A Prospective Study of Concurrent Hyperthermia, Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Borderline and Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (PANHEAT) (PANHEAT)

September 23, 2026 updated by: Pedro C Lara, Fernando Pessoa Canarias University

A Prospective Study of Concurrent Hyperthermia Plus Standard of Care in Borderline and Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (PANHEAT)

The project proposes a prospective multicenter study to evaluate the incorporation of deep regional hyperthermia into the standard of care neoadjuvant chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX/NABPACLITAXEL) followed by radiotherapy in borderline and locally advanced ductal adenocarcinoma pancreatic cancer. Although current treatments, based on induction chemotherapy followed by surgery or radiotherapy in selected patients, have improved survival and resection rates, overall survival remains poor.

Hyperthermia is a therapeutic intensification strategy with a solid biological basis. By controlling tumor heating (39-43°C), it enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy and radiation therapy by improving tumor oxygenation, increasing perfusion, and inhibiting DNA damage repair, without adding significant systemic toxicity. The available clinical evidence, although based mainly on retrospective and small studies, suggests that the combination of HRP with multimodal treatments improves local control, favors conversion to surgery, and may prolong survival while maintaining a favorable safety profile.

The protocol contemplates the initial administration of induction chemotherapy (preferably mFOLFIRINOX or, alternatively, gemcitabine with nab-paclitaxel)plus hyperthermia followed by multidisciplinary reevaluation. Patients who deemed resectable will undergo surgery and adjuvant chemoradiotherapy and hyperthermia. Patients without metastatic progression who remain unresectable will receive SBRT in five fractions along with sessions of deep regional hyperthermia. Subsequently, the possibility of surgery will be assessed again and a standardized follow-up will be carried out with clinical, radiological, biochemical and pathological evaluation when appropriate.

The main objective of the study is to determine the impact of this strategy on overall survival. Secondary objectives will be to evaluate progression-free survival, local control, conversion rate to surgery, proportion of R0 resections, tumor response, safety, tolerability, and feasibility of treatment. With this, the study aims to provide prospective evidence on the role of hyperthermia as a therapeutic intensification strategy in localized pancreatic cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
60

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • Spain
    • Las Palmas
      • Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas, Spain, 35010
        • Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr Negrín
        • Contact:
    • Malaga
      • Málaga, Malaga, Spain

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients of borderline or Locally advanced pancreatic cancer

Histopathologically proven ductal adenocarcinoma of the pancreas (biopsy/cytology).

ECOG performance scale 0 and 1.

Age between 18 and 80 years.

Adequate kidney functionality defined as creatinine clearance >50 ml/min.

Adequate liver functionality defined as total bilirubin ≤2 times of the upper limit of normal.

Adequate bone marrow reserves: WBC count ≥2.5 × 109/L, platelet count ≥100 × 109/L, hemoglobin ≥8.0 g/L.

Women of child-bearing age must secure sufficient contraception control (dual protection with condoms and pills) during the clinical trial and 6 months after the clinical trial is completed.

For females of child bearing potential, pregnancy test within 2 week prior to randomization should be negative.

Absence of psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition that could potentially hamper compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule.

Exclusion criteria

Absence of distant metastasis or gross peritoneal carcinomatosis.

Prior or concurrent malignancies.

Patients having metal implants, pacemakers or clustered markers.

Patients with metallic endobiliary stent would need to be replaced with plastic stents.

Any history of myocardial infarction within the past 12 months.

Any connective tissue disorder that contraindicate RT, e.g., scleroderma.

Pre-existing grade 2 peripheral neuropathy.

Any known contraindication or hypersensitivity to the chemotherapeutic agents used in the study as decided by the medical oncologists.

Pregnancy, lactation period or lack of reliable contraception.

Any other disease or therapy, which, according to the investigator, present a risk to the patient or which are not compatible with the aims of the clinical trial.

Indications that the person concerned will possibly not keep to the clinical trial plan because of unwillingness to cooperate or difficulties in keeping the check-up appointments.

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Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy

Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX/nab Paclitaxel) followed by a) surgically resectable: Hyperthermia plus adjuvant chenmotherapy+/-radiotherapy b) surgically non-resectable: hyperthermia plus SBRT
Device: Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy Arm Description: Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX/nab Paclitaxel) followed by a) surgically resectable: Hyp

Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy/radiotherapy Arm Description: Hyperthermia plus neoadjuvant chemotherapy (mFOLFIRINOX/nab Paclitaxel) followed by a) surgically resectable: Hyperthermia plus adjuvant chenmotherapy+/-radiotherapy b) surgically non-resectable: hyperthermia plus SBRT

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
overall survival
Time Frame: one year

Time from included in the study to death for any cause
one year

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression Free Survival
Time Frame: one year

Time from included in the study to disease progression
one year
Objective response rate (ORR)
Time Frame: 6 months

according to RECIST 1.1.
6 months
disease control rate (DCR),
Time Frame: 6 months

according to RECIST 1.1.
6 months
Biochemical response using CEA and CA 19-9.
Time Frame: 6 months

Modifications CEA and CA19.9 values
6 months
Conversion rate to surgery.
Time Frame: 6 months

Resectabiity after neoadjuvant treatment
6 months
R0 resection rate
Time Frame: 7 months

Rate of complete resection in surgically treated patients
7 months
Pathological response, including ypTNM and GRT.
Time Frame: 7 months

Pathological confirmed response after neoadjuvant treatment
7 months
Local progression-free survival as first cause of failure
Time Frame: one year

Time from included in the study to local progression after treatment as first site of failure
one year
Acute and late toxicity chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Time Frame: Acute: one month. Late: 12 months

Acute and late toxicity of treatment according to CTCAE v5.0.
Acute: one month. Late: 12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Fernando Pessoa Canarias University

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: Pedro C Lara, Md, PhD, Universidad Fernando Pessoa Canarias

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
March 31, 2027

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
March 31, 2032

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 31, 2032

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 13, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
September 24, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
September 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 23, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • UFPC-26-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Data will be sharing under request due to ethic limitations

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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