Effect on Tumor Perfusion of a Chemotherapy Combining Gemcitabine and Vismodegib Before Surgery in Pancreatic Cancer

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.

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.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histo(cyto)logically proven ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma
* Resectable or potentially resectable tumor; resectability assessed during a multidisciplinary meeting with expert surgeon and radiologist
* First line chemotherapy
* Age \> 18 years
* WHO performance status (PS) grade 0 or 1;
* Absolute neutrophil count \> 1.5 x 10 9 / L, platelets \> 100 x 10 9/ L, creatinine clearance (Cockcroft and Gault formula) \> 60 ml/min, haemoglobin level \> 10 g/dl (transfusions authorized), bilirubin\<1.5 g/dl;
* Optimal biliary drainage;
* Women of child-bearing potential (WCBP), defined as a sexually mature woman who has not undergone a hysterectomy or tubal ligation of who has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months, must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to treatment. All WCBP, all sexually active male patients, and all partners of patients must agree to use adequate methods of birth control throughout the study;
* Signed written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Locally advanced non resectable or metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma
* Previous anticancer therapy for the pancreatic adenocarcinoma
* Biliary obstruction without endoscopic biliary drainage
* Any contre-indication for surgery
* Prior malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer, and in situ carcinoma of the uterine cervix treated with a curative intent and any other tumor in complete remission with a disease-free interval \> 3 years)
* Uncontrolled congestive heart failure or angina pectoris, myocardial infarction within 1 year prior to study entry, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic pressure \> 160 mm or diastolic pressure \> 100 mm under well conducted antihypertensive treatment), QT prolongation
* Major uncontrolled infection
* Severe hepatic impairment
* Any medical, psychological, or social condition, which, in the opinion of the investigator, could hamper patient's compliance to the study protocol and/or assessment/interpretation of the data
* Pregnant or lactating women, or patients of both genders with procreative potential not using adequate contraceptive methods
* Patients receiving or having received any investigational treatment within 4 weeks prior to study entry, or participating to another clinical study;Subject previously enrolled into this study.