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Conversion Therapy Plus Surgery and Radiotherapy for Retroperitoneal Nodal Metastases in Gastric Cancer

Phase 2
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Gastric Adenocarcinoma
Stomach Neoplasms
Interventions
Drug: FLOT regimen
Drug: PD-1 Inhibitors
Drug: CAPEOX regimen
Drug: SOX regimen
Radiation: Para-aortic lymph node radiotherapy
Registration Number
NCT07007182
Lead Sponsor
Jinbo Yue
Brief Summary

This is a randomized, controlled, multicenter phase II clinical trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of conversion therapy combined with radical gastrectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy targeting para-aortic (station 16) lymph nodes in patients with gastric adenocarcinoma and isolated station 16 nodal metastases. Eligible participants must have no evidence of peritoneal dissemination, visceral metastases, or non-regional lymphatic spread. Based on PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS), patients will receive systemic therapy (FLOT ± PD-1 inhibitor) in the experimental arm, followed by D2 gastrectomy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) to the para-aortic region. The control arm will receive standard chemotherapy with or without immunotherapy. The primary endpoint is progression-free survival (PFS), with secondary endpoints including overall survival (OS), objective response rate (ORR), disease control rate (DCR), and safety. This study aims to explore whether the addition of locoregional treatment to systemic therapy improves long-term outcomes in this select patient population.

Detailed Description

This study targets patients with gastric adenocarcinoma characterized by a low metastatic burden-specifically, isolated metastases to para-aortic (station 16) lymph nodes without evidence of peritoneal carcinomatosis, distant organ metastasis, or non-regional lymph node involvement. The trial aims to evaluate the role of integrated local therapies in this context. Patients are stratified by PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS ≥1 vs. \<1) and receive first-line systemic conversion therapy using the FLOT regimen with or without a PD-1 inhibitor. In the experimental arm, patients demonstrating disease control (CR/PR/SD) undergo D2 radical gastrectomy, followed by IMRT targeting the station 16 nodal basin, with concurrent capecitabine. Postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy and immune maintenance therapy are continued. The control group receives standard-of-care systemic treatment with CAPEOX or SOX ± immunotherapy. Tumor tissue, peripheral blood, and fecal samples will be collected at multiple time points for exploratory biomarker analysis, including tumor immune microenvironment profiling, tumor mutational burden (TMB), mismatch repair status (MSI), and circulating immune cell subsets. A total of 54 patients will be enrolled (2:1 randomization), with an accrual period of 18 months and 24 months of follow-up.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
54
Inclusion Criteria

Signed written informed consent before any study-specific procedure; Male or female, age 18-75 years; Histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma with para-aortic (station 16) lymph node metastasis; pMMR or MSS subtype; ECOG performance status 0-2; No prior anti-tumor therapy; At least one measurable lesion according to RECIST 1.1; Tumor tissue available for biomarker analysis; Expected survival ≥3 months; Adequate organ function; Negative pregnancy test for women of childbearing potential; Use of effective contraception during study and 12 months after treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

