"Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Current Targeted Therapies in Gastric Cancer" (THERRES)

Gastric Cancer Clinical Trial

— THERRES  

Official title:

"Mechanisms and Biomarkers of Response and Resistance to Current Targeted Therapies in Gastric Cancer"

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05051423
• Other study ID #: THERRES
• Status: Recruiting
• Start date: November 1, 2019
• Est. completion date: January 2022

Study information

• Verified date: September 2021
• Source: University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova
• Contact: Adrian Saftoiu, Professor
• Phone: +40 744 823355
• Email: adriansaftoiu[@]gmail.com
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Observational [Patient Registry]

Clinical Trial Summary

The main aim was to assess the tumor vascular perfusion pattern in gastric cancer (GC). The investigators used dynamic contrast harmonic imaging endoscopic ultrasound (CHI-EUS) and the results were compared with the immunohistochemical expression of CD105 and clinico-pathological parameters.

Description:

The study design is prospective and will include patients with gastric tumors referred to Gastroenterology Department from University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Craiova for EUS local staging enrolled during 18 months.

Data collected for each participant will include: Personal data (name, surname, age, sex); results from previous investigations (blood count, liver and renal function tests, tumoral markers, gastroscopy, computed tomography), EUS variables (including CEH-EUS), histological and immunohistochemical findings, TNM and pTNM status (if possible), molecular analysis findings.

Imaging tests All patients will be evaluated by EUS and CEH-EUS, using radial EUS instruments. Prior to the investigation the stomach has to be empty for at least 8 hours. During the examination biopsies will be taken from normal and tumor tissue for gene expression analysis. For EUS examination, the patient will be placed in left lateral position. The EUS scope will be inserted under direct vision, passed by the tumor and examination should begin during withdrawal at 7.5 MHz. The tumor will be characterized describing its echogenicity, echostructure, size, extent into the wall and surrounding structures, and it will be staged using the modification of the TNM classification. The presence/absence of power Doppler signals will be noted. All lymph nodes will be reported with their maximal size, echogenicity, shape and margins. Nodes larger than 5 mm in diameter, with hypoechoic appearance, round shape (rather than ovoid or flat), sharply demarcated borders and located nearby the tumor will be suspected for malignancy.

CEH-EUS procedure: A two panel image with the usual conventional gray-scale B-mode EUS image on the right side and with the contrast harmonic image on the left side will be used, according to pre-established presets. The examination will be performed at a low mechanical index (dynamic wide-band contrast harmonic imaging mode) of 0.2. The starting point of the timer will be considered the moment of intravenous contrast injection (SonoVue 2,4 mL), with the whole movie (T0-T120s) recorded on the embedded HDD of the ultrasound system for later analysis. Parameters for objective measurement of tumor perfusion will include maximum intensity of enhancement, mean transit time, time to peak (wash-in time), wash-in slope, area under the curve, representing indirectly blood flow or blood volume in GC patients.

Complications may occur during EUS, but they are rare. These consist of bleeding at the biopsy site which is usually minimal, self-limited and rarely requires follow-up. Perforation of the stomach is extremely rare. The safety profile of the ultrasound contrast agent (Sonovue®) showed a very low incidence of side effects. It is not nephrotoxic and the incidence of hypersensitivity or severe allergic events is lower than with current X-ray agents and comparable to that of other magnetic resonance contrast agents. Sono-Vue is approved for clinical use in EU countries.

The biological material collected during the study will be frozen and stored. This will include one ml of whole blood and 4 tissue biopsies (2 from normal tissue and 2 from the tumour) of 2 to 3 mm each. When the expected number of participants is reached, the samples will undergo molecular studies for assessing the markers of angiogenesis as detailed further in the protocol. The biological materials will be stored and analysed during an estimated time of 20 months from the start of the trial. Biopsy samples for immunohistochemistry will be included in formalin solution and sent at pathology laboratory.

Molecular tests

• Blood analysis. Whole blood (1ml) will be collected before imaging procedures in an Eppendorf tube on EDTA solution, placed immediately at 40C for maximum 24 hours, and then kept at - 800C for later analysis of angiogenic factors.

• Biopsy samples of normal and GC tissue. Gene expression will be analyzed using qPCR with Taqman®- labeled probes. To quantify the results obtained by real-time RT-PCR the standard curve method will be used. The paired-samples will be collected in RNAlater (Ambion), stored at 40C for 12- 24 hours, and then kept at - 800C. Later analysis will assess the genes expression of angiogenic markers.

Immunohistochemistry IHC will be focused of angiogenic markers: VEGF-A family and their receptors: VEGFR as well as tyrosine kinases receptors (RTKs).

The VEGF-C expression in tumor samples (marker of lymphangiogenesis) will be quantified. Furthermore, a correlation between EUS findings (N stage) and VEGF-C expression will be established.

The microvessel density (MVD) will be calculated using immunohistochemistry for CD105.

Statistical analysis The estimated number of participants enrolled to the study is at least 50 during first 24 months. Both descriptive data analysis and statistical inference will be performed.

Correlations between CE-EUS parameters and pathologic and genetic findings will be analyzed using the T-test and the Pearson correlation coefficient (r) for continuous data, while the Chi-square test will be applied for categorical data. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) will be performed for comparison between different subgroups (T stages). Survival analysis from the moment of diagnosis will be evaluated using Kaplan-Meyer curves. Traditional parameters as TNM stage, type of treatment will be analyzed. Statistical significance will be defined as a p-value less than 0.05.

These minimal risks will be outweighed by the potential implications for future patient care.

