Endoscopic Bipolar Radiofrequency Probe (ENDOHPB) in the Management of Unresectable Bile Duct and Pancreatic Cancer

Weill Cornell Medicine (WCM)

Status: Terminated

Conditions: Cholangiocarcinoma; Pancreatic Cancer

Treatments: Device: Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency probe (ENDOHPB)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01303159

1107011793

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to assess safety and ability of the endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probe (ENDOHPB) to produce an improvement in the management of cancer of the bile duct or the pancreatic duct. By using radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the tissue in the duct prior to insertion of the stent, the surrounding tissue becomes coagulated and this may delay tumour growth and the time before the stent lumen becomes blocked. Thereby, allowing increased periods between the need for intervention and further stent deployment. The study will look to see if the ENDOHPB is able to keep the stent open longer and perhaps decrease the number of invasive procedures for occluded (blocked) stents.

Full description

Only a small proportion of patients with biliary obstruction caused by cholangiocarcinoma or pancreatic cancer are suitable for surgical resection. As the cancer grows, it blocks the drainage of the bile ducts that carry digestive juices from the gall bladder and pancreas to the small intestine. Blocked drainage causes abdominal pain, bloating, and nausea. ERCP (endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography) is often prescribed. ERCP with stent placement is the standard medical procedure for people with bile duct and pancreatic cancer.

The purpose of this study is to assess safety and ability of the endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) probe (ENDOHPB) to produce an improvement in the management of cancer of the bile duct or the pancreatic duct. By using radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the tissue in the duct prior to insertion of the stent, the surrounding tissue becomes coagulated and this may delay tumour growth and the time before the stent lumen becomes blocked. Thereby, allowing increased periods between the need for intervention and further stent deployment. The study will look to see if the ENDOHPB is able to keep the stent open longer and perhaps decrease the number of invasive procedures for occluded (blocked) stents.

The objectives are:

• To assess assess the safety and effectiveness of an endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency catheter (EndoHPB) in the management of unresectable cholangiocarcinoma and pancreatic cancer

Enrollment: 29 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Either gender greater than or equal to 18 years of age.
• Pancreatic cancer or cholangiocarcinoma unsuitable for surgical resection. Criteria of unresectability being based on 1) metastatic disease or 2) locally advanced.
• Biliary obstruction
• Blocked self expanding mesh metal stent (SEMS)
• Subjects capable of giving informed consent
• Life expectancy of at least 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• Cardiac Pacemaker
• Patient unstable for endoscopy
• Inability to give informed consent
• Uncorrected coagulopathy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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29 participants in 1 patient group

Radiofrequency probe (ENDOHPB)

Experimental group

Description:

Intervention: The EndoHPB is an endoscopic bipolar catheter designed to ablate tissue in malignant tumors within luminal structures, such as the biliary tree or pancreatic ducts. EndoHPB can be deployed via an ERCP or Percutaneous Transhepatic Cholangiographic (PTC) route. By using radiofrequency (RF) energy to heat the tissue in the duct prior to insertion of the stent, the surrounding tissue becomes coagulated and this may delay tumour growth and the time before the stent lumen becomes blocked. Thereby, allowing increased periods between the need for intervention and further stent deployment

Treatment:

Device: Endoscopic bipolar radiofrequency probe (ENDOHPB)