UPCC 26524 A Phase I/II Study of Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy Following Palliative Radiotherapy for Patients with Inoperable Malignant Central Airway Obstruction

Study on Interstitial Photodynamic Therapy for Malignant Airway Obstruction

Enrolling By Invitation
18 years or above
All
Phase 1/2
42 participants needed
1 Location

Brief description of study

This phase I/II trial studies the side effects of interstitial photodynamic therapy following palliative radiotherapy and how well it works in treating patients with inoperable malignant central airway obstruction. Patients who have advanced stage cancer tumors in the lung can often have the breathing passages to the lung partially or completely blocked. These tumors could be due to lung cancer or other cancers (e.g., renal, breast, kidney, etc.) that spread to the lung. This blockage puts the patient at a higher risk for respiratory failure, post-obstructive pneumonia, and prolonged hospitalizations. Treatment for these patients may include bronchoscopic intervention (such as mechanical removal, stenting, laser cauterization, or ballooning), radiation therapy with and without chemotherapy. While palliative x-ray radiotherapy may help in shrinking the tumor, high dose curative radiotherapy that can ablate (a localized, nonsurgical destruction) the tumor also has high risk to cause significant toxicity, including bleeding, abnormal connections or passageways between organs or vessels and abnormal scar tissue that can also produce airway obstruction. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is another possible treatment that can provide local control of the tumor. PDT consists of injecting a light sensitive drug (photosensitizer, PS) into the vein, waiting for the PS to accumulate in the tumor, and then activating it with a red laser light. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Giving interstitial photodynamic therapy following palliative radiotherapy may improve tumor response and survival without the serious side effects that are associated with the typical high dose curative x-ray radiotherapy alone in patients with malignant central airway obstruction.

Detailed description of study

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To test the safety of our image-based treatment planning for image-guided interstitial photodynamic therapy (I PDT) with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) following standard of care palliative radiotherapy (p-XRT). (Phase I)

-To assess the efficacy of our image-based treatment planning for image-guided I-PDT following standard of care p-XRT. (Phase II)

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

  • To assess objective tumor response. (Phase I)
  • To evaluate changes in quality of life. (Phase I and II)
  • To measure changes in functional lung capacity. (Phase I and II)
  • To measure the relationship between the measured objective tumor response (at 12 +/- 2 weeks post I-PDT) and changes in therapeutic laser light transmission within the target tumor, as a future dosimetric marker for response. (Phase I and II)
  • To assess treatment effects on the immune contexture. (Phase I and II)
  • To monitor progression free survival. (Phase I and II)

OUTLINE: This is a phase I study, followed by a phase II.

PHASE I: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 cohorts.

COHORT 1: Patients receive visudyne intravenously (IV) over 10 minutes and then undergo I-PDT with EBUS 60-90 minutes after visudyne for up to 3 treatment sessions. Patients undergo blood and tissue sample collection on study. Patients also undergo computed tomography (CT) throughout the trial.

COHORT 2: Patients undergo SOC p-XRT over a single fraction. Patients receive visudyne IV over 10 minutes and then undergo I-PDT with EBUS 60-90 minutes after visudyne for up to 2 treatment sessions at least 12 weeks apart. Patients undergo blood and tissue sample collection on study. Patients also undergo CT throughout the trial.

PHASE II: Patients undergo SOC p-XRT over a single fraction. Patients receive visudyne IV over 10 minutes and then undergo I-PDT with EBUS 60-90 minutes after visudyne for up to 2 treatment sessions at least 12 weeks apart. Patients undergo blood and tissue sample collection on study. Patients also undergo CT throughout the trial.

After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 30 days and 8, 12, and 24 weeks.

Eligibility of study

You may be eligible for this study if you meet the following criteria:

  • Conditions: Malignant Solid Neoplasm
  • Age: 18 years or above
  • Gender: All

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age >= 18 years of age
  • Eligibility checklist before registration requires review of case by the interventional pulmonologist/s and radiation oncologist/s to approve anatomic feasibility of an airway intervention and palliative radiotherapy
  • Patients with pathologic diagnosis of inoperable solid malignancy involving extrabronchial tumor growth that causes airway obstruction and not amenable to curative radiotherapy. All patients will have tumors requiring bronchoscopic intervention with endobronchial ultrasound (EBUS) at the time of I-PDT
  • Participants have at least one measurable lesion which is also the target lesion for Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) measurement
  • Patients amenable to receive standard of care palliative radiotherapy to the target tumor, as determined by the radiation oncologist/s
  • Amenable to high resolution chest CT (with or without contrast due to contraindication) with 0.625-1.25 mm slice thickness and slice interval 0.5-1 mm
  • Tumor is accessible and amenable to I-PDT, as determined by the interventional pulmonologist/s
  • Have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤ 3
  • Platelets ≥ 100,000 cells/mm^3 (International System of Units [SI] units 100 x 10^9/L)
  • International normalized ratio (INR) < 1.5 and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) < 1.5 x ULN. PTT or aPTT per institutional standards for participating external sites
  • Participants of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraceptive methods (e.g., hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for 3 months after receiving the study drug. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately
  • Participant must understand the investigational nature of this study and sign an Independent Ethics Committee/Institutional Review Board approved written informed consent form prior to receiving any study related procedure

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnant or nursing female participants
  • Co-existing ophthalmic disease likely to require slit-lamp examination within the next 30 days following I-PDT treatment
  • Any condition which in the investigator's opinion deems the participant an unsuitable candidate to receive the I-PDT
  • CT imaging suggestive of target tumor invasion into a major blood vessel (typically proximal to segmental vessels)
  • Known hypersensitivity/allergy to porphyrin
  • Patients who are not cleared by the anesthesiologist to undergo an advanced bronchoscopy procedure under general anesthesia
  • Patients diagnosed with porphyria
  • Patients with known allergy to eggs
  • Patients unwilling or unable to follow protocol requirements

This study investigates the use of interstitial photodynamic therapy (I-PDT) following palliative radiotherapy in patients with inoperable malignant central airway obstruction. The purpose of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of combining these treatments to improve tumor response and survival in patients whose airways are blocked by cancerous tumors. Interstitial photodynamic therapy involves injecting a light-sensitive drug into the vein, which accumulates in the tumor, and then activating it with a red laser light. This method aims to provide local control of the tumor while minimizing the serious side effects associated with high-dose radiotherapy.

Participants in this study will undergo palliative radiotherapy followed by I-PDT. In Phase I, patients will be divided into two cohorts: one receiving up to three sessions of I-PDT and the other receiving one session of radiotherapy followed by up to two sessions of I-PDT. In Phase II, all patients will receive one session of radiotherapy followed by up to two sessions of I-PDT. Throughout the trial, patients will have blood and tissue samples collected and undergo CT scans to monitor the treatment's effects.

  • Who can participate: Adults aged 18 and older with inoperable solid tumors causing airway obstruction are eligible. Participants must have a measurable lesion and be able to undergo palliative radiotherapy and high-resolution chest CT scans.
  • Study details: Participants will receive interstitial photodynamic therapy, which involves a photosensitizer drug activated by laser light. The study includes blood and tissue sample collection and CT scans to monitor the treatment.
  • Study timelines and visits: The study will last 24 weeks. The study requires 4 visits.
Updated on 06 Apr 2026. Study ID: 24-2170
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