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Clinical trial protocol for PanDox: a phase I study of targeted chemotherapy delivery to non-resectable primary pancreatic tumours using thermosensitive liposomal doxorubicin (ThermoDox®) and focused ultrasound

Abstract:

Background

The dense stroma of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas is a major barrier to drug delivery. To increase the local drug diffusion gradient, high doses of chemotherapeutic agent doxorubicin can be released from thermally-sensitive liposomes (ThermoDox®) using ultrasound-mediated hyperthermia at the tumour target. PanDox is designed as a Phase 1 single centre study to investigate enhancing drug delivery to adult patients with non-operable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. The study compares a single cycle of either conventional doxorubicin alone or ThermoDox® with focused ultrasound-induced hyperthermia for targeted drug release.

Methods

Adults with non-resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma are allocated to receive a single cycle of either doxorubicin alone (Arm A) or ThermoDox® with focused ultrasound-induced hyperthermia (Arm B), based on patient- and tumour-specific safety conditions. Participants in Arm B will undergo a general anaesthetic and pre-heating of the tumour by extra-corporal focused ultrasound (FUS). Rather than employing invasive thermometry, ultrasound parameters are derived from a patient-specific treatment planning model to reach the 41 °C target temperature for drug release. ThermoDox® is then concurrently infused with further ultrasound exposure. Tumour biopsies at the targeted site from all patients are analysed post-treatment using high performance liquid chromatography to quantify doxorubicin delivered to the tumour. The primary endpoint is defined as a statistically significant enhancement in concentration of total intra-tumoural doxorubicin, comparing samples from patients receiving liposomal drug with FUS to free drug alone. Participants are followed for 21 days post-treatment to assess secondary endpoints, including radiological assessment to measure changes in tumour activity by Positron Emission Tomography Response Criteria in Solid Tumours (PERCIST) criteria, adverse events and patient-reported symptoms.

Discussion

This early phase study builds on previous work targeting tumours in the liver to investigate whether enhancement of chemotherapy delivery using ultrasound-mediated hyperthermia can be translated to the stroma-dense environment of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. If successful, it could herald a new approach towards managing these difficult-to-treat tumours.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04852367. Registered 21st April 2022.

EudraCT number: 2019–003950-10 (Registered 2019)

Iras Project ID: 272253 (Registered 2019)

Ethics Number: 20/EE/0284.

Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

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Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1186/s12885-023-11228-z

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Oncology
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0001-5639-0499
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Engineering Science
Sub department:
Institute of Biomedical Engineering
Role:
Author
ORCID:
0000-0002-3245-3296
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Surgical Sciences
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MSD
Department:
Oncology
Role:
Author


Publisher:
BioMed Central
Journal:
BMC Cancer More from this journal
Volume:
23
Article number:
896
Place of publication:
England
Publication date:
2023-09-23
Acceptance date:
2023-07-24
DOI:
EISSN:
1471-2407
Pmid:
37741968


Language:
English
Keywords:
Pubs id:
1536893
Local pid:
pubs:1536893
Deposit date:
2023-10-17

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