The Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth runs research studies and clinical trials covering every phase of patient diagnosis, treatment and care. The goal is to improve patient outcomes and quality of life for patients with pancreatic cancer.

Clinical trials are vital if we are to improve the survival rate for patients with pancreatic cancer. But what are they?

Types of research include:

  • observational studies that collect data on a disease's trajectory to better understand it.
  • interventional clinical trials to determine whether an experimental treatment is safe and effective.

The main goal of clinical trials is to see if discoveries made during the research phase are better than current treatment options.

For clinical trials, volunteer participation is essential. Results from trials will help determine if new treatments for pancreatic cancer work and if there are side effects. They're also an effective way for patients to gain access to the latest treatment options.

When deciding if you want to take part in a clinical trial, you need to be aware of what the trial involves. You should also seek advice from your specialist before taking part. At Epworth, there are a number of clinical studies open to people with pancreatic cancer and are listed below.

Pancreatic cancer research at the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth

Current clinical trials and special access schemes

Listing updated: 02 May 2023

Want to join or refer a patient to a clinical trial at the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth?

Get in touch

 

DIRECT-InspIRE

A Multicentre, Open-label, Innovation Study in Pancreatic Cancer Utilising the NanoKnife® System for Irreversible Electroporation (IRE) in Unresectable Stage 3 Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma.

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator

Unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

(Stage III)

Neo-adj

NCT03899636

Recruiting

Epworth Freemasons

 Mr Brett Knowles
  • Eligibility
    • Patients with unresectable stage 3 pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
    • Newly diagnosed and has only received single line of chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine-based) for at least 3 months but no more than 6 months prior to enrolment
    • Maximum axial tumour dimension of ≤3.5cm after receiving 3 to 6 months of chemotherapy

    Exclusion:

    • Have evidence of disease progression
    • Have undergone radiation therapy/surgical resection/IRE treatment
    • Patients with implanted cardiac pacemakers, defibrillators or any electronic/implanted devices with metal parts in the thoracic cavity at time of IRE
    • Patients with history of epilepsy or other neurological disease

ASCEND

A randomised, double-blinded phase II study of gemcitabine and nab‐paclitaxel with CEND‐1 or placebo in patients with untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma.

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator

Metastatic pancreatic cancer

(Stage IV)

1st line

ACTRN12621001290886

Recruiting

Epworth Freemasons

Epworth Richmond

 Dr Ross Jennens
  • Details and eligibility

    CEND-1 is a novel cyclic tumour‐penetrating peptide iRGD (internalising Arginylglycylaspartic acid) which may overcome poor drug delivery by increasing vascular permeability of tumour vessels to treatment.

    • Metastatic pancreatic cancer suitable for first-line gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy
    • ECOG 0 or 1
    • Availability of sufficient tissue for further testing (core biopsy of primary or metastasis). FNA not accepted.

ACCENT

A phase 1b/2a, multicentre, open label study of the pharmacokinetics, safety and efficacy of AMP945 in combination with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer patients.

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator

Metastatic pancreatic cancer

(Stage IV)

1st line

NCT05355298

Recruiting

Epworth Richmond

Epworth Freemasons

Epworth Eastern

 A/Prof Sumitra Ananda
  • Eligibility
    • Advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (metastatic or locally advanced)
    • Eligible for treatment with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine as standard of care therapy
    • ECOG 0 or 1

SPEAR

A phase 2, open-label, single-arm sulfasalazine monotherapy trial of progression-free survival in patients with pancreatic adenocarcinoma

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator

Locally advanced unresectable or metastatic pancreatic cancer

(Stage IV)

2nd and 3rd line

ACTRN12621001347853

Recruiting

Epworth Richmond

Epworth Freemasons 

 Dr Allan Zimet
  • Eligibility
    • Disease must have progressed after one line of standard fluoropyrimidine- or gemcitabine-based chemotherapy for advanced disease. Treatment break within the upfront chemotherapy regimen is considered the same line of therapy and is permitted.
    • One line of systemic therapy for advanced disease. Patients who have had two lines of systemic therapy or are intolerant of second-line treatment may be eligible after consultation with the study Chief Investigators.

    Exclusion:

    • Uncontrolled diabetes (HbA1c>10% in previous 3 weeks)
    • Uncontrolled hypertension (SBP>180mmHg or DBP>105mmHg)
    • NYHA Class III or IV heart failure 
    • Major surgery OR radiation therapy OR participation in other investigational products within 28 days prior to commencement of this study 

OncoSil

Radiotherapy with injection of P32 radiation particles.

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Contact

Unresectable locally advanced pancreatic cancer

(Stage III)

Special access scheme

Taking referrals

Epworth Richmond 

A/Prof Andrew Metz

Dr Peter Tagkalidis

DYNAMIC-Pancreas

Circulating Tumour DNA Analysis Informing Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Early Stage Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicentre Randomised Study.

