A study looking at using circulating tumour cells to diagnose pancreatic cancer
Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.
Cancer type:
Status:
Phase:
This study is looking at using circulating tumour cells to try and diagnose pancreatic cancer early. Cancer cells, or parts of them, may break off from the pancreatic cancer and flow around the blood stream. These are called circulating tumour cells (CTCs).
The aim of this study is to develop a test that can detect CTCs of pancreatic cancer so that it can be diagnosed at an early stage.
Who can enter
The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. If you are unsure about any of these speak with your doctor or the study team. They will be able to advise you.
You may be able to join this study if you are at least 18 years old and have one of the following
- A type of pancreatic cancer called
adenocarcinoma 
- Stomach cancer that has grown into the surrounding tissue or spread to another part of the body
- Cancer of the food pipe (oesophagus)
- Bowel cancer
- Breast cancer that has grown into the surrounding tissue or spread to another part of the body
- Prostate cancer
- Lung cancer
You cannot join this study if you have HIV, hepatitis B or hepatitis C.
Trial design
The researchers need 250 people with pancreatic cancer and 650 people with other medical conditions, including other cancers, to join.
Your doctor or a nurse will tell you about the study when you go to your regular outpatient clinic appointment.
Everyone will have a blood sample taken. For some people they will ask them to give a number of blood samples on different clinic visits.
The team will also ask 100 healthy staff members of the hospital to volunteer.
The researchers are looking at the blood from these different groups of people so that they can compare the results and to make sure that using the test for people with pancreatic cancer will work and be useful.
Hospital visits
There are no extra visits if you agree to take part.
Side effects
You may have slight bleeding or discomfort from where the researcher takes the blood sample.
Recruitment start:
Recruitment end:
How to join a clinical trial
Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.
Chief Investigator
Andrew Gilliam
Supported by
Astrimmune
NIHR Clinical Research Network: Cancer
Paraytec
SBRI Healthcare
If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
