Palliative Care for Pancreatic Cancer

Overseen By Elizabeth Loggers

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Metastatic neoplasm, Incarceration, Palliative care, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if a palliative care consultation can assist patients with a pancreatic neoplasm (a type of tumor) in making better surgical decisions and improving their quality of life. It compares usual care with an additional palliative care visit, where patients discuss their illness, concerns, and preferences. Suitable participants have a pancreatic tumor and can communicate in English without current or past palliative care involvement. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity for patients to actively engage in research that could enhance their decision-making and quality of life.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It focuses on palliative care consultations for pancreatic cancer patients considering surgery.

What prior data suggests that this palliative care consultation is safe for improving communication in pancreatic cancer patients?

Research has shown that palliative care consultations are generally safe and can benefit patients with pancreatic cancer. Studies have found that patients with advanced gastrointestinal cancers who receive palliative care in the hospital often have fewer hospital visits and spend less time there, indicating that the care is well-tolerated.

Palliative care consultations also improve mental health. In a study of over 4,000 patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer, those who received a palliative care consultation reported feeling less anxious than those who did not.

Overall, this type of care does not involve medication or surgery, so it avoids typical side effects associated with drugs or operations. Instead, it focuses on improving quality of life by addressing emotional and communication needs, making it a low-risk option for those considering it as part of their care plan. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Unlike traditional treatments for pancreatic cancer that focus mainly on attacking the tumor with chemotherapy, surgery, or radiation, palliative care emphasizes improving the patient's quality of life. Researchers are excited about integrating palliative care consultations early in the treatment process because it addresses the patient's overall well-being, including managing symptoms and emotional support. This approach is unique because it involves a dedicated 60-minute session where patients can discuss their illness, fears, and communication preferences, potentially leading to better personalized care and improved patient satisfaction. By focusing on the patient's quality of life alongside traditional cancer treatments, this method may enhance the overall treatment experience for patients with pancreatic cancer.

What evidence suggests that a palliative care consultation is effective for improving communication in patients considering surgery for pancreatic cancer?

Research has shown that palliative care can greatly enhance the quality of life for individuals with serious illnesses like pancreatic cancer. In this trial, participants in Arm II will receive a palliative care visit, which may result in benefits such as reduced hospital stays and fewer readmissions, indicating better condition management. Another study found that palliative care can also lower healthcare costs, making it a wise choice for many. Although not everyone with pancreatic cancer receives palliative care, those who do often experience improved communication with their healthcare team. This enhanced communication can lead to better decision-making and more personalized care. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Elizabeth Loggers, Ph.D

Principal Investigator

Fred Hutch/University of Washington Cancer Consortium

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for patients with pancreatic tumors who are considering surgery. It's designed to see if talking with a palliative care team helps improve communication and decision-making.

Inclusion Criteria

Ability to read, write, and speak in English

My condition is diagnosed as pancreatic cancer.

I am capable of making my own health decisions.

Exclusion Criteria

I am receiving or have received palliative care, or I do not want to stop palliative care for the first 90 days after being assigned to a treatment group.

Currently incarcerated

Evidence of any behavior, condition, or circumstance that would interfere with their ability to complete study procedures as noted within the chart

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Intervention

Patients receive usual care or attend a palliative care visit and undergo evaluation by a tumor board

14 days

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after the intervention

90 days

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Palliative Care Consultation

Trial Overview The study tests whether a special meeting (palliative care consultation) can help people understand their surgical options better, by comparing patient experiences with and without this extra support.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Arm II (Palliative care visit) Experimental Treatment 3 Interventions

Patients attend a palliative care visit over 60 minutes to discuss their illness, quality of life, fears and concerns and communication preferences within 7 days of baseline. Patients also undergo evaluation by a tumor board within 14 days of baseline.

Group II: Arm I (Usual care) Active Control 3 Interventions

Patients receive usual care and undergo evaluation by a tumor board within 14 days of baseline.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

583

Recruited

1,341,000+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11395880/

The Paradox of Palliative Care at the End of Life: Higher Rates ... Less than 30% of patients with pancreatic cancer received a PCC. Those who received a PCC had more aggressive interventions in the end-of-life period.

2. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP.2023.19.11_suppl.256

Assessing the utilization of palliative care services in the ... The median time from consultation to death was 57 days and 36.5% patients received palliative care only within one month of their death.

3. liebertpub.com liebertpub.com/doi/10.1177/10966218251392468?doi=10.1177/10966218251392468

Impact of Inpatient Palliative Care Consultation on Health ... Conclusion: Following inpatient PC, patients with advanced GI cancer experienced fewer readmissions, days in hospital, and lower costs.

4. asco.org asco.org/abstracts-presentations/ABSTRACT353328

Palliative care and end-of-life care in metastatic pancreatic ... Background: Patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer (mPC) have a 5-year survival of 2.7%. Studies have shown that patients with mPC receive aggressive ...

5. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022480423001130

Utilization of Palliative and Hospice Care Among ... Only 3 out of 10 patients with pancreatic cancer received palliative care at an average of 6 mo from initial diagnosis. More than two out of every five patients ...

6. ascopubs.org ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/OP-24-00892

Early Integration of Outpatient Palliative Care Among ... Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer were more likely to receive any PC referral during the study period, whereas younger patients and ...

7. cancernetwork.com cancernetwork.com/view/palliative-care-may-improve-mental-health-in-pancreatic-cancer-diagnoses

Palliative Care May Improve Mental Health in Pancreatic ... Data showed that of 4029 patients with newly diagnosed pancreatic cancer, 33.9% with anxiety had a palliative care consultation vs 22.8% who ...