NCT05132244

Brief Summary

This study will investigate whether or not it is feasible to closely monitor and manage glucose levels in people with pancreatic cancer. It will also investigate what impact glucose management may have on pancreatic cancer. This is a pilot study that will use continuous glucose monitors (CGM) to monitor glucose levels in approximately 50 participants with pancreatic cancer. Participants will receive standard chemotherapy with a combination of up to four drugs to treat their pancreatic cancer: oxaliplatin, irinotecan, 5-fluorouracil, and leucovorin (FOLFIRINOX). To treat high glucose levels, participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 will receive anti-hyperglycemic treatment as guided by an endocrinologist with the aim of maintaining glucose levels between 4 and 10 mmol/L; Group 2 will receive anti-hyperglycemic treatment if their glucose levels are above 15 mmol/L, which is standard care. Participants in both Groups 1 and 2 will receive standard anti-hyperglycemic treatments: metformin, insulin, glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, sodium glucose co-transporter (SGLT2) inhibitors, and dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. After 4 cycles of FOLFIRINOX, the CGM will be removed but any anti-hyperglycemic treatments will continue as needed. If participants discontinue treatment with FOLFIRINOX, they will continue to be followed for survival and subsequent anti-cancer therapy and will continue follow-up for glucose-related concerns at the discretion of their endocrinologist and/or medical oncologist.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
50

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable pancreatic-cancer

Timeline
11mo left

Started Apr 2024

Geographic Reach
1 country

2 active sites

Status
recruiting

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Progress70%
Apr 2024Apr 2027

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 10, 2021

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

November 24, 2021

Completed
2.4 years until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

April 16, 2024

Completed
3 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

April 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

April 1, 2027

Last Updated

September 22, 2025

Status Verified

September 1, 2025

Enrollment Period

3 years

First QC Date

November 10, 2021

Last Update Submit

September 17, 2025

Conditions

Keywords

FOLFIRINOXContinuous Glucose MonitorFeasibilityGlycemic managementEndocrinologistIntensive glucose interventionPilotGlucose control

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Frequency of glucose levels maintained within range in Arm 1 compared to Arm 2

    The percentage of time each participant's glucose levels in Arm 1 and Arm 2 remained within the 4-10 mmol/L range during the fourth cycle of FOLFIRINOX treatment as measured by a continuous glucose monitor.

    From the Cycle 4 FOLFIRINOX treatment date to the Cycle 5 FOLFIRINOX treatment date (each cycle is typically 14 days).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Overall response rate (ORR) in each study arm, as defined by RECIST 1.1

    From the date of the screening scan (within 28 days of first dose) until the date of confirmed progression, withdrawal, date of death, or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

  • Progression-free survival (PFS) in each study arm from the initiation of FOLFIRINOX

    From the date of first dose of FOLFIRINOX until the date of confirmed progression, withdrawal, date of death, or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

  • Overall survival (OS) in each study arm from the initiation of FOLFIRINOX

    From the date of first dose of FOLFIRINOX until the date of death or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

Other Outcomes (10)

  • Overall response rate (ORR) in each study arm, as defined by RECIST 1.1 and stratified by prognostic and metabolic gene expression subtypes of PDAC

    From the date of the screening scan (within 28 days of first dose) until the date of confirmed progression, withdrawal, date of death, or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

  • Progression-free survival (PFS) in each study arm stratified by prognostic and metabolic gene expression subtypes of PDAC from the initiation of FOLFIRINOX

    From the date of first dose of FOLFIRINOX until the date of confirmed progression, withdrawal, date of death, or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

  • Overall survival (OS) in each study arm stratified by prognostic and metabolic gene expression subtypes of PDAC from the initiation of FOLFIRINOX

    From the date of first dose of FOLFIRINOX until the date of death or end of study, whichever comes first, assessed up to 43 months.

  • +7 more other outcomes

Study Arms (2)

Intensive Glucose Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive standard anti-hyperglycemic treatment as guided by an endocrinologist using a combination of data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and standard blood work drawn prior to each cycle of chemotherapy. Treatment will aim to maintain glucose levels between 4 and 10 mmol/L. Participants will have real-time access to their glucose data via the CGM.

Procedure: Endocrinologist-directed target blood glucose level 4-10 mmol/L using data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM)

Standard Care

OTHER

Participants will receive standard anti-hyperglycemic treatment only if blood glucose level is above 15 mmol/L as measured from standard blood work drawn prior to each cycle of chemotherapy. Participants will wear a CGM but will not be able to view their glucose data. Participants may be referred to an endocrinologist at the discretion of their medical oncologist.

Other: Standard Care

Interventions

Standard anti-hyperglycemic treatment given as directed by an endocrinologist to maintain blood glucose level within 4-10 mmol/L based on data from a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and standard blood work drawn prior to each cycle of chemotherapy. Participants will have access to their glucose data from the CGM.

Intensive Glucose Intervention

Standard anti-hyperglycemic treatment given only if blood glucose level is greater than 15 mmol/L as measured from standard blood work drawn prior to each cycle of chemotherapy. Participants will wear a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) but will not have access to their glucose data. Participants may be referred to an endocrinologist at the discretion of their medical oncologist.

Standard Care

Eligibility Criteria

Age18 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Histological/cytological diagnosis of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).
  • Planned to undergo first-line systemic therapy with FOLFIRINOX.
  • Age greater than or equal to 18 years.
  • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-1.
  • Adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following laboratory values:
  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1.5 x 10\^9/L.
  • Platelet count greater than or equal to 75 x 10\^9/L.
  • Hemoglobin greater than or equal to 9.0 g/dL.
  • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) by Cockroft-Gault equation OR 24 hour urine collection greater than or equal to 40 ml/min.
  • Creatinine clearance greater than or equal to 40 mL/min using Cockcroft-Gault formula.
  • Potassium within normal limits, or corrected with supplements.
  • International normalized ratio (INR) less than or equal to 1.5.
  • Total serum bilirubin less than or equal to 2 x upper limit of normal (ULN) (any elevated bilirubin should be asymptomatic at enrollment) except for participants with documented Gilbert's syndrome who may only be included if the total bilirubin less than or equal to 3 x ULN or direct bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 x ULN).
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) less than or equal to 2.5 x ULN (or less than or equal to 5 x ULN if liver metastases are present).
  • Able to understand and voluntarily sign the informed consent form.
  • +4 more criteria

You may not qualify if:

  • Absence of distant or lymph node metastases. Participants with borderline resectable or locally advanced PDAC are not eligible.
  • Received prior systemic therapy (chemotherapy or any other anti-cancer agent) for treatment of metastatic PDAC. Participants who received adjuvant chemotherapy after surgical resection of early stage disease are eligible.
  • Currently receiving anti-cancer therapy (chemotherapy or any other anti-cancer agent).
  • Not fit for combination chemotherapy as judged by the study doctor.
  • Presence of brain metastases.
  • Known diagnosis of type I diabetes where strict glucose control and close Endocrinology follow-up is already indicated.
  • Known diagnosis of type II diabetes and already followed by Endocrinologist.
  • Female participants with a positive pregnancy test.
  • Participants who are not safe to include in the study as judged by the study doctor for any medical or non-medical reason.
  • Unable to comply with study assessments and follow-up.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (2)

British Columbia Cancer

Vancouver, British Columbia, V5Z 4E6, Canada

RECRUITING

Princess Margaret Cancer Centre

Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2M9, Canada

RECRUITING

Related Publications (30)

  • Becker S, Dossus L, Kaaks R. Obesity related hyperinsulinaemia and hyperglycaemia and cancer development. Arch Physiol Biochem. 2009 May;115(2):86-96. doi: 10.1080/13813450902878054.

    PMID: 19485704BACKGROUND
  • Dawson DW, Hertzer K, Moro A, Donald G, Chang HH, Go VL, Pandol SJ, Lugea A, Gukovskaya AS, Li G, Hines OJ, Rozengurt E, Eibl G. High-fat, high-calorie diet promotes early pancreatic neoplasia in the conditional KrasG12D mouse model. Cancer Prev Res (Phila). 2013 Oct;6(10):1064-73. doi: 10.1158/1940-6207.CAPR-13-0065. Epub 2013 Aug 13.

