Comparing total and partial pancreas removal for pancreatic head cancer
Compares total and partial pancreas removal in adults with pancreatic head cancer.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: ToPanc Trial: Survival After Total Versus Partial Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Head, Distal Cholangiocarcinoma, and Ampullary Cancer
Key facts
- Where
- Aarau, Baden, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Sankt Gallen, and Zurich, SwitzerlandSee the 8 sites
Where in Switzerland
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Kantonsspital AarauAarau, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of Surgery, Kantonsspital BadenBaden, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of Visceral Surgery, University Hospital BaselBasel, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Inselspital, Bern University HospitalBern, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of Visceral Surgery, University Hospital GenevaGeneva, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of General, Visceral, Endocrine and Transplantation Surgery, Kantonsspital St. GallenSankt Gallen, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital ZürichZurich, SwitzerlandTaking people
- Department of Surgery, Stadtspital Triemli ZürichZurich, SwitzerlandTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
- Trial code
- NCT06801899
- Record updated
- 12 August 2026
- Original description
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if total removal of the pancreas is a preferable alternative to partial removal in patients with cancer of the pancreatic head who are at high risk of pancreatic leakage. The main question it aims to answer is:Read full original descriptionShow less
ToPanc Trial: Survival After Total Versus Partial Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Head, Distal Cholangiocarcinoma, and Ampullary Cancer: a Multi-centric Randomized Controlled Trial
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if total removal of the pancreas is a preferable alternative to partial removal in patients with cancer of the pancreatic head who are at high risk of pancreatic leakage. The main question it aims to answer is:
Does total pancreas removal improve survival without reducing quality of life compared to partial removal?
The only study specific procedures are the collection of 2 blood samples (7.5ml for each time point, preoperatively and during the hospitalisation) and the completion of the questionnaires.
Inclusion: Adult patients (age ≥ 18 years) scheduled to undergo PD for highly suspected or histologically proven, resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), distal cholangiocarcinoma (DCC), and/or ampullary cancer (pancreaticobiliary type); Suspected pancreas anastomosis at high-risk for development of a postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) (grade "D" according to Schuh et al. (29): Estimation by CT scan, MRI, and/or Endoscopic Ultrasound; Written informed consent.
Exclusion: Pregnancy. A beta-Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (bHCG) pregnancy test must to be performed for women of child-bearing potential (defined as premenopausal women who have not undergone surgical sterilization); Duodenal carcinoma, ampullary cancer (intestinal type), neuroendocrine tumors, benign tumors, chronic pancreatitis; Medical conditions that do not allow appreciation of the nature, scope, and possible consequences of the trial as judged by the investigator; Inability to follow the study procedures, e.g., due to psychological disorders, dementia, etc.