Plain English Summary
Background and study aims:
Surgery for ovarian cancer involves the removal of pelvic organs (the womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries), abdominal organs ( the omentum and the appendix) and any other tissues that may have been affected. The more of the cancer that is removed, the greater the time between the surgery and the cancer coming back and the longer the patient will survive with the disease. Removing all visible signs of a cancer, however, is not easy. The disease is often advanced and widespread and some tumours will be located in sensitive areas such as the surface of the bowel, diaphragm and other important internal structures. In this study, doctors will use a new technology the PlasmaJet to remove tumours that are found in these sensitive areas. The PlasmaJet uses a jet of neutral argon plasma to vaporise the tumours. The PlasmaJet has been used in other areas of medicine, such as sealing bleeding tissue (coagulation) and burning away thin layers of tissue (ablation) but this is the first study that will look at the effects of this technology in ovarian cancer surgery.
Who can participate?
Women with stage III ovarian cancer, that is, with tumours in at least one ovary and where there is evidence that the disease has spread to the abdomen (confirmed peritoneal metastasis outside the pelvis). Patients have to be well enough to cope with the treatment and written consent is obtained in all cases.
What does the study involve?
The study will involve assessing how well the neutral argon plasma (PlasmaJet) technology performs in removing (vapourising) tumours during surgery for ovarian cancer.
What are the possible benefits and risks of participating?
There may not be any immediate benefit to the participants, however the working hypothesis is that it might be safer and faster to debulk ovarian cancer with the PJ device.
Where is the study run from?
Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for?
March 2013 until the end of December 2017.
Who is funding the study?
GRACE, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, The Royal Surrey County Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, UK
Who is the main contact?
Dr Kavitha Madhuri
Department of Gynaecological Oncology
Royal Surrey County Hospital, Guildford, UK
Trial website
Additional identifiers
EudraCT number
2014-002103-24
ClinicalTrials.gov number
Protocol/serial number
PJEOC
Study information
Scientific title
A pilot, randomised single blind study to evaluate the utility and efficacy of neutral argon plasma as a new technology in achieving complete cytoreduction of advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma - initial feasibility study
Acronym
PJEOC
Study hypothesis
To evaluate the ability of PJ to achieve optimal cytoreduction (nil visible disease) in women undergoing open debulking surgery for EOC.
Ethics approval
National Research Ethics Committee - South East Coast (Surrey), 04/12/2012, ref: 12/LO/1229
Study design
Pilot, randomised single blind study
Primary study design
Interventional
Secondary study design
Randomised controlled trial
Trial setting
Hospitals
Trial type
Treatment
Patient information sheet
Not available in web format, please use the contact details below to request a patient information sheet.
Condition
Advanced (Stage 3/4) Epithelial Ovarian Cancer
Intervention
This is a initial feasibility pilot RCT. Each participant may be randomised to PJ vs No PJ at the time of their debulking surgery. Each participant will then be followed up for at least the next 5 years.
Intervention type
Other
Phase
Not Applicable
Drug names
Primary outcome measure
The primary outcome measure is the ability to achieve complete cytoreduction (nil macroscopic residual). To evaluate the ability of PJ to achieve optimal cytoreduction (nil visible disease) in women undergoing open debulking surgery for EOC
Secondary outcome measures
1. To explore if achieving optimal cytoreduction helps increase disease free interval and hence improve survival
2. To categorise the histopathological effects of the depth of tumour destruction of metastatic EOC using the PJ
3. Evaluate the depth of tissue damage caused with a range of power settings and interaction times in vitro following surgery
4. To document the side-effect profile post-operatively following extensive surgery
5. Collate patient reported outcome measures using a validated tool
Overall trial start date
01/03/2013
Overall trial end date
30/12/2017
Reason abandoned (if study stopped)
Eligibility
Participant inclusion criteria
1. Imaging+/- Clinical +/- laparoscopic e/o pelvic mass and metastatic disease (FIGO III/IV disease) at presentation
2. Confirmation of malignancy on histological/cytological criteria
3. All women aged 18 or over with newly diagnosed FIGO stage III to Stage IV EOC undergoing surgical treatment
4. All women fit to undergo treatment
5. No synchronous malignancy likely to interfere with comparisons
6. Written and informed patient consent
Participant type
Patient
Age group
Adult
Gender
Female
Target number of participants
150
Participant exclusion criteria
1. Patient choice
2. Patient unfit for any treatment modality
3. Patients who are medically unfit for surgery and would only be suitable for chemotherapy
Recruitment start date
01/03/2013
Recruitment end date
30/12/2017
Locations
Countries of recruitment
United Kingdom
Trial participating centre
Dept. of Gynaecological Oncology
Guildford
GU2 7XX
United Kingdom
Funders
Funder type
Hospital/treatment centre
Funder name
GRACE, Department of Gynaecological Oncology, The Royal Surrey County Hospital, UK
Alternative name(s)
Funding Body Type
Funding Body Subtype
Location
Results and Publications
Publication and dissemination plan
Not provided at time of registration
Intention to publish date
Participant level data
Not provided at time of registration
Basic results (scientific)
Publication list