Treatment of Desmoid Fibromatosis With Arterial Embolization

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Desmoid Fibromatosis

• Registration Number: NCT06945887
• Lead Sponsor: Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Brief Summary

Desmoid fibromatoses are rare and locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors. The current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the treatment of desmoid fibromatosis by arterial embolization is constituted by several retrospective and prospective studies. These studies report promising results through the use of chemoembolization, that is, arterial embolization using particles loaded with chemotherapy.

Instead, the type of treatment we propose would consist of injection of embolizing material without the use of chemotherapy, based on the positive results we have consistently reported over the years on arterial embolization of musculoskeletal tumors.

Detailed Description

Desmoid fibromatoses are rare (1-2 cases/million per year) and locally aggressive, characterized histologically by monoclonal myoblasts present in abundant stromal tissue.The current therapeutic strategy has abandoned primary resection, as recurrences after resection are common and often their phenotype is more infiltrative. Nonsurgical approaches remain suboptimal. For asymptomatic disease, current guidelines suggest an initial period of active surveillance. The current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the treatment of desmoid fibromatosis by arterial embolization is constituted by several retrospective and prospective studies. These studies report promising results through the use of chemoembolization, that is, arterial embolization using particles loaded with chemotherapy.

Instead, the type of treatment we propose would consist of injection of embolizing material without the use of chemotherapy, based on the positive results we have consistently reported over the years on arterial embolization of musculoskeletal tumors.

Doxorubicin is routinely used in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas and other mesenchymal malignancies. Its use against desmoid fibromatosis is effective but associated with hematologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiac toxicity. Consequently, this drug is reserved for symptomatic, nonresponsive, rapidly growing, or life-threatening fibromatoses.

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-18
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-04-18
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-04-18
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-27
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-27
• Study Start: 2025-05
• Primary Completion: 2028-02
• Study Completion: 2029-02

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 20

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients of both sexes aged ≥ 12 years
• Fibromatosis demsoid symptomatic and in active phase (documented growth at last follow-ups)
• Patients not eligible for surgery or cryoablation
• Patients who have had embolization surgery for fibromatosis desmoide from 01/01/2023 to date and all new patients listed for this type of treatment.
• Signature of informed consent to the study

Exclusion Criteria

• Patients with life expectancy <3 months or severely impaired status functional status (ASA 4)
• Patients with fibromatosis not in active phase, documented clinically and by investigations imaging (MRI, CT)
• Patients with coagulation deficiency or plateletopenic disease
• Patients with documented active infection
• Incompatibility to performing MRI examination.

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Reduction of pain (VAS score)	1 year	Clinical assessment regarding pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score (0-100 mm), in which 0 represents no pain, and 100 represents maximum pain imaginable.
Reduction of antalgic therapy (mg)	1 year	Mean reduction in the use of pain medications evaluated in mg of active ingredient taken daily before the treatment and at follow-up.
Volume reduction in cm³	1 year	Reduction of the lesion evaluated with MRI, measuring the diameter of the lesion in cm³.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvement in quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire)	1 year	Clinical assessment regarding quality of life by EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of several scales, covering different aspects related to palliation. The maximum and minimum scores for each scale of the questionnaire can range from 0 to 100. The interpretation of scores depends on the specific scale in the questionnaire, and a higher value may indicate either greater negative impact (e.g., more symptoms or more suffering) or greater positive impact (e.g., better quality of life or less symptomatology).
Improvement in quality of life (EORTC QLQ - BM22)	1 year	Clinical assessment regarding quality of life by EORTC QLQ - BM22 questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of several scales, covering different aspects related to palliation. The maximum and minimum scores for each scale of the questionnaire can range from 0 to 100. The interpretation of scores depends on the specific scale in the questionnaire, and a higher value may indicate either greater negative impact (e.g., more symptoms or more suffering) or greater positive impact (e.g., better quality of life or less symptomatology). The overall assessment requires a detailed analysis of individual scores and related scales.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli; 🇮🇹 Bologna, BO, Italy