A study looking at blood, urine and tissue samples to help diagnose pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas and bile duct cancer (ADEPTS)

Cancer type:

Bile duct cancer
Biliary tree cancers
Neuroendocrine tumour (NET)
Pancreatic cancer

Status:

Open

Phase:

Phase 2
In this study, doctors and researchers want to look at blood, urine and tissue samples from people who have symptoms similar to those with:
  • pancreatic cancer
  • neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the pancreas
  • bile duct cancer 
In most cases such symptoms are caused by many other benign conditions. But it is important to make sure that those that are due to cancer, are diagnosed early. 
 
They hope the results of this study will help them develop new tests to diagnose pancreatic cancer and NETs of the pancreas at an early stage. 
 
This study was formerly known as TRANSBIL. 
 

More about this trial

Your GP arranges for you to see a specialist if you have symptoms that could be due to pancreatic cancer, neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the pancreas or bile duct cancer. Possible symptoms include:
  • tummy (abdominal) pain
  • a swollen tummy
  • loss of appetite
  • weight loss
  • jaundice (yellowing of the skin) Open a glossary item
You may be referred to a team of doctors that specialises in problems of the gut (gastroenterology clinic). In some hospitals you might see a specialist at a rapid diagnostic centre (RDC). These are centres for people with symptoms that could be due to cancer and need to have rapid investigations (fast track). 
 
Your specialist doctor may arrange for you to have tests such as a CT scan to look for the cause of your symptoms.
 
Doctors are always looking for better ways to diagnose people with pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer or NETs of the pancreas. In this study, they want to look at blood, urine and tissue samples from people with symptoms that could be due to cancer. Doctors want to:
  • look for certain proteins (biomarkers Open a glossary item)
  • find out why some people are more likely to develop cancer than others (genetic predisposition)

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. 
 
You may be able to join this study if you are at least 18 years old. And at least one of following applies. You:
  • have symptoms that could be due to pancreatic cancer, pancreatic NETs or bile duct cancer
  • have been referred to the rapid diagnostic centre, gastroenterology clinic or endoscopy unit 
  • have a high risk of developing pancreatic cancer (your doctor can tell you more about this)  
  • are going to have an operation for a suspected pancreatic cancer, bile duct cancer or pancreatic NET
You cannot join this study if you have cancer that has spread from where it started to other parts of the body (metastatic) or if you have already started chemotherapy treatment. 

Trial design

The study team hopes that up to 2,500 people will agree to take part. 
 
Everyone taking part has blood tests and gives a urine sample when they join the study. 
 
As part of your routine care, you may have a test to look at the inside of your tummy (abdomen). It might be an endoscopy, endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) Open a glossary item or an endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). If you have one of these tests, your doctor might ask to take an extra tissue sample (biopsy Open a glossary item) during the test.  
 
The trial team will keep your blood, urine and tissue sample for up to 10 years. They might use it in future research studies. The information about you will be anonymised so no one will be able to identify you. 
 
Questionnaires
You complete a questionnaire when you join this study. The questionnaire asks about your symptoms and general questions about your medical history. It also asks about your family members medical history. 
 
If you have a family history of pancreatic cancer
The study team will also invite people who have a family history of pancreatic cancer to take part.
 
They ask people with a family history of pancreatic cancer to:
  • complete a questionnaire
  • have blood and urine tests
  • give tissue samples if they have an endoscopy

Hospital visits

When possible, you give the blood, urine and tissue samples during routine appointments at the hospital. 

If you are part of the group of people with a family history of pancreatic cancer, you visit the hospital every 6 months, for up to 2 years.

Side effects

You should not have any side effects from taking part in this study.

Location

Liverpool
London

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.

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Questions to ask your doctor about clinical trials
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Professor Stephen Pereira

Supported by

UCLH Cancer Collaborative
Pancreatic Cancer UK
Fiorina Pancreatic Cancer Fund (Royal Free Charity)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: North Thames

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

15401

Print page
Questions to ask your doctor about clinical trials
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Last reviewed:

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