Studying Fibroblast Activity in Patients With Localized Pancreatic Cancer Undergoing Surgery

Fox Chase Cancer Center37 enrolled

Overview

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.

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.

Study Type

OBSERVATIONAL

Enrollment

Conditions

Pancreatic Cancer

Interventions

protein expression analysisGENETIC

western blottingGENETIC

immunohistochemistry staining methodOTHER

immunologic techniqueOTHER

Eligibility

Sex: ALL

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

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

Locations (1)

Fox Chase Cancer Center - Philadelphia

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Independence of tumor fibroblast activation protein (FAP) activity and Met-α2-antiplasmin expression

Time frame: Within 28 days for prior to surgery and at 3 month intervals for up to 2 years or recurrence

Secondary Outcomes

Feasibility of exploiting the circulatory compartment to identify surrogates of tumor FAP

Time frame: 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

Time frame: Within 28 days for prior to surgery and at 3 month intervals for up to 2 years or recurrence

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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