Clinical Trials and Research

Research studies are conducted to answer important questions about pancreatic cancer and find better treatment options. Participation in any type of research study is voluntary.

Clinical trials

A clinical trial, also known as an interventional study, is a specific type of research study that tests whether an experimental treatment is safe and effective. Results from clinical trials will help determine if new treatments for pancreatic cancer work and if there are side effects. They're also an effective way for patients to gain access to the latest treatment options.

Clinical trials may explore:

• New medications or new combinations of existing treatments
• Changes to how treatment is delivered, such as adjusting the dose or schedule
• Different supportive care approaches or management plans to improve quality of life
• New tests to detect or monitor cancer

Resources

• Clinical trial terminology can be complex and difficult to understand. Cancer Victoria’s glossary of key terms compiles common phrases that may be encountered when exploring clinical trials. It is not necessary to understand all these terms, but it may be useful to refer to if you come across an unfamiliar word.

Research studies

Not all research studies involve testing new treatments. There are other meaningful ways to participate in research that contribute to our understanding of pancreatic cancer by collecting and analysing data on the disease's trajectory.

These may include:

• Clinical registries that collect information about diagnosis, treatment, and track patient outcomes over time.
• Biobanks that store samples such as blood to support future research.
• Screening studies that aim to detect pancreatic cancer or related conditions earlier, when more treatment options may be available.

These types of studies are a valuable means of contributing to our understanding of pancreatic cancer and supporting future patients.

Resources

• APRISE page, APCR, and other observational studies on JPCE website

Standard of care

Standard of care refers to treatments and management approaches that are widely accepted as best practice and supported by strong evidence from previous research and clinical experience. These are the treatments healthcare professionals currently use because they are known to be effective and safe.

A common goal of clinical trials is to see if discoveries made during the research phase are better than current standard of care. New therapies or management plans may help to prolong survival, reduce side effects, or be better tolerated than existing options.

Treatment and control groups

Participants may be assigned into either a treatment group or control group to compare a new treatment with the current standard of care. These groups are often randomly assigned by a computer in a process called randomisation.

Participants in the control group still receive care, but not the new treatment being investigated. In pancreatic cancer clinical trials, participants in the control group will always receive at least the current standard of care. This ensures they receive the same quality of treatment they would receive outside the trial, while also allowing researchers to compare the new treatment against the best existing option.

Often clinical trials are blinded, meaning participants, researchers, or both do not know which treatment group a participant has been assigned to.

Some trials use a placebo, an inactive treatment that may be given alongside standard of care. Placebos ensure participants and researchers do not know who is receiving the investigational treatment, helping to reduce bias in the results.

Depending on the trial design, participants may:

• Receive the interventional treatment (treatment group)
• Receive the interventional treatment in combination with standard of care (treatment group)
• Receive standard of care (control group)
• Receive standard of care in combination with a placebo (control group)

Group allocation is not always a 50/50 split between treatment and control, and in some trials all participants receive the interventional treatment.

Before agreeing to join a trial, participants will be informed whether the study involves randomisation, blinding, or the use of a placebo. Information about treatments and study procedures will continue to be provided throughout participation.

Resources

For up-to-date information on the standard of care for pancreatic cancer, please refer to these resources:

• Cancer Council Victoria and Department of Health: Optimal care pathway for people with pancreatic cancer. You can refer to this pathway to learn about the standard of care for pancreatic cancer at all stages of diagnosis and treatment.
• AJGP Pancreatic cancer: An update on diagnosis and management.

For any new treatment to be approved for wide-scale use, it must pass through a rigorous clinical trial process to ensure it is both safe and effective.

Pancreatic cancer clinical trials are led by teams of doctors, researchers, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Trials are offered through hospitals, specialist centres, cancer clinics, and other healthcare settings.

If you participate in a clinical trial through JPCE, you will meet members of our dedicated research team, who will provide support and expertise throughout your involvement in the trial.

