PACOPS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
PAncreatic Cancer: Observations of Practice and Survival (PACOPS)
IRAS ID
324726
Contact name
Keith Roberts
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Birmingham
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 4 months, 1 days
Research summary
PACOPS (Pancreatic Cancer: Observations of Practice and Survival) aims to serve as a cohort study for reporting of trends of practice and variation in the treatment and management of pancreatic cancer across the country.
Recent snap-shot audits across the UK highlight variation in practice which include long patient pathways and varying adherence to NICE guidelines. However, granular detail necessary to harmonise practice is often missing and snapshot audits by their definition are time limited. In countries with national PC registry or audit, conducting regular reviews have been shown to improve their outcomes through continued uninterrupted data collection. The Dutch for example use the highly effective national audit platform to run TwiCs.
PACOPS seeks to replicate the Dutch Pancreatic Cancer Group model and create a national prospective observational cohort which can assess current practice but also act as a platform for future clinical trials. This study will collect prospective data on patient’s treatment pathways and follow-up (routinely collected data) to get a better grasp on current treatment, assess variation in practice and fill gaps in current knowledge surrounding pancreatic cancer treatment and follow up. It will also allow us to assess patient quality of life and outcomes. Whilst gaining this valuable information around current practice, this cohort can also be used as a platform to run future trials, using the trial within a cohort methodology (TwiC). TwiCs allow researchers to embed randomised trials into existing observational studies
Additionally, by harmonising PACOPS in the UK with the Dutch model, international collaboration and correlation of outcomes is facilitated.REC name
London - Camden & Kings Cross Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/PR/0939
Date of REC Opinion
29 Aug 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion