Recurrent Disease Detection After Resection of Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Using a Standardized Surveillance Strategy

A randomized controlled trial, nested within an existing prospective cohort (Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Project; PACAP) and the United Kingdom (UK) Pancreas Cancer: Observations of Practice and survival; PACOPS) according to the 'trials within cohorts' (TwiCs) design in which the effect of a standardized surveillance, with serial tumor marker testing and routine imaging, compared to current non-standardized practice, on overall survival and quality of life in patients with primary resected PDAC is investigated. The most important secondary endpoint is quality of life. Other secondary endpoints are clinical and radiological patterns of PDAC recurrence, the compliance of patients to our standardized follow-up strategy, the impact of a standardized surveillance on (eligibility for) additional treatment, and the tolerance of additional treatment. The need for this clinical trial is emphasized by the the emergence of more potent local and more effective systemic treatments for PDAC recurrence, leading to a rising interest in early diagnosis by a standardized approach to follow-up with routine imaging and serial serum tumor marker testing.

Rationale: Radical resection combined with (neo)adjuvant chemotherapy offers the best chances for long-term survival for patients with resectable localized pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, even after radical resection, almost all patients will experience local and/or distant disease recurrence after sufficient follow-up, mostly within 2 years. There is a lack of evidence based effective therapeutic options for the significant group of patients with local recurrence only, in terms of improved survival and/or quality of life. In the case of metastatic disease effective chemotherapy has shown to improve survival, but with a median gain survival of 3-4 months. Taken together, this had led to a hesitant attitude towards postoperative recurrence-focused follow-up. Therefore, in most European countries, including the Netherlands, a standardized approach to follow-up after surgery for PDAC is lacking. Furthermore, current PDAC guidelines regarding follow-up are based on expert opinion and other low-level evidence. However, the emergence of more potent local and more effective systemic treatments for PDAC has led to a rising interest in early diagnosis of PDAC recurrence. To detect PDAC recurrence at an early stage and identify patients with good performance status who are most likely to benefit from additional (experimental) treatment, a standardized approach to follow-up with routine imaging and serial serum tumor marker testing is needed. To determine whether early detection of recurrence can lead to improved survival and quality of life, further studies are warranted.

Objective: The main objective is to evaluate the impact of a standardized surveillance, with serial tumor marker testing and routine imaging, on overall survival and quality of life in patients with primary resected PDAC, compared to current non-standardized practice.

Study design: A randomized controlled trial, nested within an existing prospective cohort (Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Project; PACAP) and the United Kingdom (UK) Pancreas Cancer: Observations of Practice and survival; PACOPS) according to the 'trials within cohorts' (TwiCs) design.

Study population: PACAP or PACOPS-participants with histologically confirmed radical resection (R0-R1) of PDAC, who provided informed consent for being randomized in future studies.

Interventions: Standardized surveillance, existing of clinical evaluation, serum cancer antigen (CA) 19-9 testing, and contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CT-) imaging of chest and abdomen every 3 months during the first 2 years after surgery.

Comparison: Non-standardized clinical follow-up.

Endpoints: The main study endpoint is overall survival. The most important secondary endpoint is quality of life. Other secondary endpoints are clinical and radiological patterns of PDAC recurrence, the compliance of patients to our standardized follow-up strategy, the impact of a standardized surveillance on (eligibility for) additional treatment, and the tolerance of additional treatment.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion criteria:

* Participation in the PACAP and PACOPS-cohort with written informed consent for being randomized in future studies
* Histologically confirmed macroscopically radical resected (R0-R1) pancreatic adenocarcinoma
* Minimum age of 18 years

Exclusion Criteria:

* Exclusion criteria for contrast-enhanced CT-scan, following the protocol of the department of radiology in each affiliated hospital
* Mentally or physically incapable of consent
* Participation in other studies with a study-specific follow-up