NCT04666220

Brief Summary

Metastasis is the main cause of death in cancer patients and often epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is advocated as the basic mechanism. Recently Fang and colleagues described an EMT-independent process of metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): endothelium covers small cluster of tumor cells allowing tumor dissemination. This process of angiogenesis, named VETC (vessels that encapsulate tumor clusters) in HCC literature, has been described under different names in other cancer types. Furthermore, the investigators confirmed the negative impact of VETC on patients' prognosis on a large multicenter cohort of HCCs. Moreover, Fang et al demonstrated that patients affected by VETC-positive HCC benefit more from sorafenib therapy. Interestingly, this type of angiogenesis was also found in renal cell carcinoma, adrenal gland pheochromocytoma, thyroid follicular carcinoma and alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) and associated to prognosis. Moreover, the distinction between benign and malignant neoplasms of the adrenal gland is a complex matter, being the established criteria still lacking a strong reproducibility. Several tyrosine kinase inhibitors are available for different cancer types; among them, HCC, RCC, ASPS, and TC may benefit from the so-called antiangiogenic tyrosine kinase inhibitors (aTKI) (such as sunitinib, sorafenib, pazopanib). A general (histotype-independent) validation of the prognostic role of VETC is missing. Moreover, inhibitors of tyrosine-kinase vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFR-TKI), represent an effective treatment for different cancer types, but predictive markers are still needed. In addition, novel systemic immunotherapy agents are being approved in many cancer types, as alternative to angiogenesis inhibitors. A broader frame including metastatic mechanisms, tumor microenvironment (TME, i.e. angiogenesis and immune infiltrate) and treatment response could answer to several needs currently unmet. Bayesian networks and causal models can be employed to effectively draw conclusions from retrospective data. The aim of the present study is to investigate in patients with RCC and adrenal carcinoma (AC) the VETC-expression on tumor tissue, correlating the results with clinical data, patients characteristics, and outcome.

Trial Health

43
At Risk

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Trial has exceeded expected completion date
Enrollment
180

participants targeted

Target at P50-P75 for all trials

Timeline
Completed

Started Jan 2021

Shorter than P25 for all trials

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
unknown

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 30, 2020

Completed
14 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 14, 2020

Completed
19 days until next milestone

Study Start

First participant enrolled

January 2, 2021

Completed
1 month until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

February 1, 2021

Completed
3 months until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

May 1, 2021

Completed
Last Updated

February 12, 2021

Status Verified

February 1, 2021

Enrollment Period

1 month

First QC Date

November 30, 2020

Last Update Submit

February 9, 2021

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • VETC in RCC and AC.

    To identify the expression of VETC in Renal Cell Carcinoma and Adrenal Carcinoma.

    2-3 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • Predictive VETC (OS)

    2-3 months

  • Predictive VETC (PFS)

    2-3 months

  • Predictive VETC (control)

    2-3 months

Study Arms (2)

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC)

For all series, clinical and epidemiological features will be recorded, all available histological slides will be reviewed and, on the primary tumor slides, histological characteristics will be re-assessed. Whenever multiple samples of tumors would be present, those having the tumor-surrounding tissue interface will be selected and stained with CD34 antibody. VETC will be evaluated independently by, at least, two pathologists, blinded to clinical data. VETC will be recorded as positive or negative, being VETC defined as CD34 unequivocal immunoreactivity of a continuous lining of endothelial cells around tumor clusters. VETC will be considered alternative to the common capillary pattern, consisting in small circular or linear blood vessels.

Other: VETC evaluation

Adrenal carcinoma

see (RCC)

Other: VETC evaluation

Interventions

We will evaluate VETC presence on tissue specimens

Also known as: Tumor vasculature evaluation
Adrenal carcinomaRenal cell carcinoma (RCC)

Eligibility Criteria

Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsChild (0-17), Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)
Sampling MethodNon-Probability Sample
Study Population

In order to evaluate VETC effects on prognosis, this study will include series of patients who underwent surgery at our institution for RCC (from 2005 to 2007) and for adrenal carcinoma (2000-2018). Moreover, to investigate the possible role of TME, in particular of VETC, in predicting TKIs benefit, this study will consider series of RCC, selected from a prospectively maintained database of patients treated with first line TKIs at our center. Estimated sample size: 160 patients for RCC and 20 patients for AC.

You may qualify if:

  • Histological diagnosis of Renal Cell Carcinoma;
  • Histological diagnosis of Carcinoma of the adrenal gland;
  • Availability of histological material;
  • For the evaluation of the prognostic role: no systemic treatment with TKI administered before surgery.

You may not qualify if:

  • Unavailable histological material;
  • For RCC: histological diagnosis different from Clear Cell histotype.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Humanitas Clinical and Research Hospital

Rozzano, MI, 20089, Italy

RECRUITING

Related Publications (36)

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Biospecimen

Retention: SAMPLES WITH DNA

Formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks from biopsies or surgical procedures.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Carcinoma, Renal CellAdrenal Cortex Neoplasms

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

AdenocarcinomaCarcinomaNeoplasms, Glandular and EpithelialNeoplasms by Histologic TypeNeoplasmsKidney NeoplasmsUrologic NeoplasmsUrogenital NeoplasmsNeoplasms by SiteFemale Urogenital DiseasesFemale Urogenital Diseases and Pregnancy ComplicationsUrogenital DiseasesKidney DiseasesUrologic DiseasesMale Urogenital DiseasesAdrenal Gland NeoplasmsEndocrine Gland NeoplasmsAdrenal Cortex DiseasesAdrenal Gland DiseasesEndocrine System Diseases

Study Officials

  • Salvatore L Renne, MD

    Humanitas Clinical and Reseach Hospital

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Salvatore L Renne, MD

CONTACT

Paolo A Zucali, MD

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
observational
Observational Model
COHORT
Time Perspective
RETROSPECTIVE
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Assistant Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 30, 2020

First Posted

December 14, 2020

Study Start

January 2, 2021

Primary Completion

February 1, 2021

Study Completion

May 1, 2021

Last Updated

February 12, 2021

Record last verified: 2021-02

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will share

Custom code and data will be uploaded during the study in a github repository

Shared Documents
STUDY PROTOCOL, SAP, ICF, CSR, ANALYTIC CODE
Time Frame
as soon as the data are uploaded they will be public indefinitely
Access Criteria
public
More information

Available IPD Datasets

This will be the repository containing Individual Participant Data, Study Protocol, Statistical Analysis Plan, Informed Consent Form, Clinical Study Report, Analytic Code of the VETC predictive Study Access

Locations