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HIFU Ablation of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Sponsor: Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust
Summary
Around 3,300 people are diagnosed with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) each year in the UK, and a significant proportion of STS diagnoses are in people aged under 30 years. STS can arise from various tissue types and is comprised of over 50 tumour types. Although STS is treated with a combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy, the prognosis is relatively poor with a five-year survival rate of 54%. There is an unmet need for further treatment modalities in STS. High intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) is a non-invasive way of treating cancers with minimal side effects, low complication rate and quick recovery. Ultrasound waves are used to destroy tumour cells and improvements in technology and experience are enabling complete destruction of tumour. HIFU also releases tumour antigens, increasing the immune response against cancer. HIFU has received FDA approvals for several indications, including bone metastases and we are using a CE-approved HIFU device in Oxford (UKCA-approvals anticipated for 2023). There have been some publications from China showing promise in STS, however this technology needs further evaluation within the UK's healthcare setting. This study will recruit patients with both resectable and unresectable STS, in addition to unresectable small symptomatic desmoid tumours. 12-16 patients, and a minimum of 10 patients with malignant STS, will be treated over a maximum recruitment period of three years. HIFU treatment will be carried out as a day case procedure, and patients will be expected to be discharged home the same day. The study is designed to generate evidence regarding safety and feasibility of HIFU for ablation of STS and intra-abdominal desmoids. In addition, the study is anticipated to provide information about the efficacy of HIFU against these tumour types which can help in the design of later phase studies. Short-term outcomes include feasibility, safety and the completeness of destruction of the tumour. Long-term outcomes include one-year survival, local recurrence and quality of life metrics (including pain scores). The study will also look at immunological response following ablation of STS using both blood and tumour samples pre- and post-HIFU ablation.
Official title: A Pilot Study in High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation of Soft Tissue Sarcoma and Small Symptomatic Desmoid Tumours
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
18 Years - Any
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
10
Start Date
2021-12-10
Completion Date
2027-12-10
Last Updated
2026-02-04
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
High Intensity Focused Ultrasound Ablation
The focused ultrasound exposure will be performed using the Haifu® Model-JC200 Focused Ultrasound Tumour Therapeutic System at the Churchill Hospital site, CE-approved for tumour therapy (or subsequent CE-approved device upgrades by Haifu®), the device completely upgraded in 2025. The participant will be positioned over the therapeutic device and water bath used to transmit the focused ultrasound to the target tumour. No anaesthesia or any combination of local anaesthesia, nerve block, epidural, conscious sedation or general anaesthetic may be used, depending on anatomical location, size of tumour, preference of HIFU team, patient and anaesthetist and other patient factors. In therapy mode, the tumour volume is treated with focused ultrasound to ablate the tumour tissues to high temperatures (in excess of 60ºC) using focused ultrasound targeted from outside the body. Patients are typically discharged with 24 hours.
Tumour Biopsy and Venous Blood Tests
Where appropriate, participants are also encouraged to undergo a pre-HIFU (and in the case of unresectable STS, post-HIFU) ultrasound biopsy of the target tumour and additional blood tests to inform the immunological aspects of the study. Having the biopsy does not mandate enrolment on the trial, and patients will be free to leave the trial at any stage. The pre-HIFU (and post-HIFU) biopsies are altruistically encouraged but not absolutely essential to enrolment on the trial. Biopsies will be performed under ultrasound guidance by an experienced radiologist using local anaesthetic.
Locations (1)
Churchill Hospital
Oxford, Oxfordshire, United Kingdom