Taking people in SwitzerlandNo phase
Comparing total and partial pancreas removal for pancreatic head cancer
Compares total and partial pancreas removal in adults with pancreatic head cancer.
Key facts
- Who runs it
- Insel Gruppe AG, University Hospital Bern
- Where
- Aarau, Baden, Basel, Bern, Geneva, Sankt Gallen, and Zurich, SwitzerlandSee the 8 sitesAlso in 1 other country, 2 sites
- Trial code
- Registry title
- ToPanc Trial: Survival After Total Versus Partial Pancreaticoduodenectomy for Adenocarcinoma of the Pancreatic Head, Distal Cholangiocarcinoma, and Ampullary Cancer
- Status
- Recruiting
- People taking part
- 170 people, planned
- Started
- 1 Jun 2026
- Expected to end
- Oct 2030
- Type of study
- Interventional, 2 groupsOne group gets an existing treatment, for comparison.
- Treatments tested
- Total pancreatectomy (TP)
- Partial pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)
- Record updated
- 12 August 2026
Who can take part
AI summary
From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.
The trial is looking for adults who need pancreatic head surgery for pancreatic, bile duct or ampullary cancer and who are at high risk of a leak after the surgery.
- Age
- 18 years or older
- Sex
- All sexes can join.
- Disease stage
- Cancer that can be removed by surgery: pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, distal cholangiocarcinoma, or ampullary cancer (pancreaticobiliary type). It can be strongly suspected or proven by tissue testing. The join between pancreas and bowel is expected to be at high risk of a leak (postoperative pancreatic fistula, grade D).
Main reasons for not taking part
- Duodenal cancer, intestinal-type ampullary cancer, neuroendocrine tumors, benign tumors, or chronic pancreatitis
- Pregnancy
- Medical conditions that stop a person from understanding the trial
- Not able to follow the study steps, for example because of a psychological disorder or dementia
The registry criteria, word for word
Show all 7 criteriaShow less
Who can take part
- 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
Who cannot take part
- 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
Where in Switzerland
Also in 1 other country, 2 sites
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Kantonsspital AarauAarau, SwitzerlandContact: PD Dr. med. Philipp KronTaking people
- Department of Surgery, Kantonsspital BadenBaden, SwitzerlandContact: Prof. Dr. med. Antonio NocitoTaking people
- Department of Visceral Surgery, University Hospital BaselBasel, SwitzerlandContact: Prof. Dr. med Adrian BilleterTaking people
- Inselspital, Bern University HospitalBern, SwitzerlandContact: Anna S Wenning, MD, PhDTaking people
- Department of Visceral Surgery, University Hospital GenevaGeneva, SwitzerlandContact: Prof. Dr. med. Christian TosoTaking people
- Department of General, Visceral, Endocrine and Transplantation Surgery, Kantonsspital St. GallenSankt Gallen, SwitzerlandContact: PD Dr. med. Ignazio TarantinoTaking people
- Department of Surgery and Transplantation, University Hospital ZürichZurich, SwitzerlandContact: Prof. Dr. med. José OberholzerTaking people
- Department of Surgery, Stadtspital Triemli ZürichZurich, SwitzerlandContact: Dr. med. Stefan GutknechtTaking people
About the trial
What the trial wants to find out
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
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.
The 2 groups in the trial
- Total pancreatectomy (TP)Treatment being tested
- Pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)Existing treatment, for comparison
Treatment: Partial pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD)
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?
Contact the study team: see the registry record → Contacts and Locations
Print a page for my doctorData and sources
- Registry record
- Listed on ClinicalTrials.gov.
- Official title
- 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
- Plain-language title
- Comparing total and partial pancreas removal for pancreatic head cancerGenerated from the registry record. The registry title is the official one.
- AI summary
- From the trial's eligibility criteria. Read by machine on 12 November 2026.
- Record updated
- 12 August 2026