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CHARM II: Chemotherapy for Ablation and Resolution of Mucinous Pancreatic Cysts: A Prospective, Randomized, Double-blind, Multi-center Clinical Trial
This study seeks to verify the findings of the CHARM I pilot study by conducting a multi-center clinical trial. We hypothesize that:•Pancreatic cyst infusion with a specifically designed drug therapy cocktail following normal saline lavage will result in cyst destruction rates that do not significantly differ from those achieved by alcohol-based cyst treatment (ethanol lavage followed by infusion of the same chemotherapeutic cocktail).•The removal of alcohol from the procedure will decrease both serious and minor adverse event rates associated with pancreatic cyst treatment.•There may be molecular markers contained within the fluid of these cystic tumors which identify cysts that are favorable to or resistant to EUS-guided fine needle infusion using this drug combination. As such, we will test all treated cysts for 10 of the best known molecular markers for evaluation in post study analysis. We expect that administering a specifically designed chemotherapeutic cocktail without prior alcohol lavage will result in an equivalent rate of cyst resolution with fewer complications when compared to alcohol. The results of this study will provide important information about the most efficient and safest method for treating premalignant pancreatic cysts, an important step for treating these lesions with a minimally invasive technique and preventing their progression to cancer. Standard alternative treatment options for this patient group (if not taking part in this study) would be ongoing periodic radiographic monitoring with MR or CT imaging waiting for signs of cancer to develop or to consider surgical removal of the affected tissue.
Patients will have to sign the consent form to participate in the trial
Patients with a previously-detected pancreatic cyst(s) 2-5 cm in diameter which are consistent with a mucinous type cyst as per ASGE guidelines including indeterminate type cysts.
Ability to give written informed consent.
Capable of safely undergoing endoscopy with deep sedation or general anesthesia.
Known or suspected pancreatic cancer or pathologic lymphadenopathy.
Cysts with the following high risk features: main pancreatic duct dilation of > 5mm,epithelial type mural nodules , pathologically thick wall/septation (> 2mm)..
Septated cysts with > 4 compartments.
Confirmed acute pancreatitis within the last 3 months.