Adult Chronic Pancreatitis Working Group: Goals, Accomplishments and the Path Ahead. A Report from the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer

The Adult Chronic Pancreatitis (CP) Working Group, formed at inception of the Consortium for the Study of Chronic Pancreatitis, Diabetes, and Pancreatic Cancer (CPDPC), has developed a robust framework and infrastructure to conduct clinical, translational, and mechanistic studies of CP. At its core is

spective Evaluation of hronic Pancreatitis for pid miologic and Translational Stu ies (PROCEED), the first longitudinal cohort study of CP in US adults, launched in 2017. PROCEED has developed a well annotated clinical dataset of over 2,000 deeply-phenotyped participants, a biorepository and an imaging repository. Investigators have published promising data on blood- and imaging- based biomarkers of CP diagnosis and pain, which are awaiting validation. Clinical observations include classification of patients into mechanism-based pain phenotypes using responses to PROMIS questionnaires, prevalence and predictors of opioid use, prevalence of psychological comorbidity, and osteopathy in CP patients. Pilot clinical trials have evaluated the effect of oral indomethacin on pancreas fluid prostaglandin E2 levels, and Internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for chronic pain. Results of pilot trials have led to an ongoing definitive randomized clinical trial for CBT. The rich environment and resources have facilitated mentorship and academic development of many early-stage investigators. Investigators outside of the consortium have opportunities for collaboration. In the next 5 years, the Working Group plans to further strengthen the research platform, complete primary and key secondary analyses of PROCEED and ancillary studies, continue efforts to develop biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of CP, and complete ongoing clinical trials to address unanswered questions in the field.