Purpose

This research study aims to improve the treatment of Peritoneal Carcinomatosis (PC), a condition where cancer spreads within the abdomen. Patients with PC often experience significant pain and nutritional problems. Currently, there isn't a standard treatment approach, and doctors use different combinations of chemotherapy, surgery, and methods to deliver chemotherapy directly into the abdomen (intra-peritoneal or "IP" chemotherapy). The study will compare two IP chemotherapy methods: HIPEC and PIPAC. HIPEC involves circulating heated chemotherapy through the abdomen during surgery, while PIPAC delivers chemotherapy as a pressurized aerosol during a laparoscopic procedure. Both methods aim to achieve the same goal, but they haven't been directly compared to see which is safer, more tolerable, more effective, and provides better value.

Conditions

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 18 Years and 80 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  1. Males or females age 18 to 80 years. 2. Biopsy-proven or clinically suspected peritoneal carcinomatosis 3. Receipt of at least three months of standard systemic chemotherapy prior with persistence of disease at the time of randomization 4. Not a candidate for surgical cytoreduction at the time of laparoscopy 5. Women at least 18 years of age of childbearing potential must have a negative urine/serum pregnancy test and must use an acceptable method of contraception, including abstinence, a barrier method (diaphragm or condom), Depo-Provera, or an oral contraceptive, for the duration of the study. 6. Must be able to read and understand English and consent for themselves

Exclusion Criteria

  1. Patients who are eligible for definitive cytoreductive surgery at the time of enrollment 2. Laboratory abnormalities that indicate clinically significant hematologic, hepatobiliary, or renal disease: AST/SGOT > 2.5 times the upper limit of normal ALT/SGPT > 2.5 times the upper limit of normal Total bilirubin > 2.5 times the upper limit of normal Hemoglobin < 7 gm/dL White blood cell count < 3,000/ mm3 Platelet count < 50,000/mm3 3. Any investigational drug use within 30 days prior to enrollment. 4. Systemic therapy within 14 days prior to randomization 5. Allergy or medical contra-indication to chemotherapy utilized in this study 6. Medical contraindication to laparoscopic surgery or complex cytoreductive surgery 7. Pregnant or lactating females. 8. Subjects who, in the opinion of the Investigator, may be non-compliant with study schedules or procedures.

Study Design

Phase
Phase 2
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Triple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator)
Masking Description
The treating investigator, participant and care provider will know which procedural arm the participant is assigned to after the enrollment visit has concluded and informed consent has been signed.

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Active Comparator
Heated Intra-Peritoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC) Administration of Mitomycin C Chemotherapy
Laparoscopic intraperitoneal administration of mitomycin C chemotherapy through peritoneal catheters, heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) delivered during surgical procedures.
  • Procedure: Heated intra-peritoneal chemotherapy
    Mitomyocin C 40 mg will be administered in divided doses (30mg at time zero and 10mg at 60 minutes) for a total of 90 minutes at 41-43 degrees Celsius. Laparoscopic HIPEC will then be repeated laparoscopically up to two more times at 45 +/- 15 day intervals until three doses have been completed.
    Other names:
    • HIPEC
Active Comparator
Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosol Chemotherapy (PIPAC) Administration of Mitomycin C Chemotherapy
Conventional administration of pressurized/aerosolized laparoscopic delivery of mitomycin C chemotherapy (PIPAC)
  • Procedure: Aerosolized intra-peritoneal chemotherapy
    PIPAC will be performed with mitomycin C, 12.5mg/m2, delivered laparoscopically for 30 minutes at ambient temperature. Laparoscopic PIPAC or be repeated laparoscopically up to two more times at 45 +/- 15 day intervals until three doses have been completed.
    Other names:
    • PIPAC

Recruiting Locations

Allegheny Health Network West Penn Hospital
Pittsburgh 5206379, Pennsylvania 6254927 15224
Contact:
Patrick Wagner, MD
412-359-3731
patrick.wagner@ahn.org

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
Patrick Wagner, MD, FACS

Study Contact

Patrick Wagner, MD
412-359-3731
patrick.wagner@ahn.org

Detailed Description

Mitomycin C is the chemotherapy that is being administered but it is not being evaluated in the study. Mitomycin C is an FDA-approved antineoplastic antibiotic, meaning it's a type of chemotherapy drug used to treat cancer. It works by interfering with DNA synthesis, which is essential for cell growth and division. By disrupting DNA, mitomycin C can prevent cancer cells from multiplying and spreading. The study will enroll up to 200 patients who will be randomly assigned (like the flip of a coin) to receive either HIPEC or PIPAC. Participants will be active on the study for 120-180 days. During the study, patients will undergo standard diagnostic laparoscopies (a minimally invasive surgical procedure) to assess their eligibility for surgery to remove as much cancer as possible. Before treatment begins, small tissue samples (biopsies) will be taken for analysis in the pathology department. A small portion of this tissue will be saved by the researchers to study the effects of treatment on tumors. Patients will then receive three rounds of chemotherapy administered by either HIPEC or PIPAC, each about six weeks apart, and each during a laparoscopic procedure. Tumor tissue biopsies will be collected at the time of each treatment for analysis in the pathology department, and a small portion of each biopsy will again be saved by the researchers for laboratory work to study the effects of the treatment on tumors. Finally, patients will have another laparoscopy to assess the treatment's effect and check for any side effects. Although patients will be followed for up to 5 years, no study-specific follow-up visits are required. Participants undergoing this type of treatment also complete quality-of-life surveys at the start of the study, and after each IP chemotherapy treatment, that asks about general health, well-being and ability to do daily activities. Patient responses to these surveys are collected for research purposes. HIPEC and PIPAC chemotherapy, are already standard ways to treat PC. This means there's no extra risk to study participants. However, as with any treatment, there are some potential risks, such as infection inside the abdomen or injury to organs during the procedure to deliver the chemotherapy. These risks are small and would be the same whether the participant were in the study or receiving these treatments as part of their normal care.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.