Evidence of visceral or peritoneal metastasis; MSI-H or dMMR subtype; HER2 (++ with FISH positive or +++); Prior malignancies (except cured skin basal/squamous cell carcinoma or in situ carcinoma) within 3 years; Prior PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 or similar immunotherapies; Participation in other interventional trials within 4 weeks; Systemic corticosteroid use within 7 days (except physiologic replacement); Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic treatment in past 2 years; Untreated active hepatitis B, HCV, or HIV infection; Active CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis; Uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina, NYHA III-IV heart failure, QTc ≥480ms; Active interstitial lung disease, uncontrolled infections, GI obstruction; Poorly controlled diabetes (FBG >10 mmol/L); Pregnancy or breastfeeding; Major surgery within 4 weeks before enrollment; Any condition that may interfere with protocol compliance or increase risk as judged by the investigator.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Systemic therapy aloneSOX regimenPatients in this arm will receive systemic therapy without surgical or radiation intervention. Treatment regimens are selected based on PD-L1 CPS status: For CPS ≥1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. For CPS \<1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy alone. Systemic therapy will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to one year of treatment duration.
Conversion therapy + surgery + para-aortic radiotherapyFLOT regimenPatients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 will receive 4 cycles of biweekly FLOT (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, 5-FU) plus 3 cycles of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (q3w) as conversion therapy. After \~8 weeks, non-progressive patients undergo D2 gastrectomy, followed by 8-12 additional FLOT cycles with anti-PD-1. If still non-progressive after 2 months of postoperative therapy, patients receive elective IMRT to para-aortic (station 16) nodes with concurrent oral capecitabine. Systemic therapy may resume post-radiotherapy to complete the planned 12-16 FLOT cycles. Maintenance PD-1 inhibitor continues for up to 1 year from systemic therapy initiation or until progression or intolerance.
Conversion therapy + surgery + para-aortic radiotherapyPD-1 InhibitorsPatients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 will receive 4 cycles of biweekly FLOT (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, 5-FU) plus 3 cycles of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (q3w) as conversion therapy. After \~8 weeks, non-progressive patients undergo D2 gastrectomy, followed by 8-12 additional FLOT cycles with anti-PD-1. If still non-progressive after 2 months of postoperative therapy, patients receive elective IMRT to para-aortic (station 16) nodes with concurrent oral capecitabine. Systemic therapy may resume post-radiotherapy to complete the planned 12-16 FLOT cycles. Maintenance PD-1 inhibitor continues for up to 1 year from systemic therapy initiation or until progression or intolerance.
Conversion therapy + surgery + para-aortic radiotherapyPara-aortic lymph node radiotherapyPatients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 will receive 4 cycles of biweekly FLOT (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, 5-FU) plus 3 cycles of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (q3w) as conversion therapy. After \~8 weeks, non-progressive patients undergo D2 gastrectomy, followed by 8-12 additional FLOT cycles with anti-PD-1. If still non-progressive after 2 months of postoperative therapy, patients receive elective IMRT to para-aortic (station 16) nodes with concurrent oral capecitabine. Systemic therapy may resume post-radiotherapy to complete the planned 12-16 FLOT cycles. Maintenance PD-1 inhibitor continues for up to 1 year from systemic therapy initiation or until progression or intolerance.
Conversion therapy + surgery + para-aortic radiotherapyCapecitabinePatients with PD-L1 CPS ≥1 will receive 4 cycles of biweekly FLOT (docetaxel, oxaliplatin, leucovorin, 5-FU) plus 3 cycles of anti-PD-1 immunotherapy (q3w) as conversion therapy. After \~8 weeks, non-progressive patients undergo D2 gastrectomy, followed by 8-12 additional FLOT cycles with anti-PD-1. If still non-progressive after 2 months of postoperative therapy, patients receive elective IMRT to para-aortic (station 16) nodes with concurrent oral capecitabine. Systemic therapy may resume post-radiotherapy to complete the planned 12-16 FLOT cycles. Maintenance PD-1 inhibitor continues for up to 1 year from systemic therapy initiation or until progression or intolerance.
Systemic therapy alonePD-1 InhibitorsPatients in this arm will receive systemic therapy without surgical or radiation intervention. Treatment regimens are selected based on PD-L1 CPS status: For CPS ≥1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. For CPS \<1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy alone. Systemic therapy will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to one year of treatment duration.
Systemic therapy aloneCAPEOX regimenPatients in this arm will receive systemic therapy without surgical or radiation intervention. Treatment regimens are selected based on PD-L1 CPS status: For CPS ≥1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy combined with anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. For CPS \<1 patients: CAPEOX or SOX chemotherapy alone. Systemic therapy will continue until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, or up to one year of treatment duration.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Progression-Free Survival (PFS)2 years

Time from randomization to documented disease progression or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Disease progression will be assessed according to RECIST version 1.1.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Overall Survival (OS)3 years

Time from randomization to death from any cause.

Objective Response Rate (ORR)Up to 1 year

Proportion of patients achieving complete or partial response according to RECIST 1.1.

Disease Control Rate (DCR)Up to 1 year

Proportion of patients achieving CR, PR, or stable disease.

Adverse Events (Safety Profile)Through study completion (approx. 3 years)

Incidence and grade of treatment-related adverse events according to CTCAE v5.0.

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