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator

Resectable pancreatic cancer 

(Stage I-II)

1st line

ACTRN12618000335291

Completed recruitment

Epworth Freemasons

Epworth Richmond

 Dr Ross Jennens
  • Eligibility
    • Patients who have undergone complete resection of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas
    • Tumour sample is available for molecular testing up to 6 weeks after surgery
    • Patients who are fit for adjuvant chemotherapy

    Exclusion:

    • Patients with TNM stage IV disease
    • History of another primary cancer within the last 3 years

YH003004

A phase II, multi-center, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of YH003 in combination with Toripalimab (anti-PD-1 mAb) in patients with unresectable/metastatic melanoma and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Diagnosis; Line Trial ID and Status Locations Principal Investigator 

Metastatic pancreatic cancer 

(Stage IV)

1st and 2nd line

NCT04481009

Completed recruitment

Epworth Freemasons

Epworth Richmond

 A/Prof Sumitra Ananda

Current research studies 

These studies may ask participants for permission to store their cancer sample, or take part in non-treatment research. Please get in touch using the online form, email or phone listed on the contact us page to take part in advancing research.  

Diagnosis Project ID and Status  Study Details  Locations  Contact 
Planned to receive surgery

EH2022-825

Recruiting

Pre-OP Dietetic Clinic

Pre-operative Upper Gastrointestinal Surgical Oncology Dietetic Clinic

 Epworth Richmond Ms Carmel Zoanetti 
Individuals at high risk of developing pancreatic cancer (based on demographics and family history) EH2021-666

Recruiting		 APCSP

The Australian Pancreatic Cancer Screening Program: Screening for pancreatic cancer in high risk individuals		 All Epworth sites A/Prof Andrew Metz 
Suspected diagnosis of pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma EH689-15

Recruiting		 VPCB

The Victorian Pancreatic Cancer Biobank		 Epworth Richmond Dr Peter Tagkalidis
Suspected diagnosis of pancreatic or colorectal cancer EH2019-481

Recruiting		 Organoid Biobank

Establishing biobanks of colorectal and pancreatic cancer models for the pursuit of personalised therapies		 Epworth Richmond Mr Brett Knowles 
Pancreatic cancer

EH2021-694

Closed

 EU-ME-PC

The Endoscopic Ultrasound Molecular Evaluation of Pancreatic Cancer (EU-ME-PC): A Prospective Multicentre Cohort Trial		 All Epworth sites Dr Allan Zimet 
Pancreatic cancer Recruiting MoST

Molecular Screening and Therapeutics program		 All Epworth sites A/Prof Andrew Metz 
Unresectable pancreatic cancer EH2020-661

Recruiting		 OSCILLATE

An Observational Study following Circulating tumour DNA during multi-Agent Therapy in PDAC (OSCILLATE): a hypothesis-generating, prospective cohort study		 Epworth Freemasons
Epworth Richmond
Epworth Eastern		 Dr Allan Zimet
Primary carer of patient with pancreatic cancer EH2021-729

Recruiting
 
 PRoCESS

Pancreatic Cancer Relatives Counselling and Education Support Service trial. Assessing the effect of nurse-led counselling on participant-reported outcomes and use of medical services.		 All Epworth sites A/Prof Andrew Metz
Newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer New study

Recruiting
 
 PATHWAYS

Pancreatic cancer pathways to diagnosis		 All Epworth sites A/Prof Andrew Metz

Databases and registries

These projects ask participants for permission to record treatment data to build better knowledge of pancreatic cancer care. Please get in touch using the online form, email or phone details on the contact us page if you see you or your patient’s diagnosis listed below.

Diagnosis Project ID and Status  Study Details  Locations  Contact 
Newly diagnosed upper GI cancer EH2017-227

Recruiting		 UGICR

Upper Gastrointestinal Cancer Registry		 Epworth Freemasons
Epworth Richmond
Epworth Eastern		 Mr Brett Knowles
Newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer ACTRN12617001474347 


Recruiting		 PURPLE

Pancreatic cancer: Understanding Routine Practice and Lifting End Results. A Prospective Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Registry		 Epworth Freemasons
Epworth Richmond
Epworth Eastern		 A/Prof Rachel Wong
Intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm (PPMN) EH2021-731

Recruiting		 IPMN

IPMN Database – A tool to predict pancreatic cancer		 Epworth Eastern A/Prof Andrew Metz
Pancreatic cancer EH2021-768

New study

Recruiting		 PAN-ExPERT

Pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy in pancreatic cancer: An implementation strategy		 Epworth Richmond Mr Mark Cullinan
Pancreatic or oesophageal cancer Recruiting PROpatient

PROpatient - A registry-based randomised controlled trial (RRCT) of symptom monitoring, using patient-reported outcomes		 All Epworth sites Mr Brett Knowles

Phone: 03 9426 8880
Email: [email protected]

Need help?

Talk to our pancreatic nurse coordinator 

Your pancreatic nurse coordinator will be your first point of contact during your treatment journey at Epworth. They will be able to provide answers to any questions that your or your family may have.
Request form

Request for support for a clinical research study 

GP referral

Get referred

Once referred to the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth, you will have an appointment to see one of our experienced specialists within 72 hours.

Navigation