Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW and Intraoperative Imaging in Finding Pancreatic Cancer in Patients Undergoing Surgery

This is a dose-escalation study of 50 mg or 100 mg cetuximab-IRDye800. Clearance of the tumor margin during surgical resection of pancreatic cancer is clinical importance, as margin-positive resections are suspected to be associated with rapid emergence of distant metastases shortly after surgery. However, pancreatic cancer is known to be difficult to visualize intraoperatively. Nonetheless, better detection of tumor tissue might improve the rate of complete tumor clearance, thereby improving outcomes. However, in order to be actionable, the data from such enhanced tumor detection must be available during the resection procedure. This study evaluates the use of a dye, Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW, that is administered pre-surgery, and is detectable during the surgical procedure. Florescent Imaging Cetuximab is a chimeric (mouse/human) monoclonal antibody that targets the epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). EGFR is highly-expressed in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and is a good target for antibody-mediated imaging, due to its transmembrane position. Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW is cetuximab labeled with IRDye800, an N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS) ester infrared dye. IRDye800 has very similar properties compared to indocyanine green, and indocyanine green is readily detectable with a number of imaging systems. This study evaluates the Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW as a intraoperative labeling agent. Patients receive Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW intravenously (IV) at 50 mg or 100 mg over 30 minutes to 1 hour on day 0. Within 2 to 5 days, patients undergo surgery with intraoperative imaging. Cetuximab-IRDye 800CW is used as part of a tumor-targeted molecular imaging procedure operating on the principles of differential accumulation of the antibody-dye conjugate in pancreatic tumor tissue vs normal pancreatic tissue vs pancreatitis tissue. Excised tissues are prepared as formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) blocks for assessment of fluorescent intensity. Photoacoustic imaging (PAI) For purposes of non-quantitative comparison, photoacoustic imaging (PAI) of the tumor lesions is also conducted. PAI refers to a non-invasive evaluation by ultrasound of the area of the resected tumor and surrounding tissue. PAI may have special utility for detecting tumors within 5 to 7 mm of depth, with a high degree of spatial resolution, which might be useful to enhance generation of tumor-free surgical margins. PAI does not utilize ionizing radiation, and should complement and conform to the findings from the fluorescent imaging. PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: Determine the efficacy of cetuximab-IRDye800 in intraoperatively identifying pancreatic cancer compared to surrounding normal pancreatic and extrapancreatic tissue, as measured by tumor-to-background ratio. SECONDARY OBJECTIVE: Determine the tolerability of the cetuximab IRDye800 as an imaging agent in patients undergoing resection of pancreatic cancer.