Comparison of Traditional Back-loaded Fiducial Needles With Preloaded Fiducial Needles in EUS-guided Fiducial Marker Placement for Image-guided Radiation Therapy in Patients With Pancreatic Cancer: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial.
Phase: NA
Conditions: Pancreatic Cancer
Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

COMIRB Protocol #14-1711 
PI: Sachin Wani MD 
Version Date: 01/23/2019 
 
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COMIRB PROPOSAL FOR: 
 
Comparison of traditional back-loaded fiducial needles with preloaded fiducial needles in 
EUS-guided fiducial marker placement for image-guided radiation therapy in patients 
with pancreatic cancer: A multicenter randomized controlled trial. 
 
NCT02332863 
Date: 01/23/2019 
 
Investigators: 
Sachin Wani MD 
Joshua Obuch MD  
 Jason Klapman MD 
Jorge Machicado MD 
 
Co-Investigators:  
Mihir Wagh MD 
Raj Shah MD 
Brian Brauer MD 
Hazem Hammad MD 
Steve Edmundowicz MD 
Tracey Schefter MD 
Karyn Goodman MD 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
             
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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PROTOCOL SUMMARY:  
Title 
Comparison of traditional back-loaded fiducial needles with preloaded fiducial 
needles in EUS-guided fiducial marker placement for image-guided radiation 
therapy in patients with pancreatic cancer: A multicenter randomized 
controlled trial. 
Design 
Multi-center randomized controlled trial  
Hypothesis 
1) Use of a 22 G preloaded needle for EUS guided fiducial marker placement 
in patients with pancreatic cancer  will be delivered in at least 60%  of the 
procedure time that it takes for  traditional back-loaded 22G needles, 
improving overall procedure efficiency. 
2) Use of a 22 G preloaded needle for EUS guided fiducial marker placement 
in patients with pancreatic cancer will maintain comparable technical 
success and adverse event rates when compared to traditional back-
loaded  22G needles. 
Aims 
1) To compare procedure time of fiducial marker placement using the 22G 
preloaded fiducial needle vs back-loading 3 Visicoil fiducial markers 
using a 22G needle. 
 
2) To compare endpoints of technical success defined as proper 
placement of three fiducial markers in a pancreatic neoplasm with 22G 
needle placement of Visicoil  fiducial markers and 22G needle 
preloaded fiducial markers.  
 
3) To compare adverse event rates in 22G needle placement of Visicoil 
fiducial markers and 22G needle preloaded fiducial markers. 
Primary Endpoints 
To compare the procedure time for placement of 3 fiducial markers 
using the 22G preloaded fiducial needle to the traditional back-
loaded technique using a 22G needle. 
 
To

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Secondary 
Endpoints 
1. Ease of fiducial deployment 
2. EUS visualization of the delivery system needle 
3. EUS visual appearance of fiducials 
4. Visualization as assessed by radiation oncology 
5. Rate of fiducial migration 
6. Ease of passage of delivery system 
7. Inadvertent deployment of fiducial marker 
8. Adverse event rates recorded throughout the study period 
9.   Descriptive comparison of outcomes across sites 
 
Investigators/Co-
Investigators 
and Sites 
1. Sachin Wani, MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
2. Joshua Obuch, MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
3. Jason Klapman, MD and Cynthia Harris, MD 
                  Moffitt Cancer Center 
 
4. Mihir Wagh MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
5. Raj Shah MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
6. Brian Brauer MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
7. Hazem Hammad MD 
            University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
8. Steve Edmundowicz MD 
           University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
9. Tracey Schefter MD 
                 University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus  
 
 
10. Karyn Goodman MD 
                 University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
 
11. Jorge Machicado MD 
                 University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus 
Study Staff 
 
Violette Simon BS MS 
Research Coordinator 
 

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1. INTRODUCTION 
 
1.1. Background and Significance 
 
Pancreatic cancer is the twelfth most common cancer worldwide, with about 45,220 new cases diagnosed 
in the US in 2013 [1,2].  Given its nonspecific subtle presentation, close to 50% of patients with pancreatic 
cancer unfortunately have metastatic disease by the time of their presentation, with average 5-year 
survival of approximately 6% [2]. 
 
Neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy in patients with borderline resectable pancreatic adenocarcinoma 
has become standard of care and is associated with higher rates of complete resection without 
microscopic evidence of residual tumor (R0 resection), lower rates of lymph node positivity, and 
improvement of overall survival in this patient population [3,4].  Radiation therapy to a soft tissue organ 
such as the pancreas can be difficult, as it is not readily visualized radiographically.  In the past, bony 
structures have been used as surrogate markers for approximation of the pancreas.  However, respiratory 
variation can lead to large differences in tumor location leading to suboptimal radiation delivery and 
radiation of healthy tissue.  Thus, image guided radiation therapy (IGRT) is a commonly implemented 
modality for delivering high doses of radiation directed at cancer tissue, while reducing collateral damage 
to adjacent healthy tissue  [5,6].  Fiducials, which are inert radiographic markers typically made from gold 
or carbon, can be placed in and around the tumor to delineate tumor margins to allow for IGRT.  
 
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) has been pivotal in accomplishing IGRT by allowing precise contouring and 
identification of target lesions in the pancreas via placement of fiducials.  This has traditionally been 
accomplished with the use of 19-guage or 22-guage fine needle aspiration (FNA) needles [7-14].   To 
prepare the needle for fiducial placement, one to two fiducials are manually back-loaded into the tip of the 
needle after the stylet has been removed.  Different size fiducials are used for different gauge needles.  In 
order to hold the fiducials within the needle, sterile lubrication or bone wax can be applied [21].  Once the 
pancreatic mass has been targeted, fiducial injection can be accomplished via stylet reinsertion or sterile 
water injection [15,16].   
 
Currently, back-loading the fiducials is the only option for preparing delivery of fiducials via the EUS 
approach.  Difficulties associated with fiducial loading and deployment can increase procedure duration 
due to cumbersome fiducial back-loading, fiducial misplacement & migration, as well as inability to pass 
the fidicual marker through the needle due to endoscope angulation.   
 
Multiple observational studies ranging from 7 to 57 patients have sited a technical success rate of 86-
100% using 19 and/or 22 gauge needles [8,10-14, 17-19], with average procedure time between 7-12 
minutes [12] using the fiducial back-loading technique. 
 
A new mode of fiducial delivery has recently been developed that hopes to circumvent some of the 
technical issues inherent to traditional fiducial marker loading and deployment.  In a feasibility study by 
Draganov et al, a prototype 22-Gauge EUS needle preloaded with four fiducials were used in a porcine 
model to test ease of deployment,  technical success, accuracy, EUS visualization of the needle, fiducial 
visualization on EUS as well as fluoroscopy and CT, as well as time for placement and adverse events.   
Fiducial deployment was successful 95.6% of the time with all 172 fiducial markers deployed on 
predetermined targets.  Using a 5 point Likert scale, needles were deemed easy to pass, relatively easy to 

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deploy, and easily visualized on EUS, with excellent fluoroscopic and CT visualization.  In addition, time 
for deployment was on average less than 60 seconds. 
 
To date, there is no randomized controlled trials comparing total duration of time needed for placement of 
fiducials using the traditional back-loading technique of fiducial markers to the new preloaded needles in 
regards to EUS based fiducial marker placement for IGRT in pancreatic cancer. 
 
1.2 Hypotheses and Endpoints 
 
Hypotheses  
1) Use of a 22 G preloaded needle for EUS guided fiducial marker placement in patients with pancreatic 
cancer  will be delivered in at least 60%  of the procedure time that it takes for  traditional back-loaded 
22G needles, improving overall procedure efficiency. 
2) Use of a 22 G preloaded needle for EUS guided fiducial marker placement in patients with pancreatic 
cancer will maintain comparable technical success and adverse event rates when compared to 
traditional back-loaded  22G needles. 
 
