Pancreatic Cancer SSL

Mr Keith Roberts is the SSL for Pancreatic Cancer. 

Keith Roberts

Pancreatic Cancer UK

Supported by Pancreatic Cancer UK (PCUK) 

Summer Update

The Pancreas SSL team (Keith Roberts and James Halle-Smith) are progressing well with COALESCE (a national CNS delivery quality improvement program aimed to support CNS at all sites and standardise pancreatic cancer care) and RADARPanc. RADARPanc is a randomised trial using the TWiC methodology led by the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Group looking at the role of surveillance after pancreas cancer resection. We have funding for a translational study looking at the potential role of circulating tumour DNA (led by Prof Andy Beggs) and PTX3 (led by Prof Hemant Kocher) in the same setting.

We are developing trials of PERT after benign and malignant OG surgery with colleagues around the UK. My colleague Nik Chatizizacharias is running a RCT of clearance of the right side of the SMA in resectable PDAC and will have results soon (the DISSECT trial).

The one day pancreatic cancer research meeting held at the RCS was a great success in 2023 and we will continue with that this year, likely late September avoiding AUGIS. We will also run a series of webinars over the summer for trainees based upon the program Andy Smith delivered to trainees at the Leeds Pancreatic Society meeting where we break a Whipple down to its component parts and focus upon each at one webinar. There will then be a Q and A session for the trainees in person at the RCS one day pancreas cancer research event 9th October.

 

June 2024

Transform Lives: Prescribe

Pancreatic Cancer UK’s Transform lives: Prescribe 

Right now, half of pancreatic cancer patients are not getting the prescription they need to be able to digest their food. Together we can change this. 

When cancer affects the pancreas, it can reduce the number of enzymes it produces to break down food. The body begins to starve – unless pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy (PERT) is prescribed. PERT enables food to be digested, builds tolerance to treatment, reduces debilitating digestive symptoms and improves the quality of patients’ lives. 

Pancreatic Cancer UK has launched the Transform lives: Prescribe campaign calling on everyone treating and caring for people with pancreatic cancer to make sure patients are considered for PERT.  

Check out the new PERT hub to get up-to-date on best practice. The hub features a new online course endorsed by the British Dietetic Association, and guides to PERT for health professionals and patients. 

 Visit Pancreatic Cancer UK’s PERT Hub to increase your knowledge today.