Research subjects will receive consent on behalf of written and oral information before inclusion in the study. The interview will cover detailed information, including an understandable presentation of the project with its predictable risks and side-effects, expected outcomes and benefits from the research.

Any unplanned events or adverse effects will be reported immediately to the Regional Ethics Committee on biomedical research.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 40
• Est. completion date: January 2022
• Est. primary completion date: January 2022
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 18 Years to 90 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• patients diagnosed with primary gastric adenocarcinoma;

• no neoadjuvant therapy;

• age: 18 to 90 years old;

• gender: men or women;

• signed informed consent for EUS with contrast-enhancement and tissue sampling;

Exclusion Criteria:

• other types of gastric cancer than adenocarcinoma;

• prior treatment with chemo-radiotherapy;

• failure to provide informed consent;

• severe coagulopathy.

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Gastric Cancer
• Stomach Neoplasms

Intervention

Diagnostic Test:
• Endoscopic ultrasound
Imaging tests: All patients will be evaluated by EUS and CEH-EUS, using radial EUS instruments. Prior to the investigation the stomach has to be empty for at least 8 hours. During the examination biopsies will be taken from normal and tumor tissue for gene expression analysis. CEH-EUS procedure: A two panel image with the usual conventional gray-scale B-mode EUS image on the right side and with the contrast harmonic image on the left side will be used, according to pre-established presets. The starting point of the timer will be considered the moment of intravenous contrast injection (Sonovue 2,4 mL), with the whole movie (T0-T120s) recorded on the embedded HDD of the ultrasound system for later analysis Molecular tests: Blood analysis. Whole blood (1ml) will be collected before imaging procedures in an Eppendorf tube on EDTA solution. Biopsy samples of normal and GC tissue. Gene expression will be analyzed using qPCR with Taqman®- labeled probes.

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
Romania	Research Center in Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy	Craiova

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Medicine and Pharmacy Craiova	Institutul Clinic Fundeni

Country where clinical trial is conducted

Romania, 

References & Publications (10)

Chen CN, Hsieh FJ, Cheng YM, Cheng WF, Su YN, Chang KJ, Lee PH. The significance of placenta growth factor in angiogenesis and clinical outcome of human gastric cancer. Cancer Lett. 2004 Sep 15;213(1):73-82. — View Citation

Ferrara N. Vascular endothelial growth factor. Eur J Cancer. 1996 Dec;32A(14):2413-22. Review. — View Citation

Folkman J. Fundamental concepts of the angiogenic process. Curr Mol Med. 2003 Nov;3(7):643-51. Review. — View Citation

Fuchs CS, Tomasek J, Yong CJ, Dumitru F, Passalacqua R, Goswami C, Safran H, Dos Santos LV, Aprile G, Ferry DR, Melichar B, Tehfe M, Topuzov E, Zalcberg JR, Chau I, Campbell W, Sivanandan C, Pikiel J, Koshiji M, Hsu Y, Liepa AM, Gao L, Schwartz JD, Tabernero J; REGARD Trial Investigators. Ramucirumab monotherapy for previously treated advanced gastric or gastro-oesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (REGARD): an international, randomised, multicentre, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trial. Lancet. 2014 Jan 4;383(9911):31-39. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(13)61719-5. Epub 2013 Oct 3. — View Citation

Kerbel RS. Tumor angiogenesis. N Engl J Med. 2008 May 8;358(19):2039-49. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra0706596. Review. — View Citation

Kondo K, Kaneko T, Baba M, Konno H. VEGF-C and VEGF-A synergistically enhance lymph node metastasis of gastric cancer. Biol Pharm Bull. 2007 Apr;30(4):633-7. — View Citation

Li L, Wang L, Song P, Geng X, Liang X, Zhou M, Wang Y, Chen C, Jia J, Zeng J. Critical role of histone demethylase RBP2 in human gastric cancer angiogenesis. Mol Cancer. 2014 Apr 9;13:81. doi: 10.1186/1476-4598-13-81. — View Citation

Shibuya M, Claesson-Welsh L. Signal transduction by VEGF receptors in regulation of angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. Exp Cell Res. 2006 Mar 10;312(5):549-60. Epub 2005 Dec 5. Review. — View Citation

Smith NR, Baker D, James NH, Ratcliffe K, Jenkins M, Ashton SE, Sproat G, Swann R, Gray N, Ryan A, Jürgensmeier JM, Womack C. Vascular endothelial growth factor receptors VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3 are localized primarily to the vasculature in human primary solid cancers. Clin Cancer Res. 2010 Jul 15;16(14):3548-61. doi: 10.1158/1078-0432.CCR-09-2797. Epub 2010 Jul 6. — View Citation

Ulyatt C, Walker J, Ponnambalam S. Hypoxia differentially regulates VEGFR1 and VEGFR2 levels and alters intracellular signaling and cell migration in endothelial cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2011 Jan 21;404(3):774-9. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2010.12.057. Epub 2010 Dec 17. — View Citation

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Correlations with statistical significance between time-intensity curve analysis parameters, immunohistochemical markers of angiogenesis and clinico-pathological parameters.	The investigators expect to see correlations with statistical significance between immunohistochemical markers of angiogenesis (CD105), clinico-pathological and time-intensity curve (TIC) parameters :peak enhancement (PE), wash-in area under the curve (WiAUC), rise time (RT), mean transit time (mTTI), time to peak (TTP), wash-in rate (WiR), wash-in perfusion index (WiPI), wash-outAUC (WoAUC) and wash-in and wash-outAUC (WiWoAUC), fall time (FT), wash-out rate (WoR), quality of fit (QOF), region of interest area (ROI area).	1 year