Primary Aims 
1) To compare the procedure time of 22G needle placement of three Visicoil fiducial markers and 22G 
needle preloaded fiducial markers.  
  
Secondary Aims 
1) To compare endpoints of technical success defined as proper placement of three fiducial markers in a 
pancreatic neoplasm in 22G needle placement of Visicoil  fiducial markers and 22G needle preloaded 
fiducial markers.  
 
2)  To compare adverse event rates in 22G needle placement of Visicoil fiducial markers and 22G needle 
preloaded fiducial markers 
 
1.3. Preliminary Studies/Progress Report:  To date, there are no preliminary studies of the above 
proposed study. 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY 

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A. Description of Population to be Enrolled. (Appendix AP1) 
Inclusion Criteria: 
• 
Patients with pathologically confirmed pancreatic cancer referred for IGRT. 
 
Exclusion Criteria: 
• 
Age <18 
• 
Inability to consent 
• 
Known coagulopathy/thrombocytopenia (INR >1.5, platelets <75) 
• 
Patients on antiplatelet/anticoagulant medication that cannot safely be discontinued 5-7 
days prior to the procedure 
• 
Gold allergy 
• 
Current infection       
• 
EUS evidence of vessel interfering with path of fiducial marker 
• 
Pregnancy 
 
B. Study Design and Research Methods: Patients with pancreatic cancer referred for fiducial marker 
placement for IGRT will be eligible for enrollment in the study.  Eligibility of study enrollment will be 
determined prior to the endoscopic evaluation.  Subjects will be contacted via telephone before their 
scheduled visit to inform the subject about the study with a copy of the consent form sent to the subject 
prior to the EUS procedure (please see Appendix AP2 for copy of phone script).  The consent form will 
then be reviewed in person either in the pre-operative endoscopy unit or in the gastrointestinal clinic if pre-
procedure consultation was obtained.  Prior to the patients undergoing EUS evaluation, patients will be 
excluded from the study if they meet any of the exclusion criteria as listed above. All patients who are not 
excluded from the study as outlined above will be eligible for the study.  
 
Patients without a previous diagnosis of pancreatic cancer but are referred for  EUS guided FNA of a   
suspicious for pancreatic malignancy may also be eligible if a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be made 
by an on-site by a cytopathologist, and the stage dictates that they will need IGRT based on clear 
discussion with the radiation oncologist, oncologist and surgeon. In this situation fiducial markers may be 
placed in the same setting.   
 
DESCRIPTION OF THE PROCEDURE (Fig. 1) 
Once the patient is consented for the study, randomization will then be performed using stratified (based 
on location of the tumor – head/neck vs. body/tail) block randomization.  The patients will undergo Linear 
EUS, as previously described by Devila Fejardo et al. and have fiducial marker placement via a traditional 
22G back-loaded needle (Visicoil) [22] or the new 22G preloaded needle (PreLoad4).  Multiple endpoints 
will be recorded, including total length of procedure, how many markers are successfully deployed, and 
technical success (Ease of passage of delivery system, ease of deployment of fiducials, EUS visualization 
of delivery system needle, EUS visual appearance of fiducials, and time for fiducial placement defined as 
starting time of removing the needle from its packaging and ending time as removal of needle after final 
marker deployment).  Procedure time will be recorded by a research assistant at each site. Fiducial 
marker location will be confirmed via fluoroscopy at time of placement and on 4D treatment planning CT 
ordered by the radiation oncologist for simulation. 
 
Patients will be discharged home after post procedure recovery.  Patients will be contacted at home by a 
research coordinator or endoscopy staff 24-48 hours and 7-10 days after the procedure to document any 

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immediate and delayed complications.  Patients will return for their IGRT visit, and any evidence of fiducial 
marker migration will be recorded by the radiation oncologist.   
 
