Phase II Study Of Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy In Borderline Resectable Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma

The goal of this study is to determine the effect of chemotherapy on decreasing the size of unresectable pancreas cancer thereby allowing it to be surgically removed. In addition, this study may provide information on how tumors behave when exposed to certain types of chemotherapy.

Although surgery is the only curative modality for pancreatic adenocarcinoma, the majority of patients (\~80%)are unresectable at presentation. The use of a multimodality approach may be a crucial method to improve the dismal survival rate of patients with pancreatic cancer. A logical tactic is to use neoadjuvant cytotoxic agents and targeted drugs to facilitate resectability.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have a histologic or cytologic diagnosis of pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients with endocrine tumors or lymphoma of the pancreas are ineligible.
* Patients must have locally advanced disease that is considered to be "borderline" surgically resectable (see Section 4.0). Patients with metastatic disease or grossly resectable disease on presentation are ineligible.
* Patients must have measurable disease prior to starting this study. Patients with primarily non-measurable disease, including lesions to small to be characterized, effusions, ascites, diffuse bone disease, diffuse skin disease, leptomeningeal disease, lymphangitis, pneumonitis or disease measured by indirect or biochemical means, are not eligible. Testing for measurable disease must have been completed 28 days prior to registration.
* Patients must consent to utilization of tissue for research in this protocol. Tissue will be evaluated via immunohistochemical staining for deoxycytidine kinase, ERCC-1 and ERCC-2 (XPD). Patients may be asked if they are willing to allow their tissue to be used for future studies that are not defined in this protocol. Disallowing the use of tissue for future studies does not limit eligibility in this protocol.
* Patients must fulfill the required initial laboratory data to be obtained within 28 days prior to registration: AGC ≥ 1,500cells/μL, Platelet ≥ 100,000cells/μL, Hgb \> 8.0 g/dl, Bilirubin ≤ 2.0 X IULN, Serum Creatinine ≤ 2.0mg/dL, AST(SGOT) ≤ 2.5x IULN, ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5x IULN, CA19-9 (any value),
* Patients must have an ECOG/Zubrod performance status of 0-2.
* Patients must be able to read and understand English in order to participate in this study, or have a certified translator present.
* Due to the potentially harmful effects of chemotherapy on a developing fetus, patients who are pregnant are planning to become pregnant, or who are lactating should not participate in this study.
* Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test.
* Men and women of childbearing potential must be willing to consent to using effective contraception while on treatment and for at least 3 months thereafter.
* All patients must be informed of the investigational nature of this study and must sign, date and give written consent in accordance with institutional and federal guidelines.
* All patients must be18 years of age or older to participate.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with known brain metastases are ineligible. Brain imaging studies are not required for eligible patients with no neurologic signs or symptoms. If brain imaging studies are performed, they must be negative for disease.
* Patients who have had prior surgery for their pancreatic carcinoma are not eligible for this study. This does not include patients who have had cytologic brushing, fine needle aspiration or core biopsy of their tumor for diagnostic purposes.
* Patients must not have received prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy or hormonal therapy for pancreatic cancer.
* Patients must not have received prior erlotinib or other therapies that target EGFR. Patients must not have received prior tyrosine kinase inhibitors.
* Have a significant history of uncontrolled cardiac disease including uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina or uncontrolled congestive heart failure.
* Have a significant history of intersitital lung disease
* Have a significant history of peripheral neuropathy (grade must be \<1) or mononeuropathy multiplex.
* Have temperature \>101.30 F or active infection
* No other history of malignancy is allowed except for the following:

adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or in situ cervical cancer.

* There must be no other plans for the patient to receive concurrent chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemoradiotherapy, surgery, immunotherapy or hormonal therapy for the treatment of their cancer while on protocol.
* Due to the undetermined effect of chemotherapy in patients with HIV infection and the potential for serious interaction with anti-HIV medications, patients who are known to be infected with HIV are not eligible for this study. An HIV test is not required to participate.