Predicting responses to chemotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer using organoids

Response Prediction of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Gastro- Intestinal Cancer

Technische Universität Dresden · NCT05652348

This study is testing if lab-grown mini tumors from patients with gastric or colon cancer can help doctors find the best chemotherapy drugs to improve treatment outcomes.

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Enrollment48 (estimated)
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
SponsorTechnische Universität Dresden (other)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations2 sites (Dresden and 1 other locations)
Trial IDNCT05652348 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This study involves patients with gastric or colon cancer who have peritoneal carcinomatosis. During their primary surgery, a biopsy will be taken to create organoid cultures in the laboratory. Various chemotherapy agents will be tested on these organoids to evaluate their sensitivity and analyze genetic alterations that may be targeted with specific drugs. The goal is to improve treatment outcomes for patients undergoing hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC).

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with resectable peritoneal carcinomatosis from gastric or colon cancer.

Not a fit: Patients with non-resectable distant metastases or contraindications to surgery or HIPEC may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could lead to more personalized and effective treatment options for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of organoids for drug sensitivity testing is gaining traction, this specific approach in the context of HIPEC for gastrointestinal cancers is relatively novel.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* (Suspected) synchronous or metachronous peritoneal metastasis of adenocarcinoma of the stomach / gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) or of the colon or rectum
* intraoperative histological confirmation of synchronous or metachronous peritoneal carcinomatosis in gastric carcinoma (incl. GEJ) or colon carcinoma (incl. rectal carcinoma)
* Intraoperative peritoneal cancer index (PCI) ≤ 15 for gastric carcinoma and ≤ 20 for colon carcinoma.
* Possibility of surgical resection of peritoneal carcinomatosis (cytoreductive surgery) in curative intention with achievement of a Completeness of Cytoreduction Score (CCS) of 0-1
* No contraindication to surgery
* No contraindication against the performance of HIPEC
* Expected survival of 6 months at least
* ECOG ≤ 2
* Female and male patients ≥ 18 years of age
* Patient is able and willing to give written informed consent and comply with the study protocol

Exclusion Criteria:

* Presence of non-resectable distant metastases
* Patients with extensive metastasis (e.g., multiple bilobular liver metastases, hepatic and pulmonary metastases, multiple retroperitoneal lymph node metastases; oligometastasis is allowed)
* Patients with recurrence of peritoneal carcinomatosis (e.g., previous peritonectomy in the course of primary tumor resection)
* Patients after previous palliative chemotherapy or radiation of the tumor (exception: neoadjuvant and/or adjuvant therapies)
* Hypersensitivity/allergy to components of the planned intraperitoneal chemotherapy
* Patients not eligible for surgery/HIPEC (e.g., heart failure NYHA ≥III, myocardial infarction within the last 3 months before surgery, high-risk cardiac arrhythmias)
* Secondary malignant disease that occurred \<5 years ago (exception: early stage of a localized tumor with in-sano resection, for example in situ carcinoma of the cervix, Adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin)
* Patients who are housed in a closed facility
* Pregnant or breastfeeding patients, or patients who plan to become pregnant within 7 Months after the end of treatment to become pregnant

Where this trial is running

Dresden and 1 other locations

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Gastric Cancer, Colon Cancer, Peritoneal Carcinomatosis, Organoid

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.