For patients who have preceding diagnostic FNA, this will be recorded, with number of passes/aspiration 
attempts recorded as well. 
 
Endpoints 
Primary endpoints utilized in this study will be:  
• 
To compare procedure time of 22G needle placement of three Visicoil fiducial markers and 22G 
needle preloaded fiducial markers.  
 
 
Secondary endpoints will include: 
• 
Technical success of fiducial marker placement in 22G back-loaded needles and 22G preloaded 
needles defined by proper placement of three fiducial markers in a pancreatic neoplasm. 
• 
Rate of fiducial migration 
• 
Ease of passage of delivery system 
• 
Ease of fiducial deployment 
• 
EUS visual appearance of fiducials  
• 
Visualization as assessed by radiation oncology  
• 
Inadvertent deployment of fiducials 
• 
Adverse event rates recorded throughout the study period  
• Descriptive comparison of outcomes across sites 

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Figure 1- Proposed Study Methods 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22 G Preloaded Needle 
(PreLoad4) 
Patient referred for EUS guided fiducial placement for IGRT/FNA of pancreatic 
mass.  Consented for trial. 
Pancreatic cancer identified on EUS.  Location recorded (Head-Neck and Body-Tail).* 
Stratified Block 
Randomization 
22 G Back-loaded Needle 
(Visicoil) 
Fiducial marker deployment 
Record: 
Total time of procedure 
Successful deployment/number of markers 
Technical success 
Ease of passage of delivery system 
Ease of deployment of fiducials 
EUS visual appearance of fiducials 
Time for fiducial marker placement 
Inadvertent fiducial deployment 
Confirmation of fiducial location on fluoroscopy 
Document Immediate (24-48 hours) 
and late (7-10 days) complications 
Document fiducial placement and 
migration on first and last IGRT visit 
*For patients receiving FNA of 
pancreatic mass, if pancreatic 
malignancy confirmed on real 
time diagnosis by 
cytopathologist, patient will 
proceed to randomization. 
 

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C. Description, Risks, and Justification of Procedures and Data Collection Tools.   
 
Recording of Complications 
Complications will be defined as any deviation from the clinical course after the procedure. All 
adverse event data will be collected during the study period and graded as: 
 
Minor: nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain  
Major: perforation, pancreatitis, major bleeding, infection, transfusion secondary to major bleeding, 
aspiration, arrhythmia, hypotension, death 
 
The investigator at each site will assess each adverse event with respect to severity and relationship to 
the study interventions. Patients will be contacted at 24-48 hours post-procedure by an experienced GI 
nurse to assess for complications post procedure (See Appendix AP5/6). All adverse events (whether 
or not considered device-related) must be reported immediately (within 48 hours) to the study coordinator, 
confirmed in writing by the Investigator and recorded in the Adverse Events section of the case report 
form (CRF). Those adverse events that meet the criteria for a Serious Adverse Event will be reported 
additionally on a Serious Adverse Event CRF. The investigator at each site will make the determination 
regarding reportability of any AE or SAE to their respective IRB.  The University of Colorado will be the 
central site for all SAE reporting at any site within 24 hours of the occurrence.  They will also control 
randomization, and receive/manage AE/SAE reporting and DSMC. A group of PIs at the cancer center 
DSMC will review all reports every 6 months.  SAE reporting will be reviewed within 24 hours, and all sites 
and IRBs (per IRB policy) will be informed within a 12-24 hour period of the event and review regarding 
whether the SAE was thought to be potentially related to the study/new device.   
 
