Bevacizumab and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

This phase II trial is to see if combining gemcitabine with bevacizumab works in treating patients who have advanced pancreatic cancer. Drugs used in chemotherapy work in different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies, such as bevacizumab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some block the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Others find cancer cells and help kill them or deliver cancer-killing substances to them. Combining chemotherapy with a monoclonal antibody may kill more tumor cells

Acquisition of Portal Venous CTCs and Exosomes From Patients With Pancreatic Cancer by EUS

The investigators are going to explore the diagnostic and prognostic value of circulating tumor cells and exosomes extracted from the portal venous blood obtained with endoscopic ultrasound in pancreatic cancer patients.

Pembrolizumab and CXCR4 Antagonist BL-8040 in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This pilot phase IIb trial studies how well pembrolizumab and CXCR4 antagonist BL-8040 work in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that has spread to other places. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as pembrolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. CXCR4 antagonist BL-8040 may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Giving pembrolizumab and CXCR4 antagonist BL-8040 may work better in treating patients with pancreatic cancer.

Study of SBP-101 Combined With Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine in Pancreatic Cancer

This is an open-label phase 1A/1B study to assess the safety, tolerability and pharmacokinetics of SBP-101 when combined with nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine in subjects with previously untreated metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma and to identify a recommended phase 2 dose. The study will also assess preliminary efficacy of the 3-drug treatment combination.

Testing the Combination of Two Approved Chemotherapy Drugs and Radiation Prior to Surgery in Localized Pancreatic Cancer

The purpose of this phase 2 research study is to determine whether a combination of chemotherapy drugs plus radiation therapy, given before surgery in resectable pancreactic cancer, can help to increase the chances of surgeons achieving and R0 resection. The chemotherapy drugs used are gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel. These drugs are both approved by the FDA for use in treating adults with pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The investigational portion of this study is providing the chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy before surgery. Primary Endpoint, R) resection rate ≥70%. Secondary Endpoints, Disease free survival, Overall survival , Perioperative mortality and morbidity.

Cetuximab and Trastuzumab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer That Progressed After Previous Treatment With Gemcitabine

RATIONALE: Monoclonal antibodies, such as cetuximab and trastuzumab, can block tumor growth in different ways. Some block the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Others find tumor cells and help kill them or carry tumor-killing substances to them. Giving cetuximab together with trastuzumab may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I/II trial is studying the side effects and best dose of trastuzumab when given together with cetuximab and to see how well it works in treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer that progressed after previous treatment with gemcitabine.

Using Electrical Bioimpedance Assessments to Estimate Perioperative Total Body Water and Postoperative Fluid Need

Being able to accurately monitor patient bodily fluid levels during and after surgery is very important, as there are a number of complications that can arise if a patient's fluid levels become unbalanced, such as swelling within or pressure on various bodily organ systems. There are several different ways that physicians can monitor a patient's fluid balance during and after surgery, such as measuring the amount of urine output or the use of central venous catheters which measure the pressure in the veins entering the heart. Most of these techniques are invasive since they require tubes to be inserted into the body. A potential alternative would be to use a noninvasive technique such as electrical bioimpedance (BIA).

Bioimpedance assessments work by using small electrical currents that can accurately predict both the water surrounding the outside of cells in the body, as well as the total amount of water in the entire body. Electrical bioimpedance assessments have been used to estimate patient swelling following surgery (edema), to measure the volume of blood the heart is pumping out, as well as to calculate body fat percentages.

The goal of this study is to relate this technology to fluid shifts within the body that occur as a result of surgery, in particular, major intra-abdominal surgeries. By using bioimpedance during and after surgery, the investigators will compare the data collected with that calculated by using traditional measures of body fluid status, such as urine output and intraoperative blood loss. During the study, the bioimpedance monitors will not replace the standard bodily fluid monitors and will not interfere with their readings. Additionally, the electrical current produced by the bioimpedance monitors is too small for patients to feel and will not interfere with medical devices such as pacemakers.

Pasireotide in Combination With RAD001 in Patients With Advanced Neuroendocrine Tumors

The purpose of this research study is to determine the safety of the combination of SOM230 and RAD001, as well as determine the highest dose of this combination that can be given to people safely. SOM230 is an investigational drug that is similar to Sandostatin LAR. Sandostatin is an approved drug for the use of treating symptoms of neuroendocrine tumors. SOM230 has shown to be effective in patients who have become resistant to Sandostatin and may also stop cancer cells from growing. RAD001 is an investigational drug that also may stop cancer cells from growing.

Immune Response After Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

The aim of this project is to describe the differential immunologic responses of patients who undergo in situ IRE, margin accentuation IRE with surgical resection of the primary tumor, and surgical resection of the primary tumor only. The primary hypothesis is that IRE induces a long and sustained activation of the cell-mediated immune system, which is distinct from the immune response after surgical resection only. The primary endpoint of this study is the comparison of the CD4+/CD8+ ratio as an indicator of antitumor immunity both longitudinally within a group after the intervention and over time between the three groups. CD4+/CD8+ ratio will be measured preoperatively and at postoperative days 1, 7, 42, and 180. As a secondary outcome, additional measurements will be taken to more specifically characterize the immune response based on peripheral blood samples. Flow cytometry will be used to quantify cell subsets, and ELISA will be used to measure cytokine levels , at the same time-points as for the primary outcome. Each group of patients as described above will consist of 10 consecutive pancreatic cancer patients. Patients aged 18 or older with resectable, borderline resectable, or locally advanced pancreatic cancer will be included. Patients with locally advanced disease will undergo 3 months of preoperative chemotherapy with monitoring to exclude metastatic disease. Main exclusion criteria are cardiac conduction abnormalities and signs of distant metastasis.

Study Using Hyperpolarized 13C-Pyruvate Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging in Patients With Pancreatic Cysts Undergoing Surgical Resection

To learn if Hyperpolarized C-Pyruvate Magnetic Resonance (HP-MR) Spectroscopic Imaging can help doctors detect low-risk (benign) and high-risk (malignant) cysts.