Evaluation of Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation for the Management of Pancreatic Tumors, ERASE Study

Study Summary

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and effectiveness of endoscopic ultrasound-guided radiofrequency ablation (EUS-RFA) for the management of patients with pancreatic tumors (including cysts) performed during recommended surveillance endoscopic ultrasound examinations. Pancreatic tumors (cysts) can progress to pancreatic cancer at rate of more than 25% per year risk. Pancreatic cancer is a fatal disease that is difficult to diagnose at an early stage, and the five-year survival rate is currently less than 10%. It is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality by the year 2030. A procedure known as radiofrequency ablation may help. Radiofrequency ablation is an established way to treat benign and cancerous tumors in the human body. In the last 5 years, radiofrequency ablation has been applied to treat precancerous tumors (including cysts) in the pancreas. This procedure implements a medical technology that destroys tumors in a much less invasive way compared to traditional surgical removal. By delivering a high-frequency alternating current, radiofrequency ablation uses electrical energy and heat to destroy cancer cells. Radiofrequency ablation is being recognized as a management option in patients with high-risk pancreatic tumors (cysts) but are not deemed surgical candidates. While surgical removal offers a chance of cure, pancreatic surgeries have 20-40% morbidity rate (short and long-term complication) and a 1-2% mortality rate in patients who are surgical candidates. Furthermore, radiofrequency ablation can potentially decrease the need for frequent imaging/surveillance of the pancreatic tumor (cyst). In patients with immediate prohibitive, but reversible risks for surgery, radiofrequency ablation of a high-risk tumors (cysts) can potentially prevent further progression of the lesion and bridge the time before the need for surgical resection.

Primary Outcome

Defined as at least a 50% decrease in the cyst diameter. Other markers of response to EUS-RFA will be evaluated by cross-sectional imaging and EUS: change in the diameter, morphology of cyst - fibrosis, septations, loculations, wall thickness, intracystic or mural nodules; cyst fluid aspiration (biopsy if there is fibrosis): next generation sequencing (NGS) - persistence or absence of mutations (molecular markers), cytology - results can include either: mucin, atypical/suspicious cells, necrotic

Conditions Studied

Interventions

• PROCEDURE Computed Tomography
• OTHER Electronic Health Record Review
• PROCEDURE Chemical Ablation
• PROCEDURE Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Fine-Needle Aspiration
• PROCEDURE Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Radiofrequency Ablation

Study Locations (1)