TAIC FOLFOX for Locally Advanced G/GEJA

Official title

FOLFOX-Based Transarterial Infusion Chemotherapy for Locally Advanced Gastric Cancer and Gastroesophageal Junction Adenocarcinoma: Protocol of an Open-Label, Multicentre, Single-arm, Phase Ⅱ Trial

Overview

Gastric cancer is the fifth most common malignancy worldwide in terms of both incidence and mortality. The majority of cases are diagnosed at advanced stage-often presenting with severe complications such as malignant stricture, obstruction, bleeding, and cancer-related malnutrition-which impinge on quality of life and survival outcomes. For patients with unresectable or metastatic gastric cancer and gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma (G/GEJA), first-line systemic therapy remains predominantly platinum- and fluoropyrimidine-based combination chemotherapy, and targeted agents or immunotherapy can be added based on the expression of biomarkers. Under this standard approach, the median overall survival (mOS) for localized unresectable G/GEJA is approximately 14-20 months. For metastatic G/GEJA, the prognosis remains poor with an mOS of less than 1 year, despite the proven efficacy of chemotherapeutic agents. Moreover, up to 25% of cancer survivors report a significant decline in quality of life due to gastrointestinal symptoms during, soon after, or many years after treatment. Interventional oncology approaches-including trans-arterial infusion chemotherapy (TAIC), embolization (TAE), and chemoembolization (TACE)-represent promising locoregional therapeutic strategies. TAIC allows for the direct delivery of cytotoxic agents into the tumor-feeding arteries, thereby maximizing intra-tumoral drug concentration. As one of the most well-recognized applications, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has been demonstrated in liver cancer by elevating local drug exposure, markedly enhancing antitumor efficacy while minimizing systemic adverse effects. Moreover, chemotherapeutic agents may exert secondary systemic activity against clinically or subclinically disseminated metastases upon systemic circulation, contributing to a sustained "secondary chemotherapy" effect. Owing to its favorable safety profile and preserved antitumor activity, TAIC is particularly suited for frail or elderly patients who are ineligible for surgery or conventional systemic chemotherapy. Given the persistent limitations of current therapeutic paradigms, the feasibility and safety of trans-arterial therapy in the treatment of anti-tumor, hemostasis and obstruction relief for locally advanced G/GEJC remains urgent. The present study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of TAIC for locally advanced G/GEJA.

Interventions

• Procedure TAIC
  The Seldinger method was used to insert a vascular sheath through the unilateral femoral artery. A 5 F angiographic catheter (C2, RLG, or RH TYPE, Cook Corporation, Bloomington, IN, USA) was inserted into left gastric, short gastric, and esophageal proper arteries under fluoroscopy guidance, and the condition of each branch vessel was visualized by catheter angiography. Then a 2.7 F microcatheter was introduced into the artery that delivered blood supply to the tumor using the coaxial catheter t
• Drug FOLFOX (5-fluorouracil, Leucovorin, Oxaliplatin)
  Patients in the TAIC group will undergo FOLFOX-based TAIC at weeks 0 and 4 and receive FOLFOX-based IVC at weeks 2 and 6. The FOLFOX-based TAIC consists of oxaliplatin (85 mg/m²) administered as a 2-hour transarterial infusion, leucovorin (400 mg/m²) administered as a 2-hour transarterial infusion, and fluorouracil (2400 mg/m²) administered as a 44-hour transarterial infusion. According to the results of the genetic mutation status, HER2-positive patients are administered trastuzumab in combinat

Primary outcome measures

• The quality of life [Time frame: From enrollment to the end of treatment at 10 weeks, 3 days before each administration period and within 2 weeks after the end of the treatment.]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• DCR [Time frame: The DCR is assessed at 4 and 8 weeks by the local investigator.]
• ORR [Time frame: ORR is defined as the percentage of patients with complete response (CR) and partial response (PR) according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumor (RECIST) 1.1.The ORR is assessed at 4 and 8 weeks by the local investigator.]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Age ≥ 18 years
• Pathologically diagnosed with G/GEJA
• Confirmed by the surgeon as initially unresectable advanced G/GEJC
• Contraindicated to surgery due to frailty or comorbidities
• Expected survival period ≥ 3 months

Exclusion criteria

• Primary malignant tumors
• Gastrointestinal obstruction caused by lesions in the distal stomach, duodenum, pancreas or other organs
• Acute infection, severe liver or kidney dysfunction or coagulation disorder
• Allergic to the drugs or with mental disorders

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

China · 1 center

• Department of General Surgery, Guang'anmen Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Scie — Beijing

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07655024 · 2025-276-KY

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