Overview

The objective of this research is to find out what effects (good and bad), the sequence of Gemcitabine - Abraxane (nab-Paclitaxel) followed by mFOLFIRINOX, the standard chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer, has on participants and their condition. Gemcitabine - Abraxane (nab-Paclitaxel) and mFOLFIRINOX has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as first line treatment for advanced pancreatic cancer. The sequence of Gemcitabine - Abraxane (nab-Paclitaxel) followed by mFOLFIRINOX has not been approved by the FDA for treatment of pancreatic cancer.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients must have histologically or cytologically proven adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Patients with mixed tumor with predominant adenocarcinoma pathology can be enrolled
• Patients with borderline resectable or locally advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma as assessed per NCCN guidelines (either pancreatic head, neck, uncinate process, or body/tail) or institutional multidisciplinary consensus
• Age 18 or above
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 - 1
• Patients must have organ and marrow function as defined below:

        Hemoglobin ≥8 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,500/mcL Platelets ≥100,000/mcL Total
        bilirubin* ≤1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) <2.5 X
        institutional upper limit of normal Creatinine ≤1.5 X institutional upper limit of normal
        or CrCL>50
          -  It is acceptable to transfuse packed red blood cells (PRBC) and platelets at the time
             of enrollment to meet the eligibility criteria.
          -  If obstructive jaundice is present, then biliary drainage must be initiated and total
             bilirubin less than or equal to 3.0.
               -  Measurable disease per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST
                  v1.1).
               -  Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an IRB-approved informed
                  consent document (either directly or via a legally authorized representative)
        Exclusion Criteria:
          -  Patients who have had prior chemotherapy with gemcitabine and/or nab-paclitaxel or
             FOLFIRINOX for pancreatic cancer
          -  Patients receiving any other investigational anti-neoplastic agents
          -  History of malignancy in last 3 years except cervical cancer in situ, adequately
             treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of skin or treated low risk prostate
             cancer, who are considered to be eligible
          -  Patients with active and uncontrolled bacterial, viral or fungal infection requiring
             systemic therapy. Patients can be reevaluated for the study if the infection is deemed
             to be under control and the systemic therapy for the infection is completed
          -  Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, symptomatic congestive heart failure,
             unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations
             that would limit compliance with study requirements or compromise the patient's safety
          -  Patients with known diagnosis of interstitial lung disease, sarcoidosis, pulmonary
             fibrosis, or pneumonitis requiring oxygen supplementation. Those that do not require
             oxygen supplementation are eligible.
          -  Patients who have undergone surgery, other than diagnostic or minor procedures, within
             4 weeks prior to the initiation of study treatment
          -  Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding