Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Phase 2 Interventional Ages 18 and up

Combined systemic and intraperitoneal chemotherapy for gastric cancer with peritoneal spread

Official title: A Phase II Single Arm Study of Combined Systemic and Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy for Synchronous Gastric and/or Gastroesophageal Peritoneal Carcinomatosis

Run by University of Pittsburgh · NCT07475286 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This trial tests adding laparoscopic HIPEC to standard systemic chemotherapy for adults with peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric cancer.

Quick facts

PhasePhase 2
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment22 (estimated)
SponsorUniversity of Pittsburgh
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy
Locations1 site (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania)
StatusRecruiting
StartedSeptember 29, 2026
Main results expectedJune 30, 2030
Study endsJune 30, 2034
Registry record updatedOctober 22, 2026
Trial IDNCT07475286 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Adults (18+) with histologically confirmed synchronous gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis (microscopic or macroscopic) who completed 4–6 months of systemic therapy and meet organ-function criteria.

Probably not a fit

Patients with poor performance status, insufficient organ function, or progression during prior systemic therapy may not benefit from the addition of HIPEC.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

Patients with peritoneal spread from gastric cancer have very limited survival even with standard therapy. In this Phase 2 study, participants will continue systemic chemotherapy and also receive iterative laparoscopic HIPEC with cisplatin and mitomycin C at 42°C for 90 minutes, three planned procedures total. HIPEC will be performed every 6 weeks in place of a scheduled systemic cycle, with the overall goal of improving outcomes compared with systemic therapy alone. Eligibility includes histologically confirmed synchronous gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma with peritoneal involvement, adequate organ function, and an ECOG of 0-2. The study is conducted at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center and led by Dr. Mohammad H. A. Choudry, with collaborators listed as Dr. Samer AlMasri, MD.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, the approach could improve survival and disease control for patients with gastric cancer peritoneal carcinomatosis by adding local-regional chemotherapy delivery to systemic treatment.

How similar studies have gone: Previous experiences with HIPEC in gastric cancer show potential benefits in selected patients, but results are variable and this iterative laparoscopic approach remains investigational in this setting.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Histologically proven, synchronous gastric and/or gastroesophageal junction (Siewert 3) adenocarcinoma with either positive peritoneal cytology (micPC) or macroscopic carcinomatosis (macPC) (stage IV), diagnosed by imaging or laparoscopy or laparotomy.
* Patients must be 18 years of age or older at time of informed consent.
* ECOG performance status of ≤ 2\*

  \*Note: ECOG PS of 2 is allowed only if debilitation is caused by the gastric cancer and not by other comorbidities.
* Must have normal organ and marrow function following completion of 4-6 months systemic therapy and prior to enrollment as assessed on basic laboratory tests:

Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL Leukocytes ≥ 3,000/mcL Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mcL Total bilirubin \< 2mg/dl AST (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional ULN Serum creatinine within normal institutional limits

* Patient should have a life expectancy of \>6 months per the discretion of the treating surgical oncologist and/or medical oncologist in relation to comorbidities and volume of disease.
* Patients must have received at least 4 months (maximum 6 months) of 1st or 2nd line systemic therapy at the discretion of the treating medical oncologist and/or surgical oncologist and exhibit no evidence of extraperitoneal disease progression prior to enrollment.
* Patients with stable oligometastatic liver only metastasis (≤ 3 lesions, each \< 3 cm in maximum dimension), ovarian-only metastases, or lung-only metastases (≤ 5 lesions, each \< 1 cm) that are amenable to curative intent surgical resection and/or thermal ablation and/or SBRT will be eligible for enrollment.
* Sexually active fertile subjects and their partners must agree to use highly effective method of contraception prior to study entry and during the course of the study. An additional contraceptive method, such as a barrier method (e.g., condom), is required. In addition, men must agree not to donate sperm and women must agree not to donate eggs (ova, oocyte) for the purpose of reproduction during these same periods.
* Female subjects of childbearing potential must not be pregnant or breastfeeding at screening. Female subjects are considered to be of childbearing potential unless one of the following criteria is met:
* Permanent sterilization (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or bilateral oophorectomy) or documented postmenopausal status (defined as 12 months of amenorrhea in a woman \> 45 years-of-age in the absence of other biological or physiological causes.) Note: Documentation may include review of medical records, medical examination, or medical history interview by study site staff.
* Must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
* Must be able to read and write in English.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with MSI-H tumors, dMMR, TMB \> 30, CPS \> 40, POL-E mutation, Claudin 18.2 positive tumors, BRAFV600E, RET fusions, HER-2-neu (3+ on IHC) or positive on FISH will be excluded.
* Extensive retroperitoneal lymph node involvement not amenable to surgical resection during gastrectomy.
* Recurrent large or small bowel obstruction attributable to the cancer (except for gastric outlet obstruction).
* Prior abdominal surgeries that preclude safe and effective laparoscopy/laparoscopic HIPEC.
* Significant ascites requiring repeated drainage for symptomatic relief.
* Other malignancy within the preceding 3 years (except for non-melanoma skin cancer, early-stage prostate cancer, or curatively treated cervical cancer in-situ).
* Patients should have recovered to baseline from any clinically significant adverse events from prior treatment.
* Has acute or chronic active hepatitis B and C virus infection or known history of untreated hepatitis B (defined as hepatitis B surface antigen \[HBsAg\] reactive) or known active hepatitis C virus (HCV) (defined as HCV RNA \[qualitative\]) or HIV infection (see note).

Note: No testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or HIV is required unless mandated by local health authority or clinically indicated.

Note: Participants with a history of HIV infection are considered eligible if CD4+ T cell counts are ≥ 350 cells/µL and the patient has had no opportunistic infections in the last 12 months.

Where it's running

  • UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
    Recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Haroon Choudry, MBBS, FACS — UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
  • Study coordinator: Debra Diecks, RN, BSN
  • Email: diecksda@upmc.edu
  • Phone: 412-623-8364

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.