    PMID: 23943783BACKGROUND
  • Harris D, Barts A, Connors J, Dahl M, Elliott T, Kong J, Keane T, Thompson D, Stafford S, Ur E, Sirrs S. Glucocorticoid-induced hyperglycemia is prevalent and unpredictable for patients undergoing cancer therapy: an observational cohort study. Curr Oncol. 2013 Dec;20(6):e532-8. doi: 10.3747/co.20.1499.

    PMID: 24311953BACKGROUND
  • Hart AR, Kennedy H, Harvey I. Pancreatic cancer: a review of the evidence on causation. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Mar;6(3):275-82. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2007.12.041.

    PMID: 18328435BACKGROUND
  • Hassan MM, Bondy ML, Wolff RA, Abbruzzese JL, Vauthey JN, Pisters PW, Evans DB, Khan R, Chou TH, Lenzi R, Jiao L, Li D. Risk factors for pancreatic cancer: case-control study. Am J Gastroenterol. 2007 Dec;102(12):2696-707. doi: 10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01510.x. Epub 2007 Aug 31.

    PMID: 17764494BACKGROUND
  • Hjartaker A, Langseth H, Weiderpass E. Obesity and diabetes epidemics: cancer repercussions. Adv Exp Med Biol. 2008;630:72-93. doi: 10.1007/978-0-387-78818-0_6.

    PMID: 18637486BACKGROUND
  • Huxley R, Ansary-Moghaddam A, Berrington de Gonzalez A, Barzi F, Woodward M. Type-II diabetes and pancreatic cancer: a meta-analysis of 36 studies. Br J Cancer. 2005 Jun 6;92(11):2076-83. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6602619.

    PMID: 15886696BACKGROUND
  • Karasinska JM, Topham JT, Kalloger SE, Jang GH, Denroche RE, Culibrk L, Williamson LM, Wong HL, Lee MKC, O'Kane GM, Moore RA, Mungall AJ, Moore MJ, Warren C, Metcalfe A, Notta F, Knox JJ, Gallinger S, Laskin J, Marra MA, Jones SJM, Renouf DJ, Schaeffer DF. Altered Gene Expression along the Glycolysis-Cholesterol Synthesis Axis Is Associated with Outcome in Pancreatic Cancer. Clin Cancer Res. 2020 Jan 1;26(1):135-146. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-19-1543. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

    PMID: 31481506BACKGROUND
  • Kawada K, Toda K, Sakai Y. Targeting metabolic reprogramming in KRAS-driven cancers. Int J Clin Oncol. 2017 Aug;22(4):651-659. doi: 10.1007/s10147-017-1156-4. Epub 2017 Jun 24.

    PMID: 28647837BACKGROUND
  • Kenner BJ, Chari ST, Maitra A, Srivastava S, Cleeter DF, Go VL, Rothschild LJ, Goldberg AE. Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer-a Defined Future Using Lessons From Other Cancers: A White Paper. Pancreas. 2016 Sep;45(8):1073-9. doi: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000000701.

    PMID: 27518362BACKGROUND
  • Kleeff J, Costello E, Jackson R, Halloran C, Greenhalf W, Ghaneh P, Lamb RF, Lerch MM, Mayerle J, Palmer D, Cox T, Rawcliffe CL, Strobel O, Buchler MW, Neoptolemos JP. The impact of diabetes mellitus on survival following resection and adjuvant chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. Br J Cancer. 2016 Sep 27;115(7):887-94. doi: 10.1038/bjc.2016.277. Epub 2016 Sep 1.

    PMID: 27584663BACKGROUND
  • Koorstra JB, Hustinx SR, Offerhaus GJ, Maitra A. Pancreatic carcinogenesis. Pancreatology. 2008;8(2):110-25. doi: 10.1159/000123838. Epub 2008 Apr 1.

    PMID: 18382097BACKGROUND
  • Kopp JL, von Figura G, Mayes E, Liu FF, Dubois CL, Morris JP 4th, Pan FC, Akiyama H, Wright CV, Jensen K, Hebrok M, Sander M. Identification of Sox9-dependent acinar-to-ductal reprogramming as the principal mechanism for initiation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell. 2012 Dec 11;22(6):737-50. doi: 10.1016/j.ccr.2012.10.025. Epub 2012 Nov 29.

