NCT04248582Active, not recruitingPhase 1
Cryotherapy for Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer
Phase 1 Dose-Frequency Escalation Study of Neoadjuvant Cryotherapy in Locally Advanced Esophageal Cancer
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 18 Sept 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
Background: In published studies, complete response (CR) to chemoradiation occurs in only 25-30% of patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer. Liquid nitrogen spray cryotherapy (LNSC) is postulated to stimulate an anti-tumor immune response. In a preliminary study, the investigators documented CR rate of 56% with a single session of LNSC administered prior to chemoradiation. Before proceeding with larger trials to corroborate these findings, the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of neoadjuvant LNSC must be determined. The aims of this study are: (1) To determine safety and MTD of LNSC during neoadjuvant chemoradiation in locally advanced esophageal cancer. (2) To assess whether LNSC results in immunogenic cell death. (3) To assess changes in tumor micro-environment with LNSC. Methods: Eligible adult patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer will receive LNSC at the following dose frequencies: Patient 1, 2, and 3: 2 sessions of LNSC prior to chemoradiation (chemoXRT); Patients 4, 5, and 6: 2 sessions LNSC prior to chemoXRT, then 1 session during week 4 of chemoXRT; Patients 7, 8, and 9: 2 sessions LNSC prior to chemoXRT, then 1 session during week 2 and 1 session during week 4 of chemoXRT. If no dose limiting toxicity (DLT) occurs, the investigators will enroll an additional 3 patients to confirm MTD. The investigators will contact patients at 48-hours and 1-week post-procedure to evaluate for adverse events (AEs) and DLTs, and assess for improvements in dysphagia and quality of life (QOL) using the Mellow-Pinkas and EORTC QLQ-OES18 instruments respectively. The investigators will obtain peripheral blood for ELISA and biopsies from the tumor to assess tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and T cell subtypes before the 1st session of LNSC, before the 2nd session of LNSC, and after chemoradiation is completed. Expected results: (1) Dose limiting toxicity (DLT) does not occur when patients received 2 session of LNSC prior to chemoXRT, and 2 sessions during chemoXRT (2) LNSC results in immunogenic cell death, as assessed by increased levels of HMGB1 in serum, and calreticulin in biopsy specimens (CRT) (3) LNSC is associated with increased T cell infiltration and activation (increased TILs, CD8+, CD3+ T cells, and granzyme B), and decrease in regulatory T cells (CD45R0, FOXP3).
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Phase (registry)
- Phase 1
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 14 (actual)
- First submitted
- 28 Jan 2020
- Start date
- 11 Feb 2020
- Primary completion date
- 8 Mar 2023
- Lead sponsor
- Hunter Holmes Mcguire Veteran Affairs Medical Center
- Diseases
- Gastric and esophageal cancer
- NCT number
- NCT04248582
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional · Phase 1
- Participants enrolled: 14
- From 11 Feb 2020 to the primary completion date, 8 Mar 2023
- 1 site in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Other illness
- Superficial esophageal cancer
Lab values
- Coagulopathy (INR \> 2 or platelet count \< 50,000/cubic millimeter).
Age
- Pediatric patients (age less than 18 years)
Other
- Inability to pass the orogastric decompression tube into the stomach
- Inability to provide informed consent
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status ≥3
- Pregnancy
Who the study is looking for
- Adult patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer will be eligible to participate in the study. Eligible patients must have a histologically proven diagnosis of esophageal adenocarcinoma, esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, adenosquamous carcinoma, or gastro-esophageal junctional adenocarcinoma. Locally advanced esophageal cancer will be defined as absence of distant metastases on positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) and a TNM stage of IIA to IIIC, as defined by endoscopic ultrasound and PET-CT
Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers
Sites (1)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hunter Holmes McGuire VA Medical Center Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Richmond | United States | Unknown status |
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.