Transarterial infusion chemotherapy and embolization (TAICE) as a pre-operative therapy for patients with locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC): A prospective, single-arm, pilot study.
Authors: Liu Zheng , Min Lingqiang , Zhou Bo , Zhou Peng , Luo Rongkui , Ding Yuqin , Cui Yuehong , Shi Zhongyi , Gu Yuan , Sun Yihong , Wang Xuefei , Tang Zhaoqing 
Published: January 2025

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Background:
Interventional therapy is a local intensive therapy for tumor control, often utilized in palliative treatment for solid organ tumors. Yet, its application in tumors of hollow viscera still lacks evidence. Our previous retrospective study revealed transarterial infusion chemotherapy and embolization (TAICE) not only effectively managed tumor-related hemorrhage but also exhibited a notable anti-tumor efficacy in gastric cancer. This prospective study aims to further explore the feasibility and safety of TAICE as a pre-operative therapy for locally advanced gastric cancer (LAGC).
Methods:
Patients diagnosed with locally advanced adenocarcinoma of stomach and gastrointestinal junction (GEJ) with no distant metastasis (cT3-4N+M0) were enrolled. They were given 4 cycles of pre-operative treatments: 2 cycles of TAICE-SOX (Oxaliplatin [85mg/m
2
transarterial infusion on Day 1] and S-1 [40/50/60mg po bid on Day 1-14]) and 2 cycles of SOX (Oxaliplatin [130mg/m
2
IV on Day 1] and S-1 [same as above]), alternately. Then, they received D2 radical gastrectomy, and 4 cycles of SOX post-operatively. In brief, the TAICE procedure was summarized into 4 steps: 1) Celiac arteriography, 2) Super-selection of tumor feeding artery (TFA), 3) Infusion chemotherapy and embolization of TFA, 4) Celiac re-arteriography to ensure the success of embolization. The primary endpoint was pathological complete response (pCR) rate. Other endpoints included major pathological response (MPR) rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs).
Results:
Between December 2020 and June 2023, twenty patients were enrolled and all of them received TAICE. Among them, 18 (90.0%) patients received 2 cycles of TAICE. The pCR and MPR rate were 55.0% and 70.0%, respectively. The 1-year and 3-year OS rate were 100.0% and 82.6%. The 1-year and 3-year PFS rate were 90.0% and 67.3%. There was no difference in OS between the groups of high and low tumor residual rate with the threshold of 50%. Patients achieving low tumor residual rate had significantly longer PFS (NR vs. 12.17 months, p=0.018) than those with high rate after TAICE. Moreover, we divided TFA into two subtypes: dispersive and branching, depending on the vascular pattern presented in the angiography at the first cycle TAICE. Patients with dispersive TFA had higher risk of recurrence after TAICE (NR vs. 15.17 months, p=0.0264). All patients had TRAEs (vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and fever) of grade 1 or 2 after the first cycle of TAICE. Only one patient experienced nausea of grade 3 after the second cycle of TAICE. The most common TRAEs were vomiting and nausea.
Conclusions:
TAICE is a promising pre-operative therapy for patients with LAGC for it displaying the satisfactory oncological effectiveness and safety profile.
Clinical trial information: NCT05396326
.