The Safety and Efficacy of Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy for Peritoneal Metastatic Adenocarcinoma

A Prospective, Multi-center, Single-arm Clinical Research Evaluating the Safety and Efficacy of Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) for Peritoneal Metastatic Adenocarcinoma

This research is a prospective, multi-center, single-arm clinical trial aimed at assessing the standard pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) utilizing a novel nebulized drug delivery system (NDDS) for patients with peritoneal metastatic adenocarcinoma (PMA) originating from gastric, colorectal, appendiceal, or ovarian cancer.

The primary objectives of this study are to assess the safety and efficacy of PIPAC with the novel NDDS in the treatment of PMA. Primary endpoints include adverse events (AEs) and serious AEs, as assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0, incidences of device defects, postoperative pain scores evaluated using the Visual Analogue Scale / Score (VAS), and quality of life as measured by the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30 scale, Version 3.0). Secondary endpoints include the intra-abdominal peritoneal cancer index (PCI), peritoneal regression grading score (PRGS), objective response rate (including partial response (PR) and complete response (CR)), improvement in ascites, conversion rate (patients proceeding to cytoreductive surgery (CRS) and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) following initial PIPAC treatments), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS).

Peritoneal metastasis (PM) is acknowledged as the final stage of various abdominal cancers and correlates with dismal prognosis, with survival generally under six months when exclusively managed with systemic chemotherapy due to the plasma-peritoneal barrier. Recent clinical evidence, primarily from Western nations, has shown that pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC) is a viable, safe, and effective method for PM. Nonetheless, clinical data regarding the utilization of PIPAC in Asian populations, especially among Chinese patients, are still scarce. This study seeks to evaluate the safety and efficacy of PIPAC employing a novel nebulized drug delivery system (NDDS) for the treatment of peritoneal metastatic adenocarcinoma (PMA).

The NDDS novel consists of a central computer with an operating system, a high-pressure peristaltic pump, an emergency stops switch, a liquid level sensor, and an integrated unit featuring a 10-mm spray nozzle, an anti-high-pressure infusion tube, and a puncture head. PIPAC is conducted under a standard 12 mmHg pneumoperitoneum. Doxorubicin and cisplatin are administered for patients with PMA originating from gastric or ovarian cancers, whereas oxaliplatin is utilized for PMA resulting from colorectal or appendiceal cancers. Customized treatment protocols, encompassing drug dosages, are established by a multidisciplinary peritoneal carcinomatosis committee before the administration of PIPAC.

Qualified patients will undergo three cycles of PIPAC in conjunction with concurrent systemic chemotherapy (e.g., XELOX or FOLFOX). The interval between successive PIPAC procedures is 4 to 6 weeks, with an additional interval of one to two weeks between PIPAC and systemic chemotherapy. The anticipated therapy duration for each patient is three months, during which the primary and secondary endpoints will be assessed.

This research will take place in 25 domestic medical centers, aiming for a sample size of 30 cases.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Histopathology verified that peritoneal metastatic adenocarcinoma (PMA) arises from gastric, colorectal, appendiceal, or ovarian carcinoma;
2. Applicable to individuals of either sex, aged between 18 and 75 years;
3. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) scale ≤ 2;
4. Absence of other concurrent malignancies;
5. Without contraindications for laparoscopic surgery;
6. Laboratory testing: blood routine examination: neutrophil count ≥ 1.5× 10^9/L, platelet count ≥ 80 × 10^9/L, hemoglobin ≥ 80g/L ; blood biochemistry: serum total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 ×ULN, Alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase ≤ 2.5 ×ULN, serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 ×ULN;
7. Life expectancy > 6 months;
8. Informed consent understood and signed.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Presenting symptoms of gastrointestinal obstruction;
2. Fully reliant on parenteral nutrition;
3. Exhibiting decompensated ascites;
4. Suffering from severe abdominal infection (indications of peritonitis);
5. Characterized by extensive adhesions in the abdominal cavity;
6. Concurrently undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) or gastrointestinal tract resection and reconstruction procedures;
7. With portal vein thrombosis;
8. Concurrently, individuals with significant or unmanaged medical conditions or infections (including atrial fibrillation, angina, cardiac dysfunction, ejection fraction < 50%, refractory hypertension etc.);
9. Previous chemotherapeutic drugs allergy;
10. Severe cardiopulmonary, hepatonephric, hematologic, and metal diseases, or drug abuse;
11. Pregnancy or lactating women;
12. Engage in additional clinical trials within three months preceding recruitment;
13. Other conditions: patients are inappropriately included as determined by researchers.