A Phase 1/2 interventional study of Biopsy and Biospecimen Collection in Retroperitoneal Sarcoma, sponsored by Northwestern University. Recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-07.
Sponsored by Northwestern University · Phase 1/2, Interventional, and Treatment
This phase I/II trial studies the side effects and best dose of proton-spatially fractionated radiotherapy (P-SFRT) and to see how well it works with standard radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Standard spatially fractionated radiotherapy (SFRT) refers to how the radiation is delivered to the tumor. SFRT means that different parts of the tumor are receiving different doses of radiation (fractionation) through beams that allow areas of higher and lower (peaks and valleys) of doses of the radiation. This spatial fractionation allows an overall high-dose radiation to be given in the peaks and those areas of the tumor may release cells and substances that may help with killing tumor cells, reducing tumor symptoms and shrinking tumors. Proton therapy is a type of radiation therapy that can overcome some of the barriers of standard SFRT. Protons are tiny radioactive particles that can be controlled in a beam to travel up to the tumor and, compared to the particles used in standard radiotherapy, proton therapy can deliver higher doses to the tumor because smaller doses of radiation are delivered to tissues away from the tumor. This allows radiation therapy dose-escalated (continuously increasing the dose of radiation) treatment to tumors even though the tumor is near radiation sensitive organs like the colon. Giving P-SFRT with standard radiation therapy may work better in treating patients with newly diagnosed retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.
PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for P-SFRT, which will be used as the recommended phase II dose (RP2D) for P-SFRT prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgical intervention for retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). (Phase I) II. To determine the efficacy of P-SFRT prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgical intervention for RPS. (Phase II)
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine whether P-SFRT is safe when administered prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgery for RPS. (Phase I) II. To determine progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with RPS who have been treated with P-SFRT prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgical intervention. (Phase II) III. To determine overall survival (OS) in patients with RPS who have been treated with P-SFRT prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgical intervention. (Phase II) IV. To determine objective response (OR) in patients with RPS who have been treated with P-SFRT prior to standard fractionated radiation therapy and surgical intervention. (Phase II)
OUTLINE: This is a phase I, dose-escalation study of P-SFRT followed by a phase II study.
Patients undergo P-SFRT over 1 fraction and then undergo image-guided intensity modulated radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) over 25-28 fractions for 35 to 42 days. Patients undergo surgical resection 21 to 35 days after radiation therapy. Patients undergo blood sample collection during screening and on study. Patients also undergo biopsy during screening and computed tomography (CT) on study and on follow up.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 and 90 days after surgery, and then up to 36 months.
Northwestern University is the lead sponsor of 1,396 studies on the registry; 199 are open to participants now.
Of its 102 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 73 (72%) have results posted.
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Patients of child-bearing potential (POCBP) must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) from time of informed consent and for the duration of study participation. Patients who can impregnate their partners must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control, abstinence) from time of informed consent and for the duration of study participation. Should a patient become pregnant or suspect they are pregnant while they or their partner is participating in this study, they should inform their treating physician immediately.
Note: A POCBP is any person with an egg-producing reproductive tract (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:
Exclusion Criteria:
Patients who have had one of the following soft tissue sarcoma subtypes where neoadjuvant chemotherapy is established as standard-of-care:
Patients who have an uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to any of the following, are not eligible:
Patients undergo P-SFRT over 1 fraction and then undergo IG-IMRT over 25-28 fractions for 35 to 42 days. Patients undergo surgical resection 21 to 35 days after radiation therapy. Patients undergo blood sample collection during screening and on study. Patients also undergo biopsy during screening and CT on study and on follow up.
Procedure: Biopsy · Procedure: Biospecimen Collection · Procedure: Computed Tomography · Radiation: Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy · Procedure: Resection · Radiation: Spatially-fractionated Radiation Therapy
Undergo biopsy
Also known as: BIOPSY_TYPE, Bx
Undergo blood sample collection
Also known as: Biological Sample Collection, Biospecimen Collected, Specimen Collection
Undergo CT
Also known as: CAT, CAT Scan, Computed Axial Tomography, Computerized Axial Tomography, Computerized axial tomography (procedure), Computerized Tomography, Computerized Tomography (CT) scan, CT, CT Scan, tomography
Undergo IG-IMRT
Also known as: IMRT, Intensity modulated radiation therapy (procedure), Intensity Modulated RT, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy, Radiation, Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy
Undergo surgical resection
Also known as: Surgical Resection
Undergo P-SFRT
Also known as: GRID Therapy, SFRT
Recommended phase II dose (Phase I)
Will be defined as the highest dose with a dose-limiting toxicity (DLTs) as determined in phase I using Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0 (CTCAE v 5.0). The DLT will be considered toxic and the prior dose will be considered the MTD (maximum tolerated dose). For the purposes of this protocol, the MTD will be the recommended phase II dose (RP2D).
Time frame: Up to the first 30 days of treatment
Pathological complete response (Phase II)
Efficacy will be determined based on pathologic complete response (pCR). A pathologist will score the efficacy and the percentage necrosis which will be based on tissue samples removed during surgery or biopsy after treatment with radiation or chemotherapy.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Incidence of adverse events (Phase I)
Will be summarized by providing a frequency of adverse events (CTCAE v 5.0) by severity, type, timing, and attribution for toxicities of any grade, with rates of ≥ grade 3 toxicities also analyzed separately. Adverse event rates will be summarized and accompanied by 95% exact binomial CIs.
Time frame: Up to 3 years
Overall response rate (ORR) (Phase II)
Using imaging, patients who experience an objective response (confirmed complete response \[CR\] or confirmed partial response \[PR\] per Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors version 1.1 (RECIST v 1.1)\].
Time frame: Assessed up to 3 years
Progression-free survival (PFS) (Phase II)
Will be assessed by disease progression and is defined as progressive disease (PD) per RECIST v 1.1, other documented clinical or radiographical progression per physician judgment, or death due to disease.
Time frame: Assessed up to 3 years
Overall survival (OS) ( (Phase II)
Overall survival will be calculated as the time that elapses between baseline (day of surgery) and the date of death from any cause for all evaluable patients.
Time frame: Assessed up to 3 years
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