Pictured from left to right:

• Ashleigh Poh, Research Program Manager
• Sue Thang, Clinical Research Coordinator
• Rebekah De Losa, Data Officer
• Brigid McKeagney-Douglas, Research Assistant
• Nethme Wickramarathne, Clinical Research Coordinator
• Raffiela Garcia, Project Officer
• Halina Pietrzak, Clinical Research Coordinator, APRISE Program
• Alishiya Murali, Clinical Research Coordinator

If you would like more information or have any questions, contact our team.

Eligibility criteria are clear guidelines that define who can and cannot participate in a clinical trial or research study. Eligibility criteria are essential to the research process. They ensure the study group share certain characteristics, allowing researchers to isolate the effect of an investigational treatment and confirm that the results of the trial were due to the treatment being tested and not another factor. They also help protect participant safety and ensure the study results are reliable.

Eligibility criteria are unique to each trial and often complex. These factors can include a range of medical history and lifestyle factors.

Lines of treatment

The treatments you have previously received may affect eligibility for certain studies.

Some studies are available for patients who have not yet started treatment (first-line studies), while others are only available after a previous treatment has stopped working or is no longer suitable (second-line studies).

Descriptive stages of pancreatic cancer

There are many labels, stages, and grades that care teams assign to describe how advanced the cancer is and how quickly it may grow. This also guides eligibility for particular clinical trials.

• Resectable: Early stage pancreatic cancer where the cancer has not spread to other parts of the body and can be removed by surgery.
• Unresectable/locally advanced: The cancer has not spread to other parts of the body but cannot be entirely removed through surgery due to the tumour size or involvement of surrounding structures.
• Metastatic: The cancer has spread to other parts of the body.

Determining eligibility

Your doctor is the best person to help you determine whether you meet the criteria for a particular trial. If you do not meet the criteria for one study, there may be other clinical trials or research opportunities that are a better fit for your circumstances.

When deciding whether to take part in a clinical trial, you need to be aware of what it involves. Your care team can discuss clinical trial options in detail to help you make an informed decision about which trial, if any, is the best option. Every pancreatic cancer patient is unique, and there is no single clinical trial that is considered the best option for everyone.

Resources

• Speak with your doctor and care team.
• Review information about currently available trials through our website.
• Advocate for yourself. Doing your own research and asking questions about trials can help you find one that may be right for you.

Your doctor can help you learn more about trials before making a decision, including the benefits and risks of taking part. Participating in a clinical trial is always voluntary, and the decision to take part should be based on what is right for you. You can also leave a clinical trial and return to standard of care treatment at any time.

At the Jreissati Pancreatic Centre at Epworth, we run clinical trials and research studies covering every phase of cancer diagnosis, treatment and care.

List of JCPE clinical trials 

Learn more about How do I join a clinical trial.

To guide your search for external clinical trials, please refer to the curated list below of the most reliable sources.

Australian Cancer Trials

National resource developed by Aus Gov in collaboration with Cancer Australia to search for any cancer trial listed on the ANZCTR Registry. It is not pancreatic cancer specific but allows users to search by key words. It includes study description, location, recruitment status, contact details.

Australian Clinical Trials

Similar to the above resource, but not cancer specific. It may be useful if needing to search for broader pancreatic conditions, such as pancreatitis.

Pankind trial finder

A pancreatic-specific search engine which allows you to search for clinical trials being conducted across Australia, providing information about study aims, eligibility criteria, locations and contact details. It is designed to help patients and their care team identify potentially suitable clinical trial opportunities.

To stay informed, it is important to use trusted sources that provide accurate, up-to-date information about pancreatic cancer research and clinical trials. The resources below provide reliable and reputable information to understand recent developments.

1. JPCE News provides verified information on emerging changes in the pancreatic cancer landscape.
2. Our list of currently available clinical trials and research studies is regularly updated with new openings.
3. Subscribe to our newsletter for further announcements.

For further information on particular topics:

• Avantect Pancreatic Cancer Test
• RASolute 303 study of Daraxonrasib
• APRISE pancreatic screening program

The pancreatic cancer research landscape is rapidly evolving, generating interest in mainstream media. Although the increased attention is encouraging, media reports can sometimes oversimplify findings, misinterpret results, or lack important context.

Things reported in the news may involve:

• Clinical trials that are no longer recruiting new participants.
• Early-phase research that is not yet widely available.
• Trials that are only available at a limited number of hospital sites.
• Results from a small number of patients that require further research.

