Pancreatic CancerPhase 2PANCPLEXNCT07689955
A Phase-II Clinical Trial of Radiotherapy to the Coeliac Plexus to Help Pain in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
A Phase 2 study testing IMRT in people with Pancreatic Cancer, run by Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
Trial summary
Pain from advanced pancreatic cancer is often difficult to control. This pain commonly occurs when the cancer affects a network of nerves in the abdomen called the coeliac plexus. Even strong pain medicines, including morphine and related drugs, may not give enough relief. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Pancreatic Cancer
- What is being tested?
- IMRT
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 52 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Sep 2026to Sep 2031
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Pain with a BPI score ≥ 2 as a result of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, not sufficiently responding to opiate medication.
- Primarily unresectable or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma with or without metastases.
- Participant is not considered suitable for a potentially radical treatment pathway (including radical chemoradiotherapy, SABR, or surgery with curative intent).
- Histological or cytological confirmation of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
- Diagnostic CT scan not older than 2 months before study entry.
- Age ≥ 18 years.
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- If the participant is receiving systemic anti-cancer therapy (SACT), the following minimum washout periods must be achievable:
- A minimum interval of 7 days between the last dose of SACT and the start of radiotherapy.
- A minimum interval of 7 days between completion of radiotherapy and recommencement of SACT.
- Able to provide informed consent and has provided written, signed, and dated consent.
- The ability to answer questionnaires.
Who cannot join
- Resectable or borderline resectable tumours without distant metastases.
- Locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma without distant metastases where a higher dose of radiation delivery for local control is deemed in the participant's best interests.
- Participants who are unable to have a washout window from their SACT are ineligible for the trial.
- Pregnant women.
- Predicted prognosis less than 8 weeks.
- Prior radiotherapy to the abdomen.
About this study
Official title: A Multi-Centre, Single-Arm Prospective Phase II Clinical Trial of Radiotherapy to the Coeliac Plexus to Help Pain in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
Pain from advanced pancreatic cancer is often difficult to control. This pain commonly occurs when the cancer affects a network of nerves in the abdomen called the coeliac plexus. Even strong pain medicines, including morphine and related drugs, may not give enough relief. Some patients may have a procedure called a coeliac plexus block, but this is invasive, not widely available, and does not always work.
Radiotherapy is widely used to relieve cancer-related pain in other cancers, but it is not commonly used in the UK for pancreatic cancer pain. Studies carried out in the United States and Amsterdam have investigated the use of radiotherapy to help control pain in pancreatic cancer and have shown benefit for many patients. However, these studies were not specifically designed to target the coeliac plexus nerve region, which is thought to be an important source of pain in pancreatic cancer.
Read more
Recent research suggests that radiotherapy directed at this nerve area may reduce pain in many patients with limited side effects. This study is therefore being carried out to investigate whether targeting this nerve area using a short course of radiotherapy can safely and effectively improve pain control in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
The radiotherapy in this study will be delivered using a widely available technique called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). IMRT is an advanced form of radiotherapy that allows radiation beams to be shaped very precisely to the treatment area while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues and organs. IMRT is routinely used in the NHS to treat many different types of cancer, including prostate, head and neck, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers. In this study radiotherapy is not being given with the intention of treating the cancer itself, but rather to help alleviate pain related to the cancer.
The main outcome we will measure is whether pain improves by a meaningful amount using a questionnaire called the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), which assesses pain severity and its impact on daily life. We will also measure changes in pain medication, treatment side effects, overall survival and patients' overall impression of change after treatment. Participants will be followed up for up to 12 months after radiotherapy treatment.
If this study shows a promising signal of benefit, radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer pain could become more widely used across the UK. Because IMRT is available at most radiotherapy centres, many patients could receive treatment closer to home.
- Conditions
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Being tested
- IMRT
- Medical subject headings
- Pancreatic Neoplasms
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
IMRTRadiation
IMRT to the Coeliac Plexus for pain management
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Radiotherapy Arm | Experimental | Participants receiving IMRT to the Coeliac Plexus Receives: Radiation: IMRT |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
To assess the clinical benefit of IMRT radiotherapy to the coeliac plexus in achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in participant-reported pain in participants with inoperable advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Clinically meaningful pain response will be defined as a ≥30% reduction from baseline in the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Severity Score, with either stability (no change from baseline) or reduction in opioid analgesic requirement as measured by oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME).
