Autotransplantation of the spleen after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for benign lesions of the distal pancreas, will it restore the function of the spleen?

ISRCTN ISRCTN10171587
DOI https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN10171587
Secondary identifying numbers 39052
Submission date
18/02/2019
Registration date
18/02/2019
Last edited
10/01/2024
Recruitment status
No longer recruiting
Overall study status
Completed
Condition category
Surgery
Prospectively registered
Protocol
Statistical analysis plan
Results
Individual participant data
Record updated in last year

Plain English Summary

Background and study aims
Patients with benign lesions of the left part of the pancreas often need resection of the left part of the pancreas, a distal pancreatectomy (DP). DP often involves removal of the spleen because the blood supply of the spleen is close or adherent to the pancreas. Patients without a spleen have an increased risk of developing possibly lethal infectious complications, thrombosis, as well as certain cancers. Because of the risk of infectious complications, patients require regular vaccinations and a lifelong course of antibiotics. Because of these risks, spleen-preserving DP is now the preferred approach. However, splenic preservation is not always technically feasible and many patients end up with their spleen resected (splenectomy). In this study the researchers will reimplant pieces of the resected spleen (autogenic splenic implantation) at the same operation and assess the immunological function of these transplanted pieces of spleen.

Who can participate?
Adults who require distal pancreatectomy for a benign or premalignant lesion

What does the study involve?
Undergoing distal pancreatectomy as part of standard of care. Additionally, in case splenectomy is performed, participants are randomly allocated to undergo just splenectomy or to receive splenic transplants (autogenic splenic implantation). Six months after reimplantation, the participants are vaccinated with a Salmonella vaccine to test the immune response of the body to this vaccine by measuring antibodies in the blood. Antibodies are produced by the immune system and help clear the body from infections. The antibody response of participants who underwent autogenic splenic implantation is compared with participants who underwent spleen preserving DP and participants who underwent DP with splenectomy. If the antibody response is adequate, patients may no longer require regular vaccinations and lifelong antibiotics in the future.

What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
Participants potentially get back their splenic function if the spleen is removed and the new pieces of spleen are transplanted back in the abdomen. This could potentially prevent the increased risk of infectious complications after removal of the spleen. No other treatments exist to restore the function of the spleen after its removal. Participants are at risk of developing the known complications of pancreatic surgery but these are the same in patients who do not participate. Previous research has shown there are very few additional complications in patients who underwent transplantation of pieces of their own spleen. Very rarely one of the pieces does not survive and can get infected and become an abscess. In addition, two cases of bowel obstruction have occurred in the past that could have been related to the transplanted pieces of spleen. A possible risk of the vaccine is local pain after the injection, in most cases this resolves in 24 – 48 hours. Another possible risk is an allergic reaction to the vaccine.

Where is the study run from?
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UK)

When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
June 2018 to July 2023

Who is funding the study?
NIHR and the Liver & Pancreatic Cancer Charity (UK)

Who is the main contact?
Dr AL Moekotte
a.l.moekotte@soton.ac.uk

Contact information

Dr Alma Moekotte
Scientific

Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom

ORCiD logoORCID ID 0000-0002-2883-4483
Phone +44 (0)7402150695
Email a.l.moekotte@soton.ac.uk

Study information

Study designRandomised; Interventional; Design type: Treatment, Surgery
Primary study designInterventional
Secondary study designRandomised controlled trial
Study setting(s)Hospital
Study typeTreatment
Participant information sheet Not available in web format, please use the contact details to request a patient information sheet
Scientific titleAutogenic splenic implantation in distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy for benign lesions of the distal pancreas
Study acronymRESTORE trial version 1
Study hypothesisThe hypothesis of this study is that autogenic splenic implantation after distal pancreatectomy and splenectomy for benign lesions is safe and feasible and will restore the immunological function of the spleen.
Ethics approval(s)South Central – Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee, Level 3 Block B, Whitefriars, Lewins Mead, Bristol, BS1 2NT, Tel: +44 (0)207 1048055, Email: nrescommittee.southcentral-hampshireb@nhs.net, 16/08/2018, ref: 248540
ConditionAutogenic splenic implantation to prevent hyposplenism following distal pancreatectomy for benign neoplasm of the pancreas
InterventionAll patients are discussed in a multi-disciplinary team (MDT) meeting where the surgical approach will be determined, either distal pancreatectomy with splenectomy (DPS) or spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy (SPDP). If the determined approach is DPS, patients will be randomised preoperatively to either DPS or DPS with autogenic splenic implantation (ASI). If SPDP is the preferred approach, splenectomy will only be performed if splenic preservation cannot be achieved due to technical or safety reasons during the operation. In case splenectomy is inevitable, intraoperative randomising will be performed to either DPS or DPS with ASI. Three groups will be formed:
1. ASI
2. DPS
3. SPDP
Patients will be randomised between ASI and DPS in a 1:1 ratio. An online randomisation system performing variable block randomisation will be used.
Intervention typeProcedure/Surgery
Primary outcome measureImmunologic splenic function assessed using levels of Salmonella typhi specific antibodies (Ab) prior to and after vaccination with the Typhim Vi™ polysaccharide vaccine. The levels of Salmonella typhi specific of Ab raised in response to the Typhim Vi™ polysaccharide vaccine will be measured by using the Salmonella typhi Vi IgG ELISA Assay. Pre-vaccination levels will be measured at 6 months postoperatively and post-vaccination levels at 7 months postoperatively.
Secondary outcome measures1. 30-day mortality, described as mortality during initial hospitalisation or within 30 days postoperative, measured daily as long as participant is in hospital, thereafter at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after discharge
2. 30-day postoperative complication rate, the occurrence of any postoperative complication, measured daily as long as participant is in hospital, thereafter at 2 weeks and 6 weeks after discharge
3. Hospital stay, described as number of postoperative days in hospital, measured once after discharge
4. Operating time, described as number of minutes from incision to closure of skin, measured once after the operation
5. Estimated blood loss, described as the estimated blood loss during the operation, measured once after the operation
6. Blood transfusion required, described as any blood transfusion given during the operation of after during initial hospitalisation, measured once after discharge
Overall study start date05/06/2018
Overall study end date31/07/2023

