An observational study in Anal Cancer, Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Oligometastatic Disease, sponsored by Aarhus University Hospital. Recruiting at 3 sites in Denmark. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2022-02-10.
Sponsored by Aarhus University Hospital · Observational
To investigate the prognostic and predictive value of plasma HPV (pHPV) prior, during and after induction chemotherapy (ICT) in locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) or synchronous metastatic SCCA patients treated with ICT prior to definitive (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT) according to multidisciplinary team (MDT) conferences based decisions. Further to investigate the use of pHPV measurements and other relevant markers for prediction of response and survival after ICT prior to definitive (C)RT.
Anal cancer is a rare malignancy with approximately 200 new cases in Denmark per year, and the standard treatment is chemoradiotherapy (CRT). The treatment is centralised at three oncological departments at Aarhus University Hospital, Herlev Hospital and Vejle Hospital. The majority of anal cancers are squamous cell carcinomas (SCCA) and are strongly associated with human papilloma virus (HPV) which can be detected in tumour tissue in more than 80% of cases. Patients with large tumours, tumours invading nearby organs and/or local lymph node metastases could be treated with induction chemotherapy (ICT) in cases where downsizing prior definitive treatment is needed. Selected patients with metastatic (M1) SCCA could also be treated with ICT with the purpose of making definitive treatment possible.
HPV, cell-free DNA, circulating tumour DNA and immune related markers:
HPV is a virus group consisting of more than 130 subtypes, of which a minor part is categorised as oncogenic types. The most common HPV subtypes found in SCCA is HPV-16 and -18, but the total landscape of HPV subtype distribution in SCCA is sparsely investigated. Small fragments of cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can be detected in the circulation with elevated levels in cancer patients, but also in other circumstances. Aberrant methylation of DNA occurs in almost all malignant tumours and is shed into the circulation. The level of tumour specific methylated DNA (meth-ctDNA) can be analysed by modern PCR technology. It seems to hold biological information, which holds promise of clinical utility. The literature has focused on colorectal cancer and meth-ctDNA has been introduced as a prognostic marker. The possible importance in anal cancer has not been elucidated which is one the aims of the present protocol. With a simple blood test (so called "liquid biopsy"), it is possibility to characterise both the level of total cfDNA and meth-ctDNA. HPV associated anal cancer has a viral sequence integrated into the genome of the cancer cells. In HPV associated anal cancer meth-ctDNA is shredded to the blood stream, and can be measured as HPV tumour cell DNA (plasma HPV or pHPV). The observational and translation part of the DACG Plan-A study have shown that levels of pre-treatment pHPV are higher in large tumours compared to small and higher in node positive disease compared to node negative which is in agreement with results on advanced anal cancer where pHPV levels were correlated to tumour burden. The Plan-A study have also shown that pHPV is eliminated during CRT in case of response to treatment.
Immunotherapy has changed the treatment of several malignant tumours, especially malignant melanoma. The checkpoint inhibitors block PD/PD-L1 interaction, which elicits immune response to the malignant tumour. The treatment also seems to have effect in anal cancer. The literature is sparse, but a number of studies are ongoing. It is therefore well motivated to analyse one of the central stakeholders in the immune response. The level of PD-L1 in serum holds potential as a prognostic marker in anal cancer.
Perspective:
In patients treated with ICT prior to definitive CRT it is crucial not to exceed the necessary amount of potentially toxic treatment cycles and the ability of pHPV to address early response or progression is highly relevant. Complete response after ICT have been reported and treatment with ICT consisting of e.g. cisplatin, 5-flourouracil, leuroverin and ifosfamide (CILF) have shown a complete local tumour response rate of 15% and prediction of response is therefore highly relevant. In the metastatic setting taxol and carboplatin has now been introduced as first line option. This combination is also a relevant candidate for ICT. The potential perspective will be development of studies with pHPV guided intensified ICT.
Purpose:
To investigate the prognostic and predictive value of pHPV prior, during and after ICT in patients treated with ICT according to multidisciplinary team (MDT) conferences based decisions. Further to investigate the use of pHPV measurements and other relevant markers for prediction of response and survival after ICT prior to definitive CRT.
297 studies on the registry are indexed under Anus Neoplasms; 74 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 60 is below the median of 144 across 75 observational studies indexed under Anus Neoplasms.
Browse Anus Neoplasms studies →Aarhus University Hospital is the lead sponsor of 298 studies on the registry; 80 are open to participants now.
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Patients with newly diagnosed anal cancer who by standard of care are eligible for ICT prior to definitive CRT or radiotherapy alone (RT) will be screened according to inclusion- and exclusion criteria.
Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.
Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Metastases
Cancer that has spread from where it began to other parts of the body. “Metastatic” cancer is cancer that has spread this way.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Cancer (malignancy)
Malignancy means cancer. Criteria about another or earlier malignancy ask whether you have had a different cancer, usually within a set number of years.
Some are commonly allowed, such as treated skin cancers other than melanoma and early cancers removed completely — check the exceptions this study lists.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients with newly diagnosed anal cancer who by standard of care are eligible for induction chemotherapy prior to definitive CRT or radiotherapy alone (RT) will be screened according to inclusion- and exclusion criteria. Patients eligible for induction chemotherapy will be patients with locally advanced or synchronous metastatic anal cancer.
Overall survival according to circulating tumour DNA status
Overall survival: Time from diagnosis to time of dead or date of last follow-up.
Time frame: 2 year
Disease-free survival according to circulating tumour DNA and immune markers.
Time from end of treatment to progression, recurrence or death whatever comes first.
Time frame: 2 year
Recurrence-free survival according to circulating tumour DNA and immune markers.
Time from end of treatment to recurrence (locoregional or distant failure) or death whatever comes first.
Time frame: 2 year
Overall survival according to circulating tumour DNA and immune markers.
Overall survival: Time from diagnosis to time of death or date of last follow-up.
Time frame: 2 year
Plan to share: No
No publications or documents are linked to this record.
Started Jan 2022 (actual). Primary completion is estimated for Dec 2023, 23 months after the start.
Of 36 observational studies under Anus Neoplasms, half reached primary completion within 44 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 32 and three quarters within 137. This study's planned 23 months is below that.
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