The ID- RFA Trial: A Trial of Intraductal Radio-frequency Ablation (ID-RFA) Plus Biliary Stenting Versus Biliary Stenting Alone for the Treatment of Malignant Biliary Obstruction.

Cancers of the liver, pancreas and gall bladder can partially or fully block the bile duct leading to jaundice. Where these tumours are inoperable, maintaining adequate bile duct drainage is an important factor in survival, both as jaundice itself can ultimately be fatal and because and because it can prevent the administration of chemotherapy. The current standard care is the placement of a stent and possible manual 'trawling' in an attempt to clear the blockage. But these stents often become blocked by tumour ingrowth requiring reintervention. However it may not be safe to do so at this point. Intraductal radiofrequency ablation (IDRFA) uses heat energy both to 'necrose' the tumour tissue in attempt to slow ingrowth in the channels before inserting stents and to clear blocked stents. There is some evidence that this increases the length of time for the stents to become blocked or with secondary benefits to quality of life and survival however long term data from within the NHS setting is lacking. A full trial is not currently feasible therefore a pilot study is to be conducted to help inform the design of a full trial. This study will randomise patients attending with malignant biliary obstruction in a 1:1 ratio to receive either intraductal radiofrequency a. Participants will be recruited through the standard clinical pathway (i.e it will be offered to all potentially eligible patients) over a period of 12 months. Participants will be monitored for a period of up to 12 months for survival, stent blockage, symptoms, resource use, quality of life and adverse reactions. The study will be conducted between Royal Bournemouth Hospital and The Christie, both cancer care centres experienced in the management of these conditions, stent placement and radiofrequency ablation.