Eligibility

Participant type(s)Patient
Age groupAdult
SexBoth
Target number of participants55
Participant inclusion criteriaCurrent inclusion criteria as of 08/06/2022:
1. Adults
2. Indication for distal pancreatectomy for suspected benign lesion
3. Either spleen-preserving or with splenectomy
4. Either laparoscopic or robotic procedures
5. Fit to undergo distal pancreatectomy (American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification of 3 or below)

Previous inclusion criteria:
1. Adults
2. Indication for distal pancreatectomy for suspected benign lesion
3. Either spleen-preserving or with splenectomy
4. Either open or laparoscopic
5. Fit to undergo distal pancreatectomy (American Society of Anaesthesiologists classification of 3 or below)
Participant exclusion criteria1. Proven or suspected malignant lesion of the pancreatic body or tail
2. Asplenia, either functional, surgical or congenital
3. Any other known immune deficiency disorder
4. Known allergy to any of the Typhim Vi vaccine containing components
5. Pregnancy
6. Unfit to undergo distal pancreatectomy (American Society of Anaesthesiologist classification above 3)
7. Prisoners and adults lacking capacity to consent
Recruitment start date01/10/2018
Recruitment end date31/12/2022

Locations

Countries of recruitment

  • England
  • United Kingdom

Study participating centre

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (lead centre)
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
United Kingdom

Sponsor information

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Hospital/treatment centre

Mailpoint 18
Southampton General Hospital
Tremona Road
Southampton
SO16 6YD
England
United Kingdom

Phone +44 (0)2381208689
Email mikayala.king@uhs.nhs.uk
Website http://www.uhs.nhs.uk/home.aspx
ROR logo "ROR" https://ror.org/0485axj58

Funders

Funder type

Government

NIHR Central Commissioning Facility (CCF); Grant Codes: NF-SI-0515-10059,

No information available

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
Government organisation / Local government
Location
United Kingdom

Results and Publications

Intention to publish date01/04/2023
Individual participant data (IPD) Intention to shareNo
IPD sharing plan summaryData sharing statement to be made available at a later date
Publication and dissemination planProtocol will be published at a later stage. Planned publication of the results in a high-impact peer reviewed journal.
IPD sharing planThe data sharing plans for the current study are unknown and will be made available at a later date.

Study outputs

Output type Details Date created Date added Peer reviewed? Patient-facing?
Protocol article 09/01/2024 10/01/2024 Yes No

Editorial Notes

10/01/2024: Publication reference added.
13/06/2022: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The recruitment end date was changed from 01/04/2021 to 31/12/2022.
2. The overall trial end date was changed from 01/04/2022 to 31/07/2023.
08/06/2022: The following changes were made to the trial record:
1. The inclusion criteria were updated.
2. The target number of participants was changed from 45 to 55.
09/07/2020: The trial contact details have been made publicly visible.
24/04/2020: Due to current public health guidance, recruitment for this study has been paused.
22/03/2019: The condition has been changed from "Specialty: Surgery, Primary sub-specialty: General Surgery; Health Category: Cancer and neoplasms, Inflammatory and immune system; Disease/Condition: Certain disorders involving the immune mechanism, Benign neoplasms" to "Autogenic splenic implantation to prevent hyposplenism following distal pancreatectomy for benign neoplasm of the pancreas" following a request from the NIHR. The condition category has been changed from "Cancer" to "Surgery".
18/02/2019: Trial's existence confirmed by the NIHR.