Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials
There are 486 actively recruiting pancreatic cancer clinical trials across 43 countries. Studies span Phase 2, Phase 1, Not Applicable, Phase 3, Early Phase 1, Phase 4. Top locations include Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China, New York, New York, United States, Houston, Texas, United States. Updated daily from ClinicalTrials.gov.
Pancreatic Cancer Trials at a Glance
486 actively recruiting trials for pancreatic cancer are listed on ClinicalTrialsFinder across 6 cities in 43 countries. The largest study group is Phase 2 with 159 trials, with the heaviest enrollment activity in Shanghai, New York, and Houston. Lead sponsors running pancreatic cancer studies include Fudan University, Changhai Hospital, and Ruijin Hospital.
Browse pancreatic cancer trials by phase
Top cities for pancreatic cancer trials
Understanding Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trials
The combination of FOLFIRINOX, established through clinical trials published in 2011, nearly doubled median survival for metastatic pancreatic cancer compared to the previous standard of gemcitabine alone — a meaningful advance for a disease with historically few treatment options. More recently, olaparib (Lynparza) became the first targeted therapy approved for pancreatic cancer after a trial showed it could slow disease progression in patients with BRCA mutations. Despite these gains, pancreatic cancer remains one of the hardest cancers to treat, with a five-year survival rate still below 13%, making clinical trial participation especially important for advancing new treatments and potentially improving individual outcomes.
Why Consider a Clinical Trial?
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Pancreatic Cancer clinical trials
Yes. Trials for early-stage (resectable) pancreatic cancer typically focus on neoadjuvant therapy given before surgery to shrink the tumor, or adjuvant therapy given after surgery to reduce the chance of recurrence. These trials are important because even after successful surgery, the recurrence rate remains high with standard treatment alone.
Standard single-agent immunotherapy has been largely ineffective for most pancreatic cancers, but researchers are testing combinations designed to overcome this resistance. Current trials are pairing checkpoint inhibitors with vaccines, radiation, stromal modifiers, and other agents. A small subset of patients with MSI-high tumors do respond to immunotherapy, which is why genetic testing matters.
While pancreatic cancer is often time-sensitive, most trials have a screening window of two to four weeks. It is worth taking a few days to understand the trial thoroughly before committing. Your oncologist can help you weigh the urgency of starting treatment against the potential benefits of a trial.
No. Clinical trial participation and palliative care are not mutually exclusive. Palliative care focuses on symptom management and quality of life and should continue alongside any cancer treatment. Many trials now integrate palliative care assessments as part of the study protocol.
Major cancer centers with pancreatic cancer expertise often have the broadest selection of trials, and traveling for treatment is common for this disease. Some trials offer travel stipends or can arrange for certain visits to occur with a local oncologist. Ask the trial team about remote monitoring options and financial assistance programs.
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