Stool Testing for Pancreatic Cancer
![]() |
The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details. |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01104129 |
Recruitment Status
:
Active, not recruiting
First Posted
: April 15, 2010
Last Update Posted
: February 8, 2018
|
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- No Results Posted
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
Condition or disease |
---|
Pancreatic Cancer |
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDC) remains the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States. This is largely due to the fact that most patients present with advanced, unresectable disease, highlighting the critical need for a screening test for this disease. Stool testing is an approach that has not been explored for use in PDC screening. With the advent of stool-based DNA tests, it may be possible to target genetic abnormalities that have been recently characterized in PDC tumorigenesis.
Aim: The aim of this study is to determine if deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) alterations present in pancreatic cancer and precancerous intrapapillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN) can be reliably recovered in matched stool.
Methods: This is a case-control prospective study to determine the utility of a stool-based digital melt curve (DMC) assay in PDC screening. A total of 30 patients (18 with pancreatic cancer, 12 with IPMN) who will be undergoing pancreatic resection will be enrolled. Pancreatic neoplastic tissue will be isolated from their surgical specimens and the genes most commonly mutated in PDC will be sequenced from extracted DNA. In addition, hypermethylation at common promoter sites will be assessed by methylation-specific PCR. The genetic and epigenetic alterations isolated in pancreatic tissue will be utilized as the targets for stool DMC assay. Blinded technicians will process stool specimens from control patients as well as a matched control. The primary outcomes of this study will be the sensitivity and specificity of the stool DMC assay in detecting genetic mutations present in tumor or IPMN lesions.
Study Type : | Observational |
Actual Enrollment : | 158 participants |
Observational Model: | Case-Control |
Time Perspective: | Prospective |
Official Title: | Detection of Pancreatic Cancer and Pre-cancer by Stool DNA Testing: A Feasibility Study |
Actual Study Start Date : | July 9, 2009 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | July 2019 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | July 2020 |
Group/Cohort |
---|
Control Group
Individual who has not had pancreatic cancer/IPMN; surgical resection for lesion of pancreas; history of colorectal, gastric cancer, esophageal, or head-and-neck cancer; administration of chemotherapy less than 1 week prior to enrollment; or an endoscopic procedure conducted less than 1 week prior to enrollment.
|
Diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer/IPMN
Patients diagnosed with Pancreatic Cancer/Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm who are scheduled for surgical resection.
|
- Positive mutation rate in tumors/IPMN lesions vs. control [ Time Frame: 30 days ]The positive mutation rates in tumor or IPMN lesions and in matched controls will be assessed.
- Percentage of patients with genetic abnormalities correctly detected in stool samples [ Time Frame: 30 days ]Whether or not the genetic abnormalities that are detected in resected tissue can also be detected in stool specimens will be studied. If the hypothesis proves to be true, a new, non-invasive technique used in the detection of pre-cancerous lesions of the pancreas and pancreatic cancer will thereby be determined.
Biospecimen Retention: Samples With DNA
- Tissue Collection: Fresh frozen resected tumor and IPMN tissue will be obtained whenever possible. All resected specimens, cancer and IPMN, will have histologic review to confirm the diagnosis. Ten slices of 10 microns each from each specimen will be prepared and sent to Mayo Clinic on dry ice.
- Stool Collection: Prior to any surgery, stool will be collected from both study and control patients. Collection containers and mailing materials will be provided to subjects at time of their recruitment. Stool specimens will be mailed directly to Mayo Clinic within 48 hours of collection. Stool will be stored at 80 °C until assayed.
- Stool DNA extraction: After stool is homogenized, crude stool DNA will be extracted and purified.
- Digital melt curve mutation analysis: Target gene copies in captured stool DNA and tissue DNA will be quantified with real-time PCR. To target the mutations detected in tumor specimens, we will utilize PCR primers that scan for specific gene abnormalities.

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 18 Years to 85 Years (Adult, Senior) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | Yes |
Sampling Method: | Non-Probability Sample |
Inclusion Criteria:
- 18 years of age and older.
- Tissue-confirmed or radiological evidence of either pancreatic adenocarcinoma or intrapapillary mucinous neoplasm(IPMN).
- Scheduled for surgical resection of the adenocarcinoma or IPMN.
- Able to give informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- History of colorectal, gastric cancer, esophageal, or head-and-neck cancer.
- Endoscopic procedure conducted less than 1 week prior to enrollment.
- Unwillingness or inability to sign informed consent.

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01104129
United States, New York | |
Columbia University Medical Center | |
New York, New York, United States, 10032 |
Principal Investigator: | Wendy K Chung, MD | Columbia University |
Responsible Party: | Wendy K. Chung, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Molecular Genetics, Columbia University |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01104129 History of Changes |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
AAAD8007 |
First Posted: | April 15, 2010 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | February 8, 2018 |
Last Verified: | February 2018 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | No | |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Keywords provided by Wendy K. Chung, Columbia University:
Pancreatic Cancer Intraductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm (IPMN) Stool-based digital melt curve (DMC) assay |
Surgical resection for pancreatic cancer Hereditary Pancreatic Cancer Syndrome Genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer |
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Pancreatic Neoplasms Digestive System Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms |
Endocrine Gland Neoplasms Digestive System Diseases Pancreatic Diseases Endocrine System Diseases |