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NEoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy for a Selected Group of Inoperable Pleural Mesothelioma Patients (NECIM): a Feasibility Study

NEoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Immunotherapy for a Selected Group of Inoperable Pleural Mesothelioma Patients (NECIM): a Feasibility Study

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07121374
Acronym
NECIM
Enrollment
37
Registered
2025-08-13
Start date
2025-07-22
Completion date
2029-07-31
Last updated
2025-08-13

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

Conditions

Mesothelioma; Pleura, Neoadjuvant Chemoimmunotherapy, Pleural Epithelioid Mesothelioma

Keywords

NECIM

Brief summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to evaluate whether a combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy can make surgery possible in adults with inoperable pleural mesothelioma (a type of cancer affecting the lung lining). The main questions it aims to answer are: Can two cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy and dual immunotherapy, followed by surgery, be completed safely and effectively? Does this treatment allow previously inoperable patients to become eligible for surgery and improve survival outcomes? Participants will: Receive two cycles of chemotherapy (cisplatin or carboplatin and pemetrexed) Receive dual immunotherapy (nivolumab and ipilimumab) Undergo evaluation by a multidisciplinary team to determine if surgery is possible If operable, undergo extended pleurectomy/decortication surgery Be followed for one year to assess side effects, quality of life, and survival

Interventions

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy (2 cycles of cisplatin OR carboplatin accord healthcare- investigator's choice - PLUS pemetrexed fresenius AND immunotherapy (2 cycles of Opdivo PLUS 1 cycle of Yervoy for inoperable T2-T3 TNM 9 patients with PM

PROCEDUREExtended pleurectomy/decortication in case of reaching operability

After the systemic treatment the surgery will follow if patient is operable.

Sponsors

University Hospital, Ghent
CollaboratorOTHER
Kom Op Tegen Kanker
CollaboratorOTHER
University Hospital, Antwerp
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Capable of written informed consent and adherence to study procedures * Pathologically confirmed PM (epithelioid), cT2-3 N0-1 M0 according to UICC TNM 9 and considered inoperable by the Multidisciplinary Tumor Board of UZA/UZG at the start of the trail. They only enter the second surgical stage when becoming operable after neoadjuvant therapy * Aged 18 years or older * World Health Organization (WHO) Performance Status 0-1 * Fit for systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy and surgery according to good clinical practice * No pregnancy allowed: women of childbearing potential have to take adequate contraception to avoid pregnancy; men need to take adequate contraception (usage of a condom) to avoid pregnancy in female partners

Exclusion criteria

* Operable PM patients according to TNM 9 criteria (T1) or inoperable PM patients who will not have a chance to become operable after neoadjuvant treatment according to TNM 9 criteria (some T3, all T4, N2-3, M1) * Contralateral mediastinal (N2) or distant metastatic disease (evaluated by PET and chest CT) * Patients unfit for systemic chemotherapy, immunotherapy or intrathoracic surgery. Patients with an active autoimmune disease or who have had prior splenectomy, an active/acute infection requiring antibiotics, a chronic infection (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B or C) or have a serious cardiac disease are unfit for systemic therapy because their immune system is not properly functioning * Hypersensitivity or contraindications to the active substance or to any of the excipients of the medications (platinum salts, pemetrexed, ipilimumab, nivolumab) used in this study * Concurrent active malignancy other than basal cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix including brain metastases * Prior treatment with chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery (except for diagnostic thoracoscopy) or thoracic RT (including prophylactic tract irradiation) * Patients with significantly altered mental status or with psychological, familial, sociological or geographical conditions potential hampering compliance with the study as decided by the investigator

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
To assess the percentage of successful completion of a neoadjuvant double chemotherapy / double immunotherapy regimen followed by surgery in a selected group of T2-T3 (according to TNM 9) patients with pleural mesothelioma.The primary end point will be measured on week 17 +/-2 weeksThe primary endpoint is the rate of success, which is defined as a composite endpoint of feasibility, efficacy and safety consisting of: Feasibility is defined at week 17 +/- 2 weeks after start of treatment and involves the successful completion of 2 cycles of neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemotherapy, being selected as operable thereafter, and having extended pleurectomy/decortication (P/D). AND Efficacy is defined as being alive and without signs of progressive disease at week 17 +/- 2 weeks after start of treatment AND Safety is defined as absence of grade 3-4 residual toxicity from systemic treatment and complete resolution of major complications (grade III - V) after surgery according to the Ottawa Thoracic Surgery Morbidity and Mortality Classification at week 17 +/- 2 weeks after start of treatment Patients who are still inoperable after successful completion of 2 cycles of neoadjuvant immunotherapy and chemotherapy are considered failure for the primary endp

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Toxicity of the neoadjuvant double chemotherapy / double immunotherapy regimen and surgery.The End of Treatment will be at 17 weeksToxicity, assessed by CTC-AE scores. Chemotherapy and immunotherapy-related toxicity assessed using the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 5.0. At the end of Treatment on week 17 ± 2 weeks). The CTCAE Grade (1-5); higher scores indicate more severe adverse events.
Efficay of neoadjuvant double chemotherapy / double immunotherapy regimen in inoperable T2-3 PM patients.operability will be evaluated after systemic treatment on week 7-9.Efficacy, assessed by the percentage of T2 and T3 PM patients becoming operable after double neoadjuvant chemotherapy and immunotherapy which is defined by the radiology department using the TNM 9 criteria.
Quality of life during the neoadjuvant double chemotherapy / double immunotherapy regimen and surgery.at week 17Quality of life, assessed by the EQ-5D-5L score. The EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level questionnaire (EQ-5D-5L), a standardized instrument for measuring health-related quality of life. The EQ-5D-5L consists of 5 dimensions (mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression), each with 5 response levels. In addition, it includes a visual analogue scale (EQ-VAS) for self-rated health. Time Frame: At baseline, Day 1 of each treatment cycle, pre-surgery, End of Treatment (Week 17 ± 2 weeks), and follow-up visits at Weeks 13, 26, 39, and 52 after EoT.

Countries

Belgium

Contacts

Primary ContactProf. J. Hendriks, MD. PhD.
jeroen.hendriks@uza.be+3238214361

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026