Monitoring and Oversight 
The sponsor investigator will be responsible for monitoring the trial per the trial monitoring plan, in 
addition to overseeing the safety and efficacy of the trial including any specimens collected, 
executing the data and safety monitoring (DSM) plan, and complying with all reporting requirements 
to local and federal authorities. This oversight will be accomplished through additional oversight 
from the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) at the University of Colorado Cancer 
Center (CU Cancer Center).  The DSMC is responsible for ensuring data quality and study 
participant safety for all clinical studies at the CU Cancer Center, which is the coordinating institution 
of this trial.   A summary of the DSMC’s activities is as follows: 
• Conduct of internal audits 
• Ongoing review of all unanticipated adverse device effects, serious adverse events (SAEs), 
unanticipated problems (UAPs) and reportable adverse events (AEs) 
• Has the authority to close and/or suspend trials for safety or trial conduct issues 
• May submit recommendations for corrective actions to the CU Cancer Center’s Executive 
Committee 
 
Per the CU Cancer Center Institutional DSM Plan, SAEs, UAPs and reportable AEs are reported to 
the DSMC, IRB and the sponsor investigator per protocol.  All SAEs, UAPs and reportable AEs 
including unanticipated adverse device effects are to be reported to the DSMC within 5 business 
days of the sponsor investigator receiving notification of the occurrence. 

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Each subject’s treatment outcomes will be discussed by the site PI and appropriate staff at regularly 
scheduled meetings.  Data regarding number of subjects, adverse device effects, treatment 
modifications and treatment responses will be discussed and documented in the meeting’s minutes. 
The sponsor investigator is responsible for organizing and conducting regularly scheduled 
teleconferences with all participating sites.  The sponsor investigator will also be responsible for 
including data from all of the participating sites to include the minutes from these regularly 
scheduled teleconferences between the sponsor investigator and the sites within the overall trial’s 
six month DSM report. 
The sponsor investigator will provide a DSM report to the CU Cancer Center DSMC on a six month 
basis. The DSM report will include a protocol summary; current enrollment numbers; summary of 
adverse device effects to include specific unanticipated adverse device effects, SAEs, UAPs and 
AEs; any treatment modifications; all protocol deviations; and protocol amendments.  The DSM 
report submitted to the DSMC will also include, if applicable, the results of any efficacy data analysis 
conducted.  Results and recommendations from the review of this six month report by the DSMC 
will then be provided to the sponsor investigator in a DSMC review letter.  The sponsor investigator 
is then responsible for ensuring this letter is submitted to the site’s IRB of record at the time of IRB 
continuing review. 
 
Quality Control and Quality Assurance 
Site monitoring visits will be performed by the sponsor investigator’s authorized representative on a 
regular basis, pursuant to the Monitoring Plan. During these visits, information recorded on the 
CRFs will be verified against source documents.  Additional computer programs that identify 
selected protocol deviations, out-of-range data, and other data errors within the electronic data entry 
may also be used to help monitor the study.  As necessary, requests for data clarification or 
correction will be sent to the appropriate site PI. 
Independent auditors from the sponsor investigator’s authorized representative will be allowed by 
the site’s PI to audit.  In addition, audits may be conducted at any time by appropriate regulatory 
authorities and/or the IRB. 
 
 
Data Collection 
• 
Demographic data collection  (Appendix AP3) 
o Age 
o Sex 
o BMI 
o Tumor location and size 
 
• 
Likert Scale for technical evaluation (Appendix AP4) 
• 
Adverse event collection (immediate/delayed complications- Appendix AP5/6) 
 
At UCD, eligible patients who consent to the study will have their data captured in a password protected 
database through Redcap.  Protected Health Information will be de-identified after extraction, and each 
subject assigned a unique random number. This database will be stored in a password-protected 
database, in a password-protected folder on the secure server behind the UCD firewall.  The information 
will, at all times, only be able to be accessed by the primary investigator and co-investigators.  All study 
personnel have completed HIPAA and CITI training in human subjects’ research.  In order to de-identify 
patients from their health information a spreadsheet will be created that assigns a number to each patient.  
The legend will be stored separately in a password-protected folder for patient numbers.  Once the data 

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collection is complete the spreadsheet containing the names and numbers will be destroyed. The de-
identified information will be stored on a secure server behind the UCD firewall and will be password 
protected. 
  
