Studying Fibroblast Activity in Patients With Localized Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Surgery

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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RATIONALE: Studying samples of tumor tissue and blood from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. PURPOSE: This research study is assessing fibroblast activity in patients with localized pancreatic cancer undergoing surgery.

Detailed Description
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OBJECTIVES: Primary To assess the degree of fibroblast activation protein (FAP) enzymatic activity at the tumor site in patients with localized pancreatic cancer. Secondary To explore correlations between tumor stromal FAP enzymatic activity and stromal α_2-antiplasmin levels. To explore correlations between tumor FAP enzymatic activity and plasma dipeptidyl peptidase and plasma α_2-antiplasmin converting enzyme activity as potential surrogates. OUTLINE: Patients undergo fine-needle aspiration of tumor or suspected mass at baseline. Tumor samples are analyzed by IHC for fibroblast activation protein (FAP) expression, immunocapture assay for ex vivo FAP enzymatic activity, and western analysis for FAP concentrations. Blood samples are collected weekly and analyzed for dipeptidyl peptidase activity by ELISA and α_2-antiplasmin converting enzyme.

Official Title
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Pharmacodynamic Study of Fibroblast Activity Protein in Patients With Localized Pancreas Cancer Undergoing Surgical Resection

Conditions
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Pancreatic Cancer

Intervention / Treatment
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* Genetic: protein expression analysis
* Genetic: western blotting
* Other: immunohistochemistry staining method
* Other: immunologic technique
* Other: laboratory biomarker analysis


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Biopsy-proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas or pancreatic mass suspicious for pancreatic cancer Localized disease Scheduled to undergo a resection or exploration of their pancreatic tumor PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Not specified PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: See Disease Characteristics
Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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No

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Arms and Interventions

| Intervention/Treatment |
| --- |
|Genetic: protein expression analysis|nan|
|Genetic: western blotting|nan|
|Other: immunohistochemistry staining method|nan|
|Other: immunologic technique|nan|
|Other: laboratory biomarker analysis|nan|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Independence of tumor fibroblast activation protein (FAP) activity and Met-α2-antiplasmin expression |  | Within 28 days for prior to surgery and at 3 month intervals for up to 2 years or recurrence | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Feasibility of exploiting the circulatory compartment to identify surrogates of tumor FAP |  | Within 28 days for prior to surgery and at 3 month intervals for up to 2 years or recurrence | 
| Potential plasma surrogates of plasma dipeptidyl peptidase activity and plasma antiplasmin converting enzyme |  | Within 28 days for prior to surgery and at 3 month intervals for up to 2 years or recurrence | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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adenocarcinoma of the pancreas, recurrent pancreatic cancer, stage I pancreatic cancer, stage II pancreatic cancer