Aotearoa Australia Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ASPERT)

The ASPERT Research Group is a collaborative of researchers working to address the lack of access to Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) by people with pancreatic cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

ASPERT logo, Pancreatic Cancer Aotearoa New Zealand, Nurse Maude, Cancer Symptom Trials, University of Otago

Cancer Symptom Trials (CST), the University of Otago Department of Medicine and Nurse Maude Hospice are working in collaboration as the ASPERT Research Group to address the perceived lack of access of Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT) by people with pancreatic cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

We want to understand the prescribing of and compliance with PERT by investigating current practices in both countries with a view to highlighting the current gaps.

The problem

Pancreatic cancer has a poor prognosis, with a survival rate of five years for only 5% of people diagnosed. In addition, people with pancreatic cancer face symptoms that reduce their quality of life.

The pancreas secretes enzymes that enable the body to digest proteins, fats and carbohydrates. For people with pancreatic cancer, the amount of enzymes secreted is often insufficient for normal digestion. This is called pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI).

PEI can occur as a result of the disease and/or the treatments including surgery. It leads to malabsorption and poor digestion with symptoms that include diarrhoea, excessive flatulence, cramping, fatty stools, abdominal bloating and weight loss. 

PERT

PEI can be treated with Pancreatic Enzyme Replacement Therapy (PERT), which improves fat, protein and carbohydrate digestion as well as symptoms of malabsorption.

PERT may slow down the rate of weight loss, improve quality of life and allow people with pancreatic cancer to better tolerate chemotherapy.

Our literature review indicates that PERT may help increase survival rates and we hope our research will provide more data to improve the evidence of PERT’s effectiveness.

The challenge

Our systematic literature review has shown a lack of good quality evidence in the use of PERT for people with advanced pancreatic cancer.

There are international guidelines that outline the use of PERT in this population but research shows poor adherence globally.

It is vital that we investigate current practices in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia to understand the frequency, dose range and circumstances in which PERT is being prescribed for people with advanced pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer treatment survey – Aotearoa New Zealand

Happy family of three at the beach

We are currently conducting a survey of people with pancreatic cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand. The goal of the survey is to help us identify better access to treatments for all New Zealanders with pancreatic cancer. 

If you live in Aotearoa New Zealand and have a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer, you can complete a short (8 minute) survey to help identify how access to PERT might be improved for those who need it.

Find out more and access the survey

If you would like to be notified of the survey outcomes, please sign up to receive our bulletin by email to: aspert@otago.ac.nz.

Pancreatic cancer treatment clinician survey – closed

We have conducted a survey of clinicians in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. The purpose of this survey was to ask clinicians about their experience with prescribing and monitoring PERT, how decisions were made regarding dosing and timing of PERT and how the efficacy of PERT was monitored. 

The survey is now closed. If you would like to be notified of the survey outcomes, please sign up to receive our bulletin by email to: aspert@otago.ac.nz.

Pancreatic cancer treatment survey – closed

We have conducted a survey of people with pancreatic cancer in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. The goal of the survey was to help us identify better access to treatments for all New Zealanders and Australians with pancreatic cancer.

The survey is now closed. If you would like to be notified of the survey outcomes, please sign up to receive our bulletin by email to: aspert@otago.ac.nz.

 

PERT information for people with pancreatic cancer

pert information brochure - aotearoa new Zealand (pdf, 585kb)

pert information pankind [opens external site]

In the media

calls to improve pancreatic cancer care - otago daily times [opens external site]

a new research team wants to ensure pancreatic cancer patients have a better quality of life - NZcity [opens external site]

Publications

Webinars

The power of pert - world pancreatic cancer coaltiions education series (youtube)

Gut Cancer foundation diet and nutrition in pancreatic cancer (youtube)

Conference posters

food, aroha and hope in the face of advanced pancreatic cancer - NZSO 2021 (PDF, 467KB)

the neglected cancer: enzyme replacement in advanced pancreatic cancer - opcc 2021 (pdf, 70kb)

Project bulletin

To subscribe to the ASPERT bulletin, please email aspert@otago.ac.nz.

aspert bulletin - march 2024 (pdf, 688kb)

ASPERT BULLETIN - NOVEMBER 2023 (PDF, 1,275KB)

aspert bulletin - july 2023 (pdf, 1,326kb)

aspert BULLETIN - april 2023 (pdf, 675kb)

aspert bulletin - december 2022 (PDF, 1181kb)

aspert bulletin - SEPTEMBER 2022 (pdf, 659kb)

aspert bulletin - june 2022 (pdf, 604kb)

aspert bulletin - march 2022 (PDF, 2117KB)

aspert bulletin - December 2021 (pdf, 1930kb)

ASPERT bulletin - September 2021 (PDF, 1604kb)

ASPERT Bulletin - May 2021 (pdf, 246kb)

ASPERT Bulletin - February 2021 (pdf, 243kb) 

Investigation team

Australian team

  • Professor Meera Agar, IMPACCT Director and CST Chair
  • Dr Chris Baggoley, Consumer Representative
  • Linda Brown, PaCCSC/CST National Manager
  • John Clements, Consumer Representative
  • Professor David Goldstein, Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW Medicine
  • Dr Jodie Ellis, Department Head, Dietetics, Speech and Psychology, Calvary Health Care Kogarah
  • Dr Anubhav Mittal, Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgeon, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney
  • Selena (Yue-Xian) Ooi, Senior Clinical Dietitian, Nutrition Services, Royal North Shore Hospital
  • Karen Percy, Nutrition Services, Nutrition Services, Royal North Shore Hospital
  • Associate Professor Natalie Taylor, Director of Research, School of Population Health, University of New South Wales
  • Dr Vanessa Yenson, CST Research Assistant-Writer 

Aotearoa New Zealand team

  • Dr Juhaina Al Ruheili, GP Registrar and Medical Officer, Te Omanga Hospice
  • Helen Brown, Palliative Care Dietitian, Hospice Palliative Care Service, Nurse Maude Association
  • Dr Kate Clarke, Medical Oncologist, Wellington
  • Megan Copland, Dietitian, Nurse Maude Palliative Care Association
  • Hinetewai, Māori liaison, Nurse Maude Association
  • Clare McKenzie, Hospice Palliative Care Service, Nurse Maude Association
  • Kylie Russell, Specialist Hepatopancreaticobiliary and Gastroenterology Dietitian
  • Dr Matthew Strother, Medical Oncologist, Canterbury District Health Board
  • Professor John Windsor, Department of Surgery, Auckland District Health Board
  • Louise Daly, Summer Student
  • Dr Niamh Fanning, Research Fellow
  • Fong Fu, Medical Student

International team

Dana Lewis, Researcher and Consumer Representative

Email and social

ASPERT Research Group

aspert@otago.ac.nz

@aspertstudy [opens external site]

Facebook icon

 aspertstudy [opens external site]

Instagram logo black and white - 25x25

@aspertstudy [opens external site]

Cancer Symptom Trials (CST)

CST@uts.edu.au

@UTS_CST [opens external site]

Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.