Regarding multicenter data, any institutional data will be shared via encrypted email to the primary site 
(UCD).  At UCD, the Case Report Forms will be reviewed by UCD's investigators and study coordinators 
periodically throughout the conduct of the trial to review adverse events 
 
 
D. Potential Scientific Problems.   
Factors that could threaten our ability to obtain meaningful generalizable knowledge from this study would 
be lack of patient followup to reevaluate fiducial marker location.  However, as patients are having this 
procedure performed for cancer therapy, it is unlikely that there will be a large proportion of patients who 
are lost to followup. 
 
E. Data Analysis Plan.  This section should include: 
 
For Quantitative analyses:  
i)  Statistical Analysis: Categorical variables will be summarized with counts and percentages 
whereas continuous covariates will be summarized with means and standard deviations (SD). 
For evaluation of the demographic data a Fisher’s exact test or Mann-Whitney U test will be 
performed as applicable.  
 
ii) Success rates for each of the two arms will be calculated as a proportion of number of 
successfully deployed fiducial markers over the total number of patients in whom this was 
attempted within the study population. This will be reported as a percentage. Comparison of 
successful deployment of fiducial markers by two comparative groups will be performed by 
Fisher’s exact test. Similarly, comparison between the two arms will be performed for technical 
success, procedure time, adverse event rate, rate of migration, ease of fiducial deployment, 
and visualization of needle and fiducials via EUS and CT by using Fisher’s exact test. When 
data is ordinal, comparisons will be made using Mann-Whitney U test.  
 
Sample Size: 
 
Sample size calculated for the primary aim showed that in order to detect that the PreLoad4 device can 
be delivered in at least  60% of the time it takes to deliver a fiducial marker by back-loading, for an 80% 
power and alpha of 0.05 (two-sided) a minimum of  20 patients will be required in each arm. 
 
Randomization: 
Patients will undergo central block randomization (5 blocks of 4 per stratified arm at each 
center) stratified based on tumor location (head/neck vs. body/tail).  This will be performed by 
a computerized binary number generator at the University of Colorado, who will control 
randomization for all sites. The arm that the patient will be randomized to will be determined 
by the above process and with the use of opaque sealed envelopes.  
  
 
 
 

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F. Summarize Knowledge to be Gained.   
 
This study offers the potential to illustrate a significant clinical difference in overall reduction in 
procedure duration between the current type of back-loaded fiducial deployment needle 
(Visicoil fiducials) and a novel preloaded fiducial deployment needle, thus offering potential for 
increased efficiency.  This information would be useful to both endoscopists and patients to 
optimize procedure success rate and minimize procedure duration. 
 
 
G. References.  
1. American College of Surgeons Benchmark Reports. Available from: 
https://cromwell.facs.org/BMarks/BMPub/ver10/Docs/ 
 
2. American Cancer Society. Available from: 
http://www.cancer.org/cancer/pancreaticcancer/detailedguide/pancreatic-cancer-survival-rates 
 
3. Colbert LE, Hall WA, Nickleach D, Switchenko J, Kooby DA, Liu Y, Gillespie T, Lipscomb J, Kauh J, 
Landry JC. Chemoradiation therapy sequencing for resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma in the 
National Cancer Data Base. Cancer. 2014 Feb 15;120(4):499-506.  
 
4. Kooby DA, Gillespie TW, Liu Y, Byrd-Sellers J, Landry J, Bian J, Lipscomb J. Impact of adjuvant 
radiotherapy on survival after pancreatic cancer resection: an appraisal of data from the national cancer 
data base. Ann Surg Oncol. 2013 Oct;20(11):3634-42. 
 
