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Arterial Chemoembolization for the Treatment of Desmoid Fibromatosis

Chemioembolizzazione Arteriosa Per il Trattamento Della Fibromatosi Desmoide: Studio Osservazionale Prospettico

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06268457
Acronym
Embodesmo
Enrollment
20
Registered
2024-02-20
Start date
2024-02-20
Completion date
2028-02-01
Last updated
2026-05-14

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Desmoid

Keywords

Chemoembolization

Brief summary

Desmoid fibromatoses are rare (1-2 cases/million per year) and locally aggressive mesenchymal tumors. For asymptomatic disease, current guidelines suggest an initial period of active surveillance. The current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the treatment of desmoid fibromatosis by arterial embolization is constituted by several retrospective and prospective studies. Embolization of desmoid tumors alone, without chemotherapy, on the contrary, has been shown to be inefficient. Using Doxorubicin in desmoid fibromatosis is effective but associated with systemic toxicity. Consequently, this drug is reserved for symptomatic, nonresponsive, rapidly growing or life-threatening tumors. The intrinsic hypervascularity of desmoid tissue can be exploited as a conduit to achieve local distribution of Doxorubicin by navigation of a catheter endovascular.

Detailed description

Desmoid fibromatoses are rare (1-2 cases/million per year) and locally aggressive, characterized histologically by monoclonal myoblasts present in abundant stromal tissue.The current therapeutic strategy has abandoned primary resection, as recurrences after resection are common and often their phenotype is more infiltrative. Nonsurgical approaches remain suboptimal. For asymptomatic disease, current guidelines suggest an initial period of active surveillance. The current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy and safety of the treatment of desmoid fibromatosis by arterial embolization is constituted by several retrospective and prospective studies. These studies report promising results through the use of chemoembolization, that is, arterial embolization using particles loaded with chemotherapy. Embolization of desmoid tumors alone, without chemotherapy, on the contrary, has been shown to be inefficient. Doxorubicin is routinely used in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas and other mesenchymal malignancies. Its use against desmoid fibromatosis is effective but associated with hematologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiac toxicity. Consequently, this drug is reserved for symptomatic, nonresponsive, rapidly growing or life-threatening tumors. The intrinsic hypervascularity of desmoid tissue can be exploited as a conduit to achieve local distribution of Doxorubicin by navigation of a catheter endovascular. Doxorubicin contains a protonated amine group which can establish an ionic bond with the sulfonate present on the surface of microbeads of hydrogel, ensuring embolization and elution of the drug. This process allows high concentrations of Doxorubicin in the target tissue and low concentrations in the systemic circulation.

Interventions

PROCEDUREChemoembolization with Doxorubicin

* Identification of the main vessels afferent to the metastasis to be treated. * Selective and super-selective catheterization of pathological arterial branches, responsible for the blood supply to the neoplasm, through the use of micro-catheters. * Injection of embolizing material (hydrogel microspheres with doxorubicin) * Control of technical success: the embolization will be followed by diagnostic arteriography that will evaluate the success of the procedure (occlusion of more than 90 percent of the pathologic vasculature).

Sponsors

Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* FIbromatosis demsoid symptomatic and in active phase (documented growth at last follow-ups) * Patients who are not candidates for surgery or cryoablation

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with life expectancy \<3 months or severely impaired status functional status (ASA 4) * Patients with fibromatosis not in active phase, documented clinically and by investigations imaging (MRI, CT) * Patients with coagulation deficiency or plateletopenic disease * Patients with documented active infection

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Volume reduction in cm1 yearReduction of the lesion evaluated with MRI, measuring the diameter of the lesion in cm.
Reduction of pain (VAS score)1 yearClinical assessment regarding pain by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) score (0-100 mm), in which 0 represents no pain, and 100 represents maximum pain imaginable.
Reduction of antalgic therapy (mg)1 yearMean reduction in the use of pain medications evaluated in mg of active ingredient taken daily before the treatment and at follow-up.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Improvement in quality of life (EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire)1 yearClinical assessment regarding quality of life by EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of several scales, covering different aspects related to palliation. The maximum and minimum scores for each scale of the questionnaire can range from 0 to 100. The interpretation of scores depends on the specific scale in the questionnaire, and a higher value may indicate either greater negative impact (e.g., more symptoms or more suffering) or greater positive impact (e.g., better quality of life or less symptomatology). The overall assessment requires a detailed analysis of individual scores and related scales.
Improvement in quality of life (EORTC QLQ - BM22)1 yearClinical assessment regarding quality of life by EORTC QLQ - BM22 questionnaire. The questionnaire consists of several scales, covering different aspects related to palliation. The maximum and minimum scores for each scale of the questionnaire can range from 0 to 100. The interpretation of scores depends on the specific scale in the questionnaire, and a higher value may indicate either greater negative impact (e.g., more symptoms or more suffering) or greater positive impact (e.g., better quality of life or less symptomatology). The overall assessment requires a detailed analysis of individual scores and related scales.

Countries

Italy

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: May 15, 2026