    PMID: 23201164BACKGROUND
  • Lauby-Secretan B, Scoccianti C, Loomis D, Grosse Y, Bianchini F, Straif K; International Agency for Research on Cancer Handbook Working Group. Body Fatness and Cancer--Viewpoint of the IARC Working Group. N Engl J Med. 2016 Aug 25;375(8):794-8. doi: 10.1056/NEJMsr1606602. No abstract available.

    PMID: 27557308BACKGROUND
  • Li D, Xie K, Wolff R, Abbruzzese JL. Pancreatic cancer. Lancet. 2004 Mar 27;363(9414):1049-57. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(04)15841-8.

    PMID: 15051286BACKGROUND
  • McCarty MF. Insulin secretion as a determinant of pancreatic cancer risk. Med Hypotheses. 2001 Aug;57(2):146-50. doi: 10.1054/mehy.2001.1316.

    PMID: 11461162BACKGROUND
  • Pannala R, Leirness JB, Bamlet WR, Basu A, Petersen GM, Chari ST. Prevalence and clinical profile of pancreatic cancer-associated diabetes mellitus. Gastroenterology. 2008 Apr;134(4):981-7. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2008.01.039. Epub 2008 Jan 18.

    PMID: 18395079BACKGROUND
  • Pleasance E, Titmuss E, Williamson L, Kwan H, Culibrk L, Zhao EY, Dixon K, Fan K, Bowlby R, Jones MR, Shen Y, Grewal JK, Ashkani J, Wee K, Grisdale CJ, Thibodeau ML, Bozoky Z, Pearson H, Majounie E, Vira T, Shenwai R, Mungall KL, Chuah E, Davies A, Warren M, Reisle C, Bonakdar M, Taylor GA, Csizmok V, Chan SK, Zong Z, Bilobram S, Muhammadzadeh A, D'Souza D, Corbett RD, MacMillan D, Carreira M, Choo C, Bleile D, Sadeghi S, Zhang W, Wong T, Cheng D, Brown SD, Holt RA, Moore RA, Mungall AJ, Zhao Y, Nelson J, Fok A, Ma Y, Lee MKC, Lavoie JM, Mendis S, Karasinska JM, Deol B, Fisic A, Schaeffer DF, Yip S, Schrader K, Regier DA, Weymann D, Chia S, Gelmon K, Tinker A, Sun S, Lim H, Renouf DJ, Laskin J, Jones SJM, Marra MA. Pan-cancer analysis of advanced patient tumors reveals interactions between therapy and genomic landscapes. Nat Cancer. 2020 Apr;1(4):452-468. doi: 10.1038/s43018-020-0050-6. Epub 2020 Apr 13.

    PMID: 35121966BACKGROUND
  • Polonsky KS. Dynamics of insulin secretion in obesity and diabetes. Int J Obes Relat Metab Disord. 2000 Jun;24 Suppl 2:S29-31. doi: 10.1038/sj.ijo.0801273.

    PMID: 10997604BACKGROUND
  • Sharma A, Chari ST. Pancreatic Cancer and Diabetes Mellitus. Curr Treat Options Gastroenterol. 2018 Dec;16(4):466-478. doi: 10.1007/s11938-018-0197-8.

    PMID: 30215162BACKGROUND
  • Sharma A, Smyrk TC, Levy MJ, Topazian MA, Chari ST. Fasting Blood Glucose Levels Provide Estimate of Duration and Progression of Pancreatic Cancer Before Diagnosis. Gastroenterology. 2018 Aug;155(2):490-500.e2. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2018.04.025. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

    PMID: 29723506BACKGROUND
  • Shlomai G, Neel B, LeRoith D, Gallagher EJ. Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Cancer: The Role of Pharmacotherapy. J Clin Oncol. 2016 Dec 10;34(35):4261-4269. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2016.67.4044. Epub 2016 Nov 7.