5. Fuss M, Wong A, Fuller CD, Salter BJ, Fuss C, Thomas CR. Image-guided intensity-modulated 
radiotherapy for pancreatic carcinoma. Gastrointest Cancer Res. 2007 Jan;1(1):2-11. 
 
6. Reese AS, Lu W, Regine WF. Utilization of intensity-modulated radiation therapy and image-guided 
radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer: is it beneficial? Semin Radiat Oncol. 2014 Apr;24(2):132-9.  
 
7. Javed S, Bhutani MS. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer. Minerva 
Gastroenterol Dietol. 2013 Dec;59(4):377-86. 
 
8. Majumder S, Berzin TM, Mahadevan A, Pawa R, Ellsmere J, Sepe PS, Larosa SA, Pleskow DK, 
Chuttani R, Sawhney MS. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided pancreatic fiducial placement: how important 
is ideal fiducial geometry? Pancreas. 2013 May;42(4):692-5.  
 
9. Suzuki R, Irisawa A, Bhutani MS. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided oncologic therapy for pancreatic 
cancer. Diagn Ther Endosc. 2013;2013:157581.  
 
10. Khashab MA, Kim KJ, Tryggestad EJ, Wild AT, Roland T, Singh VK, Lennon AM, Shin EJ, Ziegler MA, 
Sharaiha RZ, Canto MI, Herman JM. Comparative analysis of traditional and coiled fiducials implanted 
during EUS for pancreatic cancer patients receiving stereotactic body radiation therapy. Gastrointest 
Endosc. 2012 Nov;76(5):962-71. 
 
11. Ammar T, Coté GA, Creach KM, Kohlmeier C, Parikh PJ, Azar RR. Fiducial placement for stereotactic 
radiation by using EUS: feasibility when using a marker compatible with a standard 22-gauge needle. 
Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Mar;71(3):630-3. 

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12. Park WG, Yan BM, Schellenberg D, Kim J, Chang DT, Koong A, Patalano C, Van Dam J. EUS-guided 
gold fiducial insertion for image-guided radiation therapy of pancreatic cancer: 50 successful cases 
without fluoroscopy. Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Mar;71(3):513-8.  
 
13. Dávila Fajardo R, Lekkerkerker SJ, van der Horst A, Lens E, Bergman JJ, Fockens P, Bel A, van Hooft 
JE.  EUS-guided fiducial markers placement with a 22-gauge needle for image-guided radiation therapy 
in pancreatic cancer. Gastrointest Endosc. 2014 May;79(5):851-5.  
 
14. DiMaio CJ, Nagula S, Goodman KA, Ho AY, Markowitz AJ, Schattner MA, Gerdes H. 
EUS-guided fiducial placement for image-guided radiation therapy in GI malignancies by using a 22-
gauge needle (with videos). Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Jun;71(7):1204-10. 
 
15. Owens DJ, Savides TJ. EUS placement of metal fiducials by using a back-loaded technique with bone 
wax seal. Gastrointest Endosc. 2009 Apr;69(4):972-3.  
 
16. Khara HS, Pineda-Bonilla JJ, Chaput KJ, Johal AS. Endoscopic ultrasound-guided placement of fiducial 
markers using a novel "wet-fill technique" without a bone wax seal.Endoscopy. 2013;45 Suppl 2 
UCTN:E426-7. 
 
17. Pishvaian AC, Collins B, Gagnon G, Ahlawat S, Haddad NG. EUS-guided fiducial placement for 
CyberKnife radiotherapy of mediastinal and abdominal malignancies.Gastrointest Endosc. 2006 
Sep;64(3):412-7. 
 
18. Varadarajulu S, Trevino JM, Shen S, Jacob R. The use of endoscopic ultrasound-guided gold markers 
in image-guided radiation therapy of pancreatic cancers: a case series. Endoscopy. 2010 
May;42(5):423-5.  
 