Measured: 3 Years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted8 Jul 2026
- Study startSep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionSep 2029 (estimated)
- Study completionSep 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Pancreatic CancerStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Royal Marsden NHS Foundation TrustThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07689955
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- CCR6402
- Acronym
- PANCPLEX
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 1 Jul 2026
- Last updated
- 8 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 8 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- A Multi-Centre, Single-Arm Prospective Phase II Clinical Trial of Radiotherapy to the Coeliac Plexus to Help Pain in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07689955
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- PANCPLEX / CCR6402
- Conditions
- Pancreatic Cancer
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 52 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Royal Marsden NHS Foundation TrustUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Sep 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2029 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Sep 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 8 Jul 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Pain from advanced pancreatic cancer is often difficult to control. This pain commonly occurs when the cancer affects a network of nerves in the abdomen called the coeliac plexus. Even strong pain medicines, including morphine and related drugs, may not give enough relief. Some patients may have a procedure called a coeliac plexus block, but this is invasive, not widely available, and does not always work.
Radiotherapy is widely used to relieve cancer-related pain in other cancers, but it is not commonly used in the UK for pancreatic cancer pain. Studies carried out in the United States and Amsterdam have investigated the use of radiotherapy to help control pain in pancreatic cancer and have shown benefit for many patients. However, these studies were not specifically designed to target the coeliac plexus nerve region, which is thought to be an important source of pain in pancreatic cancer.
Recent research suggests that radiotherapy directed at this nerve area may reduce pain in many patients with limited side effects. This study is therefore being carried out to investigate whether targeting this nerve area using a short course of radiotherapy can safely and effectively improve pain control in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer.
The radiotherapy in this study will be delivered using a widely available technique called Intensity Modulated Radiotherapy (IMRT). IMRT is an advanced form of radiotherapy that allows radiation beams to be shaped very precisely to the treatment area while reducing radiation exposure to nearby healthy tissues and organs. IMRT is routinely used in the NHS to treat many different types of cancer, including prostate, head and neck, lung, and gastrointestinal cancers. In this study radiotherapy is not being given with the intention of treating the cancer itself, but rather to help alleviate pain related to the cancer.
The main outcome we will measure is whether pain improves by a meaningful amount using a questionnaire called the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), which assesses pain severity and its impact on daily life. We will also measure changes in pain medication, treatment side effects, overall survival and patients' overall impression of change after treatment. Participants will be followed up for up to 12 months after radiotherapy treatment.
If this study shows a promising signal of benefit, radiotherapy for pancreatic cancer pain could become more widely used across the UK. Because IMRT is available at most radiotherapy centres, many patients could receive treatment closer to home.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Radiotherapy Arm | Experimental | Radiation: IMRTParticipants receiving IMRT to the Coeliac Plexus |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (11 listed)
- Pain with a BPI score ≥ 2 as a result of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, not sufficiently responding to opiate medication.
- Primarily unresectable or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma with or without metastases.
- Participant is not considered suitable for a potentially radical treatment pathway (including radical chemoradiotherapy, SABR, or surgery with curative intent).
- Histological or cytological confirmation of adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.
- Diagnostic CT scan not older than 2 months before study entry.
Key exclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Resectable or borderline resectable tumours without distant metastases.
- Locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma without distant metastases where a higher dose of radiation delivery for local control is deemed in the participant's best interests.
- Participants who are unable to have a washout window from their SACT are ineligible for the trial.
- Pregnant women.
- Predicted prognosis less than 8 weeks.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| IMRTIMRT to the Coeliac Plexus for pain management | Radiation | Radiotherapy Arm |
Primary outcome
To assess the clinical benefit of IMRT radiotherapy to the coeliac plexus in achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in participant-reported pain in participants with inoperable advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
Time frame: 3 Years
Clinically meaningful pain response will be defined as a ≥30% reduction from baseline in the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) Pain Severity Score, with either stability (no change from baseline) or reduction in opioid analgesic requirement as measured by oral morphine milligram equivalents (MME).
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 8 Jul 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing IMRT in people with Pancreatic Cancer, run by Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 11 inclusion and 6 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 8 Jul 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
To assess the clinical benefit of IMRT radiotherapy to the coeliac plexus in achieving a clinically meaningful reduction in participant-reported pain in participants with inoperable advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. (time frame: 3 Years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 8 Jul 2026.