Clinical trial Recruiting at 4 sites Observational Ages 18 and up

Predicting responses to chemotherapy in gastrointestinal cancer using organoids

Official title: Response Prediction of Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy in Gastro- Intestinal Cancer

Run by Technische Universität Dresden · NCT05652348 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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.

More Gastric Cancer trials

Quick facts

Study typeObservational
Ages18 Years and up
SexAll
Enrollment48 (estimated)
SponsorTechnische Universität Dresden
Academic / other
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations5 sites (Berlin and 4 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedDecember 8, 2022
Main results expectedDecember 31, 2028
Study endsDecember 31, 2028
Registry record updatedAugust 27, 2026
Trial IDNCT05652348 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

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

Probably not a fit

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

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

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).

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 gone: 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.

Who can join: the full rules

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 it's running

  • Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum
    Berlin, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Köln (AöR), Klinik und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Thorax- und Gefäßchirurgie
    Cologne, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Department of Visceral, Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, University Hospital Carl Gustv Carus Dresden
    Dresden, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Chirurgie I - Klink und Poliklinik für Allgemein-, Viszeral-, Transplantations-, Gefäß- und Kinderchirurgie
    Würzburg, Germany
    Recruiting
  • Universitätsklinikum Ulm, Klink für Innere Medizin I
    Ulm, Germany
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

  • Principal investigator: Daniel Stange, Prof. Dr. — University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden
  • Study coordinator: Daniel Stange, Prof. Dr.
  • Email: daniel.stange@ukdd.de
  • Phone: +49 351 458 4098

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.