Clinical Trial Information
Easing the distress of Pancreas and Gallbladder Cancer
This page explains a study being conducted at UNMC.
About The Study
The Treatment
Psilocybin (sigh-low-sigh-bin) is a chemical that comes from some mushrooms. It has been used by indigenous people in healing and mystical ceremonies for hundreds of years. Recent research has found early evidence that this chemical, in combination with careful preparation and closely monitored settings can reduce the emotional and spiritual distress of having serious cancer. The treatment being offered in this trial consists of three 90-minute sessions with to prepare for the drug session; an 8-hour psilocybin session under the careful supervision of two trained monitors, and two 60-minute sessions afterward. The 6 sessions take place over the span of about one month. All sessions take place on the UNMC campus.
Purpose
This is a small study is designed to see if the this treatment can be safely and practically used to treat distress in people who have cancer of the pancreas and gallbladder system. We also want to learn how this treatment impacts the family or close friends of the person with cancer. So far, there have been three clinical trials that included about 100 people with various forms of cancer, but there have been no treatment specifically for people with cancer of the pancreas and gallbladder, or designed for people who are actively being treated for their cancer.
The Research
To measure the impact of the study, volunteers (the patient and a family member) will be asked to complete a number of questionnaires before and after the treatment, and then continue to complete them once a month for up to one year. There will be three formal interviews with each the patient, and thier family. The preparation sessions and the followup session are recorded for later analysis. The patient will get two MRIs, one before and one after the treatment.