Last year in the UK over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials aimed at improving cancer treatments and making them available to all.
A study looking at blood, urine and tissue samples to help diagnose pancreatic cancer and neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas (ADEPTS)
Cancer type:
Neuroendocrine tumour (NET)
Pancreatic cancer
Status:
Open
Phase:
Phase 2
In this study, doctors want to look at blood, urine and tissue samples from people who have symptoms similar to those with:
- pancreatic cancer
- neuroendocrine tumour of the pancreas
In most cases such symptoms are caused by other 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 neuroendocrine tumours of the pancreas.
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 or neuroendocrine tumours (NETs) of the pancreas. Possible symptoms include:
- tummy (abdominal) pain
- a swollen tummy
- loss of appetite
- weight loss
- jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
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 multidisciplinary diagnostic centre (MDC). These are centres for people with symptoms that could be due to cancer.
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 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)
- 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 or pancreatic NETs
- have been referred to the multidisciplinary 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 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).
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.
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) 
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 ) during the test.
or an endoscopic retrograde cholangio pancreatography (ERCP). If you have one of these tests, your doctor might ask to take an extra tissue sample () during the test. About 3 months after of your first visit, you have another blood 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 removed from the samples. 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 you.
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
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.
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Chief Investigator
Professor Steve Pereira
Supported by
UCLH Cancer Collaborative
Pancreatic Cancer UK
Fiorina Pancreatic Cancer Fund (Royal Free Charity)
NIHR Clinical Research Network: North Thames
Questions about cancer? Contact our information nurses
Freephone 0808 800 4040
Last review date
CRUK internal database number:
15401
Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.
Over 60,000 cancer patients enrolled on clinical trials in the UK last year.
Last reviewed:
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