19. Sanders MK, Moser AJ, Khalid A, Fasanella KE, Zeh HJ, Burton S, McGrath K. 
EUS-guided fiducial placement for stereotactic body radiotherapy in locally advanced and recurrent 
pancreatic cancer. Gastrointest Endosc. 2010 Jun;71(7):1178-84.  
 
20. Draganov PV, Chavalitdhamrong D, Wagh MS. Evaluation of a new endoscopic ultrasound-guided 
multi-fiducial delivery system: a prospective non-survival study in a live porcine model. Dig Endosc. 
2013 Nov;25(6):615-21.  
 
21. Fuccio L, Guido A, Larghi A, Antonini F, Lami G, Fabbri C. The role of endoscopic ultrasound in the 
radiation treatment of pancreatic tumor. Expert Rev. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2014 Early online, 1-10. 
 
22. Dávila Fajardo R, Lekkerkerker SJ, van der Horst A, Lens E, Bergman JJ, 
Fockens P, Bel A, van Hooft JE. EUS-guided fiducial markers placement with a 
22-gauge needle for image-guided radiation therapy in pancreatic cancer. 
Gastrointest Endosc. 2014 May;79(5):851-5.  
 
 
Appendix: 
 
 
AP 2 

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Phone Script  
HELLO--I am [name] a [role (e.g. medical doctor/clinical investigator/study coordinator) at the University of 
Colorado Denver.  You are currently scheduled to have an endoscopic ultrasound, also known as an 
“EUS”, for fiducuial marker placement performed at the University of Colorado Denver on [date] for 
marking of your pancreatic cancer prior to undergoing chemoradiation therapy. 
 
I wanted to tell you a little bit about a study to see if you would be interested in participating.  Is now a 
good time? (if ‘yes’, proceed per below.  If ‘no’, say “Is there a better time that I can call back?” If ‘yes’, 
thank the patient and call back repeating the above script.  If ‘no’, thank the patient for their time, and say 
“That’s OK.  Thank you for your time.  We look forward to seeing you at your scheduled EUS on [date].  
Take care.”  Hang up phone. 
 
Thank you.  Before I get started, I want to inform you that agreeing or declining to participate in this study 
in no way affects the quality of care you will receive nor will it affect your future follow-up with this 
institution beyond the scope of the study. 
We are currently conducting a research project to identify whether the use of one type of fiducial marker 
needle takes less time to use than the use of the current fiducial marker needle.    
 
The name of the study is entitled “Comparison of traditional back-loaded fiducial needles with preloaded 
fiducial needles in EUS-guided fiducial marker placement for image-guided radiation therapy in patients 
with pancreatic cancer: A multicenter randomized controlled trial”.  Fiducial marker placement performed 
via EUS is traditionally performed at our institution with a 22G needle.  This needle requires manual 
loading of the fiducial markers one at a time, and can lead to prolonged procedure times.  A new type of 
fiducial marker needle has been designed, which has 4 fiducial markers already preloaded.  This allows 
the endoscopist doing the procedure to place up to 4 fiducial markers without having to remove the 
endoscope or the fiducial marker placing needle.  The hypothesized benefits of using this type of needle is 
shorter duration of endoscopic procedure.  We will also be recording whether use of the preloaded needle 
is associated with less adverse events. 
 
I would like to send you some more reading material about the study, and also a consent form for you to 
go over if you are interested in enrolling.  On the day of your EUS, your doctor and the study coordinator 
will discuss the consent form again prior to the procedure if you are interested in participating, and answer 
any questions you may have.  Would you prefer an email or a sent packet for further reading material and 
the consent form?  (If email, ask for email address.  If mail, ask for mailing address).   
 
Thank you for your time.  We look forward to seeing you at your procedure.  Please make sure to bring all 
your forms and any questions you may have for your treatment team and the research team.  Take care. 
(Hang up phone).  
End Phone Script