A Pilot, Prospective, Non-randomized Evaluation of the Safety of Anakinra Plus Standard Chemotherapy

The study's overall objectives are to evaluate the safety of anakinra in combination with standard chemotherapy regimens in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarinoma, as well as to collect preliminary immune modulation and clinical activity information, overall survival, and serious adverse events related to the study drug.

Kineret (anakinra) is a FDA-approved drug indicated for rheumatoid arthritis. Anakinra is a recombinant, nonglycosylated form of the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). Anakinra blocks the biologic activity of IL -1 by competitively inhibiting IL-1 binding to the interleukin-1 type I receptor (IL-1RI), which is expressed in a wide variety of tissues and organs. IL-1 production is induced in response to inflammatory stimuli and mediates various physiologic effects including inflammatory and immunological responses.

This is a pilot, prospective, non-randomized, consecutive enrollment study that will enroll up to 12 subjects who meet the study defined inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Subjects will undergo standard of care chemotherapy treatment/regimens (i.e., modified FOLFIRINOX). Subjects will be dispensed a 2 weeks supply of anakinra the day they begin chemotherapy. They will be instructed to begin self-administering the anakinra (study drug) injections the day after their first dose of chemotherapy.

They will have a blood sample collected at baseline and 6 months follow up. If they have surgery for their disease, they may have a tissue sample collected for later analysis.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* 18 years of age or older
* Male or non-pregnant and non-lactating female
* Confirmed metastatic/inoperable metastatic pancreas cancer and/or Histologically/cytologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of pancreas
* Patients' blood counts and blood chemistry levels at baseline must be not clinically significant (NCS) as determined by the enrolling investigator.
* Patient has Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group( ECOG ) Performance Status 0 to 2 (refer to Appendix 5):
* Signed study consent form

Exclusion Criteria:

* \<18 years of age
* Pregnant or lactating female
* Patient has islet cell neoplasms
* Active secondary malignancies (2nd cancer not treated/present)
* Active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection(s) requiring systemic therapy
* Known infection with hepatitis B, hepatitis C, or cirrhosis
* Major surgery or vascular device placement (excluding ports for IV medication/chemotherapy) within 2 weeks prior to Day 1 of treatment in study
* History of allergy or hypersensitivity to the study drugs
* Patient is enrolled in any concurrent-outside (outside Baylor University Medical Center or Texas Oncology) clinical protocol or investigational trial
* Significant cardiac disease as defined as New York Heart Association (NYHA) classification III or IV, uncontrolled CHF, or prior MI last 6-months
* Any prior gastrointestinal (GI) disease or history of prior pelvic or abdominal radiation which in the opinion of the investigator may place the patient at increased risk
* Peripheral sensory neuropathy ≥ to grade 2 at baseline
* Significant co-morbidities deemed by investigator as unsuitable for participation/enrollment
* Study consent form not signed