A study looking at whether an MRI scan can pick up early spread of pancreatic cancer

Please note - this trial is no longer recruiting patients. We hope to add results when they are available.

Cancer type:

Pancreatic cancer

Status:

Closed

Phase:

Other

This study is using an MRI scan to look for areas of cancer spread (metastases) outside the pancreas. It is for people who are going to have an operation called Whipple’s operation for pancreatic cancer.

Everyone taking part is having treatment at the Bristol Royal Infirmary hospital.

More about this trial

Surgery is the main treatment for early pancreatic cancer. Your surgeon removes:

part of the pancreas
the first part of the small bowel (duodenum)
the gallbladder
part of the stomach

This type of surgery is called a Whipple’s operation. But a Whipple’s operation isn’t helpful if the cancer has already spread outside the pancreas.

You usually have a CT scan before surgery to look for areas of cancer spread outside the pancreas. But the scan doesn’t always show small areas of cancer spread.

In this study, doctors are looking at a type of MRI scan called diffusion weighted MRI scan. They think it may be better than the CT scan at picking up areas of cancer spread outside the pancreas and help doctors decide who needs to have a Whipple’s operation.

The main aim of this study is to find out if a diffusion weighted MRI scan can tell whether the cancer has spread outside the pancreas.

Who can enter

The following bullet points list the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you.

Who can take part

You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You:

have pancreatic cancer and are going to have a Whipple’s operation
are well enough to have a general anaesthetic
are at least 18 years old

Who can’t take part

You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:

are going to have an operation to remove the whole of the pancreas (total pancreatectomy) or the tail of the pancreas (distal pancreatectomy)
are not able to have an MRI for any reason, for example you have metal implants such as a pacemaker, surgical clips, implants or you have a fear of being in closed spaces (claustrophobia)
weigh more than 140 kg (22 stones)

Trial design

Researchers need about 30 people going to the Bristol Royal Infirmary hospital to take part in this study.

You have a diffusion weighted MRI scan 2 weeks before surgery. This is similar to a normal MRI scan but takes a little longer. It takes about 45 minutes in total. You have the MRI scan at the Clinical Research Imaging Centre Bristol.

You also have a CT scan before surgery. This is the same as the standard treatment.

Taking part in this study does not affect the operation you have. This is the same as if you were not in the study. Your doctor will explain your treatment and what to expect.

Hospital visits

You need to visit the Clinical Research Imaging Centre Bristol to have the MRI scan. The scan takes about 45 minutes.

Side effects

MRI scans are very safe and the study team don’t think you will have any side effects from it.

The MRI scan can pick up problems that you might not be aware of. The team will tell you about the problems if this happens. Your GP can arrange for other tests or treatments if necessary.

We have more information about MRI scans.