If you have heard about a new treatment and would like to know whether it may be relevant to you, your care team can provide the most credible information.

Many clinical trials are funded by the organisation (sponsor) conducting the research. This means that the investigational treatment, tests and appointments may be provided at no cost to participants. However, this is not the case for every study, and some costs may still be involved as part of standard care.

Private health insurance is not required to participate in a clinical trial. While clinical trials may be offered through both public and private healthcare services, the availability of places is often limited at individual hospital sites. Access to private healthcare services may provide additional trial site options, which can sometimes increase the number of relevant clinical trials available for consideration with your healthcare team.

Other research studies, such as screening programs, may not be funded by a sponsor in the same way as clinical trials. Appointments or procedures may incur fees that would apply as part of routine care. These costs are generally minimal and are usually covered under Medicare or private health insurance.

Before deciding whether to participate, the research team will explain any potential costs associated with the study, including what is funded and what you may be required to pay.

Resources:

• Roadmap to reducing financial toxicity experienced by people affected by cancer
• Cancer Council financial support resources

Clinical trials are conducted at specific hospitals and research sites, which can make participation more challenging for people living outside metropolitan areas. Depending on the study, some trial sponsors provide funding to assist participants with travel and accommodation costs associated with accessing a trial site.

Resources:

Patients who need to travel to access specialist care, whether as part of a clinical trial or standard treatment, may be able to access financial support.

Each state and territory has a Patient Assisted Travel Scheme to help patients in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia with travel costs associated with their care.

• Victoria: Victorian Patient Transport Assistance Scheme
• New South Wales: Isolated Patients Travel and Accommodation Assistance Scheme
• Queensland: Patient Travel Subsidy Scheme
• South Australia: Patient Assistance Transport Scheme
• Western Australia: Patient Assisted Travel Scheme and Interstate Patient Travel Scheme
• Tasmania: Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
• Australian Capital Territory: Interstate Patient Travel Assistance Scheme
• Northern Territory: Patient Assistance Travel Scheme

JPCE-led clinical trials are currently only available to patients receiving care in Australia. Unfortunately, we are unable to enrol international patients at this time.

Resources:

• US National Library of Medicine global database of clinical trials

Access to culturally safe information can help patients and their families better understand research opportunities and make informed decisions about participation.

The resources below provide trusted, First Nations-led information about clinical trials and research, including what participation involves and where to access further support.

Resources:

• Our Mob and Cancer educational portal for guidance on what to expect when participating in clinical trials
• Cancer Victoria infographic
• ReViTALISE project video resources

Patients can also reach out to Aboriginal Health Liaison Officers (AHLOs) at hospitals where trials are conducted, as well as local Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations, which can provide ongoing support and information.

If English is not your first language and/or you identify as CALD, translated resources are available to help you access information. Free interpreting services are also available at most major hospitals where care is delivered and trials are conducted.

Resources:

• Translated clinical trial information available at the top of this page
• Cancer Victoria multilingual resources
• Australian Government Translating and Interpreting Service

Whilst trials help to provide access to new treatments and help advance research, participation is always voluntary and remains a personal choice. Additionally, if you are not eligible for one trial, there may be other clinical trials or research studies available now or in the future that can be discussed with your care team or the JPCE Coordinators.

Choosing not to participate, withdrawing from a trial, or being ineligible will not affect the quality of care you receive. Treatment decisions will continue to be guided by your healthcare team, with a focus on your individual needs, preferences, safety, and wellbeing. Research should never replace patient-centred care, and decisions about treatment will always be made in partnership with you.

A range of resources and support services are available to help you and your family navigate treatment, manage symptoms, and access practical and emotional support.

Resources:

• Living with cancer resources
• Contact details for JPCE Pancreatic Nurse Coordinator located here.

Accessing reliable information and support can help carers better understand pancreatic cancer diagnosis, navigate the treatment options, and look after their own wellbeing.

Resources:

• JPCE caring for a loved one with pancreatic cancer video on living with cancer resources
• Aus Gov Carer Gateway
• Pankind carer’s support program