High or Standard Intensity Radiation Therapy After Gemcitabine Hydrochloride and Nab-paclitaxel in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer That Cannot Be Removed by Surgery

This randomized phase II trial studies how well high or standard intensity radiochemotherapy after gemcitabine hydrochloride and paclitaxel albumin-stabilized nanoparticle formulation (nab-paclitaxel) work compared with gemcitabine hydrochloride and nab-paclitaxel alone in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that cannot be removed by surgery. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as gemcitabine hydrochloride and nab-paclitaxel, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs, such as capecitabine, may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving radiation therapy in different ways and adding chemotherapy may kill more tumor cells. It is not yet known whether high intensity radiochemotherapy after gemcitabine hydrochloride and nab-paclitaxel is more effective than standard intensity radiochemotherapy after gemcitabine hydrochloride and nab-paclitaxel or gemcitabine hydrochloride and nab-paclitaxel alone in treating pancreatic cancer.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

* I. To determine if intensified radiochemotherapy following gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer will show a signal for improved 2-year overall survival (OS) from 10% to 22.5% as compared to chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone.
* II. To determine if standard radiochemotherapy, following gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel, in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer will show a signal for improved 2-year OS from 10% to 22.5% as compared to chemotherapy with gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel alone.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

* I. To evaluate patterns of failure (local and systemic progression) by SMAD family member 4 (SMAD4) status and intensity of radiation therapy.
* II. To evaluate the impact of radiochemotherapy on OS for the subset of SMAD4 intact patients.
* III. To evaluate adverse events associated with the treatments.
* IV. To evaluate correlation between SMAD4 status determined by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and genetic SMAD4 status.

Patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment arms.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 1 month and then every 3 months.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histologically or cytologically proven diagnosis of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas prior to registration
2. Tumor diameter ≤ 7 cm
3. Unresectable by radiographic criteria (pancreas protocol CT or MRI) or exploration within 30 days prior to registration.
4. A cell block or core biopsy must be submitted for central review and analysis of SMAD4 status as soon as possible following step 1 registration.
5. No distant metastases, based upon the following minimum diagnostic workup:

   * History/physical examination within 30 days prior to registration
   * Whole body fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computerized tomography (FDG-PET/CT) within 30 days prior to registration NOTE: If whole-body FDG-PET/CT is not performed, CT of the chest and CT (or MRI) of abdomen and pelvis must be obtained (imaging of abdomen and pelvis need not be repeated if already included in pancreas protocol study)
6. Zubrod Performance Status 0-1 within 30 days prior to registration
7. Age ≥ 18;
8. Complete blood count (CBC)/differential obtained within 14 days prior to step 1 registration, with adequate bone marrow function defined as follows:

   * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500 cells/mm3
   * Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm3
   * Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl (NOTE: The use of transfusion or other intervention to achieve Hgb ≥ 8.0 g/dl is acceptable)
9. Additional laboratory studies within 14 days prior to registration:

   * carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9); NOTE: in the event that a stent has been placed and biliary obstruction has been relieved, the CA19-9 should be drawn post stent placement
   * Creatinine \< 2 mg/dl; Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \> 50 mL/min (Cockroft and Gault formula)
   * Bilirubin \< 1.5 x ULN
   * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 2.5 x ULN
   * Activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), prothrombin time (PT) ≤1.2 x upper limit of normal (ULN)
10. Patient must provide study specific informed consent prior to study entry
11. Women of childbearing potential and male participants must practice adequate contraception during protocol treatment and for at least 6 months following treatment
12. For females of child-bearing potential, negative serum pregnancy test within 30 days prior to registration

Exclusion Criteria:

1. More than one primary lesion
2. Prior invasive malignancy (unless disease free for a minimum of 1095 days \[3 years\]); Non-melanomatous skin cancer and previous early prostate cancer that had a non-rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) are eligible
3. Prior systemic anti-cancer therapy for pancreatic cancer; note that prior chemotherapy for a different cancer is allowable
4. Prior radiation therapy to the abdomen that would result in overlap of radiation therapy fields
5. Severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follows:

   * Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within the last 6 months
   * Transmural myocardial infarction within the last 6 months
   * Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of registration
   * Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy within 30 days before registration
   * Hepatic insufficiency resulting in clinical jaundice and/or coagulation defects; note, however, that laboratory tests for liver function and coagulation parameters are not required for entry into this protocol
   * Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) based upon current Centers for Disease Control (CDC) definition; note, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this protocol. The need to exclude patients with AIDS from this protocol is necessary because the treatments involved in this protocol may be significantly immunosuppressive. Protocol-specific requirements may also exclude immuno-compromised patients
6. Pregnancy or women of childbearing potential, women who cannot discontinue breastfeeding and men who are sexually active and not willing/able to use medically acceptable forms of contraception; this exclusion is necessary because the treatment involved in this study may be significantly teratogenic
7. Prior allergic reaction to the study drug(s) involved in this protocol
8. Pre-existing Grade 2 or greater neuropathy
9. Distant metastases