · Contact · kning2@jhu.edu
    • Anne Marie Lennon · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
    Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
    Recruiting
  • NYU Langone Health
    Garden City, New York 11530, United States
    • Maria Marotta-Kollarus · Contact · Maria.Kollarus@nyulangone.org
    • Jessica Widmer, MD · Sub investigator
    • Tomas Gonda, MD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
  • Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    New York, New York 10029, United States
    Recruiting
  • The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
    Columbus, Ohio 43210, United States
    Recruiting
  • Baylor College of Medicine
    Houston, Texas 77030, United States
    • Chandra Kovvali · Contact · ckovvali@bcm.edu · 713-798-2308
    • Mohamed Othman, MD · Principal investigator
    Recruiting
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Firkins SA, Chen W, Krishna SG. Morphologic and Microscopic Characterization of an Unusual Pancreatic Cystic Lesion. Gastroenterology. 2021 May;160(6):e14-e16. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2020.09.046. Epub 2020 Oct 8. No abstract available. PubMed 33039474 ↗

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03492151
Lead sponsor
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Collaborators
American College of Gastroenterology, The National Pancreas Foundation
Responsible party
Somashekar Krishna (Principal Investigator, Ohio State University) — Principal investigator
First posted
Apr 10, 2018
Start date
Oct 1, 2018
Primary completion
Dec 31, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Dec 31, 2026 (estimated)
Last update
Aug 22, 2025

Study contacts

Megan Fry
Contact
Megan.Fry@osumc.edu
614-293-1056
Diana Burke
Contact
Diana.Burke@osumc.edu
Somashekar Krishna, MD, MPH
principal investigator · Ohio State University

Oversight

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

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