Description Module
The Description Module contains narrative descriptions of the clinical trial, including a brief summary and detailed description. These descriptions provide important information about the study's purpose, methodology, and key details in language accessible to both researchers and the general public.
Description Module path is as follows:
Study -> Protocol Section -> Description Module
Description Module
Ignite Creation Date:
2025-12-25 @ 4:46 AM
Ignite Modification Date:
2025-12-25 @ 4:46 AM
NCT ID:
NCT01713218
Brief Summary:
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has one of the worst prognoses of all human cancers and is considered as a sanctuary, resistant to most of the drugs used. Identification of new molecular targets involved in its pathogenesis is urgently needed and required both proper and innovative efficacy assessment.
This proof-of-concept trial is studying the "dynamic" tumor response after the administration of a short course (4 weeks) neoadjuvant combination of gemcitabine and a Hedgehog inhibitor (Vismodegib) before surgery in patients with operable pancreatic cancer.
Detailed Description:
Pancreatic cancer is characterized by a high stromal density and is a hypoperfused tumor, precluding cytotoxics delivery to the epithelial tumoral compartment. There is thus a rationale for combining chemotherapy and antistromal drugs like Hedgehog inhibitors. Targeting the resectable primary tumor offers an appropriate setting to (1) evaluate and monitor early treatment effects on the tumor, (2) correlate dynamic imaging changes (perfusion and diffusion coefficient) to pre- and post-therapeutic tissue changes, (3) identify specific predictive biomarkers for the drugs used (i.e. gemcitabine transporters and Hedgehog pathway genes and proteins) and (4) assess if this early "dynamic and biomolecular response" can predict treatment benefit and patient outcome.
Study:
NCT01713218
Study Brief:
Protocol Section:
NCT01713218