    PMID: 27903154BACKGROUND
  • Siegel RL, Miller KD, Fuchs HE, Jemal A. Cancer Statistics, 2021. CA Cancer J Clin. 2021 Jan;71(1):7-33. doi: 10.3322/caac.21654. Epub 2021 Jan 12.

    PMID: 33433946BACKGROUND
  • Templeman NM, Flibotte S, Chik JHL, Sinha S, Lim GE, Foster LJ, Nislow C, Johnson JD. Reduced Circulating Insulin Enhances Insulin Sensitivity in Old Mice and Extends Lifespan. Cell Rep. 2017 Jul 11;20(2):451-463. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.06.048.

    PMID: 28700945BACKGROUND
  • Tsujimoto T, Kajio H, Sugiyama T. Association between hyperinsulinemia and increased risk of cancer death in nonobese and obese people: A population-based observational study. Int J Cancer. 2017 Jul 1;141(1):102-111. doi: 10.1002/ijc.30729. Epub 2017 Apr 22.

    PMID: 28390156BACKGROUND
  • Wang F, Qi XM, Wertz R, Mortensen M, Hagen C, Evans J, Sheinin Y, James M, Liu P, Tsai S, Thomas J, Mackinnon A, Dwinell M, Myers CR, Bartrons Bach R, Fu L, Chen G. p38gamma MAPK Is Essential for Aerobic Glycolysis and Pancreatic Tumorigenesis. Cancer Res. 2020 Aug 15;80(16):3251-3264. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-19-3281. Epub 2020 Jun 24.

    PMID: 32580961BACKGROUND
  • Wang M, Li J, Lim GE, Johnson JD. Is dynamic autocrine insulin signaling possible? A mathematical model predicts picomolar concentrations of extracellular monomeric insulin within human pancreatic islets. PLoS One. 2013 Jun 14;8(6):e64860. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0064860. Print 2013.

    PMID: 23798995BACKGROUND
  • Yan L, Raj P, Yao W, Ying H. Glucose Metabolism in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel). 2019 Sep 29;11(10):1460. doi: 10.3390/cancers11101460.

    PMID: 31569510BACKGROUND
  • Yuan C, Rubinson DA, Qian ZR, Wu C, Kraft P, Bao Y, Ogino S, Ng K, Clancy TE, Swanson RS, Gorman MJ, Brais LK, Li T, Stampfer MJ, Hu FB, Giovannucci EL, Kulke MH, Fuchs CS, Wolpin BM. Survival among patients with pancreatic cancer and long-standing or recent-onset diabetes mellitus. J Clin Oncol. 2015 Jan 1;33(1):29-35. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2014.57.5688. Epub 2014 Nov 17.

    PMID: 25403204BACKGROUND
  • Zhang AMY, Magrill J, de Winter TJJ, Hu X, Skovso S, Schaeffer DF, Kopp JL, Johnson JD. Endogenous Hyperinsulinemia Contributes to Pancreatic Cancer Development. Cell Metab. 2019 Sep 3;30(3):403-404. doi: 10.1016/j.cmet.2019.07.003. Epub 2019 Aug 1. No abstract available.

    PMID: 31378465BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Pancreatic NeoplasmsHyperglycemia

Interventions

Standard of Care

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Digestive System NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteNeoplasmsEndocrine Gland NeoplasmsDigestive System DiseasesPancreatic DiseasesEndocrine System DiseasesGlucose Metabolism DisordersMetabolic DiseasesNutritional and Metabolic Diseases

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Quality Indicators, Health CareQuality of Health CareHealth Services AdministrationHealth Care Quality, Access, and Evaluation

Study Officials

  • Daniel Renouf, MD, MPH

    BC Cancer

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Daniel Renouf, MD, MPH

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
SINGLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT
Masking Details
Participants in Group 1 can view their glucose data in real-time from the continuous glucose monitor (CGM) whereas participants in Group 2 cannot. Participants in Groups 1 and 2 will NOT be masked to the anti-cancer or anti-hyperglycemic treatment they receive.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
SPONSOR

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 10, 2021

First Posted

November 24, 2021

Study Start

April 16, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

April 1, 2027

Last Updated

September 22, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-09

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations