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1999-03
2004-07
2004-07
90
NCT00003851
Columbia University
Columbia University
INTERVENTIONAL
Gemcitabine Compared With Pancreatic Enzyme Therapy Plus Specialized Diet (Gonzalez Regimen) in Treating Patients Who Have Stage II, Stage III, or Stage IV Pancreatic Cancer
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Pancreatic enzymes may help kill cancer cells. It is not yet known if gemcitabine is more effective than pancreatic enzyme therapy plus specialized diet for pancreatic cancer. PURPOSE: This clinical trial is comparing the effectiveness of gemcitabine with that of pancreatic enzyme therapy plus specialized diet (Gonzalez regimen) in treating patients who have stage II, stage III, or stage IV pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVES: * Compare the survival of patients with stage II, III, or IV adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with gemcitabine versus intensive proteolytic enzyme therapy and adjunctive dietary and nutritional support. * Compare the quality of life in patients treated with these regimens. OUTLINE: This is an open-label study. Patients are stratified according to stage (II or III vs IV), performance status (0-1 vs 2) and nutritional status (well nourished or moderately malnourished vs severely malnourished). Patients are entered into 1 of 2 treatment arms at their choice: * Arm I (Nutritional Arm): Patients receive pancreatic enzymes orally every 4 hours and at meals daily on days 1-16, followed by 5 days of rest. Patients receive magnesium citrate and Papaya Plus with the pancreatic enzymes. Additionally, patients receive nutritional supplementation with vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and animal glandular products 4 times per day on days 1-16, followed by 5 days of rest. Courses repeat every 21 days until death despite relapse. Patients consume a moderate vegetarian metabolizer diet during the course of therapy, which excludes red meat, poultry, and white sugar. Coffee enemas are performed twice a day, along with skin brushing daily, skin cleansing once a week with castor oil during the first 6 months of therapy, and a salt and soda bath each week. Patients also undergo a complete liver flush and a clean sweep and purge on a rotating basis each month during the 5 days of rest. * Arm II (Chemotherapy Arm): Patients receive gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Quality of life is assessed at 0, 2, 6, and 12 months and then yearly thereafter. Patients are followed at 1, 3, 7, and 12 months and then yearly thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 72-90 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.
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 Registration Dates | Results Reporting Dates | Study Record Updates |
|---|---|---|
1999-11-01 | N/A | 2013-02-13 |
2003-01-26 | N/A | 2013-02-15 |
2003-01-27 | N/A | 2013-02 |
This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.
Primary Purpose:
Treatment
Allocation:
Non Randomized
Interventional Model:
Parallel
Masking:
None
Arms and Interventions
| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
|---|---|
| ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Nutritional Arm Arm I (Nutritional Arm): Patients receive pancreatic enzymes orally every 4 hours and at meals daily on days 1-16, followed by 5 days of rest. Patients receive magnesium citrate and Papaya Plus with the pancreatic enzymes. Additionally, patients receive n | BIOLOGICAL: proteolytic enzymes PROCEDURE: Gonzalez regimen |
| ACTIVE_COMPARATOR: Chemotherapy Arm Arm II (Chemotherapy Arm): Patients receive gemcitabine-based chemotherapy. Quality of life is assessed at 0, 2, 6, and 12 months and then yearly thereafter. | DRUG: gemcitabine hydrochloride |
| Secondary Outcome Measures | Measure Description | Time Frame |
|---|
This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.
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.
Ages Eligible for Study:
ALL
Sexes Eligible for Study:
18 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.
The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.
General Publications
