Abdominal Lavage for Resectable Pancreatic Cancer

This trial tests whether a high-volume wash of the abdomen during surgery can extend the lives of people with pancreatic cancer. After removing the cancerous part of the pancreas, some patients will receive this special wash, known as abdominal lavage, to determine if it clears out any remaining cancer cells. The trial includes three groups: one with the wash, one with a different type of wash, and one without any wash. It seeks participants who require pancreatic surgery and have been diagnosed with pancreatic or nearby cancers.

As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for patients to contribute to innovative research that may enhance future cancer treatments.

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

Research has shown that both EIPL-S and EIPL-D wash treatments are generally well-tolerated by patients. In previous studies, patients who received these wash treatments during pancreatic cancer surgery did not experience more complications compared to those who didn’t receive the wash. This indicates that the treatments did not cause additional problems during recovery.

Specifically, one study found no difference in post-surgery issues between the group that received EIPL-S and the group that did not. In contrast, EIPL-D has been shown to lower the risk of death and reduce pain after surgery when used alongside the operation.

Researchers are excited about this trial because it explores the potential benefits of using extensive intraoperative peritoneal lavage (EIPL) in patients undergoing surgery for resectable pancreatic cancer. This approach is unique because it involves washing out the abdominal cavity with a saline solution multiple times right after tumor removal, which isn't a standard part of current surgical procedures for pancreatic cancer. The goal is to reduce microscopic tumor cells that might remain after surgery, potentially decreasing the risk of cancer recurrence. By comparing different lavage techniques to the standard surgical approach without lavage, researchers aim to determine if this method can improve surgical outcomes and long-term survival for patients.

In this trial, participants will be assigned to different treatment arms to evaluate the effectiveness of lavage techniques. Earlier research has shown that EIPL-S lavage greatly reduces the chances of cancer returning in the abdomen after pancreatic cancer surgery. It might also lower the risk of death and reduce post-surgery pain. Some researchers have found that using EIPL with chemotherapy can lead to better patient outcomes. Participants in this trial may receive EIPL-S lavage.