SBRT Pre-operatively for Pancreatic Cancer

In this study the investigators are testing if the addition of Stereotactic Body Radiation therapy (SBRT) prior to surgery improves surgical outcome in patients with borderline resectable or resectable pancreatic cancer (BRPC).

This is a single arm prospective phase I dose escalation radiation study investigating 5-fraction stereotactic radiotherapy prior to planned surgical resection in borderline resectable or resectable pancreatic cancer.

Surgical resection is the only potentially curative technique for managing pancreatic cancer. However more than 80% of patients present with disease that cannot be cured with surgical resection. Negative margin (R0 resection), tumour size, absence of lymph nodes metastases are the strongest prognostic indicators for long term survival.

Stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) is a radiation technique for pancreatic cancer where an ablative dose of radiotherapy (RT) can be delivered to a small volume targeting the at risk surgical margin in a short time (1 week versus 5-6 weeks for standard radiotherapy), achieving much higher biologically equivalent dose (BED) (100Gy versus 50Gy) than conventionally fractionated radical RT. The short time of delivery and minimal acute toxicity makes this an attractive treatment option in BPRC as offers the opportunity to integrate systemic treatment. With standard fractionation schedules larger volumes of normal tissue are usually irradiated than with SBRT and an effective dose is limited by toxicity despite the use of Intensity Modulated RT.

This study builds on the current evidence base in SBRT pancreas, which has so far been largely used in the locally advanced setting with promising results and aims to take it a step further. This study aims to test the safety and benefit of pre-operative SBRT, delivering very high local doses to the at risk surgical margin which is usually around the main vessels in the retroperitoneum. The concept of margin-intensive therapy is novel, and aims to deliver a higher radiation dose while limiting toxicity to organs at risk.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Borderline resectable localised tumour of the pancreatic head/uncinate process/body as per NCCN Guidelines (tumours of the tail of pancreas are not eligible for inclusion) or operable tumour in contact with vein (SMV or PV) not causing distortion or narrowing as defined by CT +/- MRI +/- PET criteria within 28+/- 7 days prior to trial entry de novo or following chemotherapy.
2. Histologically proven pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma or cytological proven pancreatic malignancy.
3. Able to undergo biliary drainage using a stent.
4. Deemed fit and suitable for surgical resection.
5. No overt metastases or uncertain status with investigations suspicious of possible metastatic disease (e.g. small equivocal pulmonary nodule(s)).
6. Male or female, Age \>= 16 years.
7. Life expectancy of at least 6 months.
8. ECOG performance status 0- 1
9. The patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study, and scheduled follow-up visits and examinations.
10. Written (signed and dated) informed consent and be capable of co-operating with protocol.
11. Haematological and biochemical indices within defined ranges.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Distant metastatic disease or local disease that cannot be encompassed in the SBRT field.
2. History of previous or concurrent malignancy diagnoses for which the expected prognosis is likely to be worse than that for the current diagnosis of pancreatic cancer (excludes for example: e.g. localised prostate cancer, early colorectal cancer, early breast cancer, curatively-treated basal cell carcinoma of skin, carcinoma in situ of cervix; curatively treated cancer of other sites who are recurrence free for \>3 years).
3. Serious medical or psychological condition precluding trial intervention.
4. Previous upper abdominal or right chest wall radiotherapy where 30% of the liver has received \>15Gy.
5. PPregnancy. Pregnant or breast-feeding women are ineligible. Women of childbearing potential must use effective methods of contraception.
6. Any other psychological, social or medical condition, physical examination finding or laboratory abnormality that the Investigator considers makes the patient a poor trial candidate or could interfere with protocol compliance or the interpretation of the trial results.