City of Hope’s Phase 1 Trial Featured at SSO Annual Meeting
City of Hope’s groundbreaking Phase 1 clinical trial has demonstrated promising results for patients suffering from colorectal and appendiceal cancer that has metastasized to the peritoneum. As one of the leading cancer research and treatment centers in the United States, City of Hope continues to make significant advancements in oncology. Their National Medical Center was ranked among the top five in the nation for cancer treatment by U.S. News & World Report.
This latest trial, which investigates the use of Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy (PIPAC) combined with systemic chemotherapy, highlights both safety and early efficacy. The findings will be featured at a press briefing on March 18, as part of the Society of Surgical Oncology (SSO) Annual Meeting, showcasing some of the most important research presented at this prestigious conference.
Peritoneal metastases present a serious challenge in cancer treatment. The peritoneum, a membrane lining the abdominal cavity, is one of the most difficult regions to treat with systemic chemotherapy due to its limited blood supply. This makes the prognosis for patients with peritoneal metastases particularly poor. Without effective intervention, survival rates remain bleak, often limited to a few months. Standard treatments have shown limited success in extending life expectancy beyond one year. However, City of Hope’s innovative approach using PIPAC is changing the landscape of treatment possibilities.
Dr. Mustafa Raoof, an assistant professor in the Division of Surgical Oncology at City of Hope, has been at the forefront of evaluating PIPAC as a new therapeutic strategy. “Up until recently, delivering a uniform dose of chemotherapy in the abdomen has not been possible. At City of Hope, we have been evaluating the use of pressurized intraperitoneal aerosolized chemotherapy, or PIPAC, which is the most optimized way to deliver chemotherapy in the abdominal cavity.
It increases targeted medicinal exposure while limiting toxicity,” he explained. Dr. Raoof is the first author of the SSO abstract titled “Dose Escalation Phase 1 Trial of Mitomycin C Pressurized Intraperitoneal Aerosolized Chemotherapy in Combination with Systemic Chemotherapy for Unresectable Appendiceal and Colorectal Carcinomatosis.” His research will be prominently featured in the SSO press briefing at 9 a.m. PST on March 18.
The Society of Surgical Oncology is an international community dedicated to advancing the field of surgical cancer treatment. City of Hope has been a trailblazer in this area, becoming the first U.S. institution to offer PIPAC in a clinical trial and hosting the first two U.S.-based PIPAC training workshops. These efforts have paved the way for expanding treatment options and refining the use of intraperitoneal chemotherapy.
This multicenter Phase 1 trial, conducted in collaboration with Northwell Health and Mayo Clinic in Florida, enrolled 19 patients with a median age of 60. These individuals were diagnosed with colorectal or appendiceal cancer that had spread to the peritoneum and was deemed inoperable despite receiving four months of first- or second-line systemic chemotherapy. Participants underwent treatment involving Mitomycin C chemotherapy delivered via PIPAC in combination with the standard-of-care FOLFIRI systemic chemotherapy. The goal of this dual approach was to maximize chemotherapy exposure both systemically and regionally.
Dr. Raoof emphasized the significance of the study’s findings, particularly in regard to treatment efficacy. “While we were able to demonstrate safety in this study, what we are really excited about is the early efficacy results seen as measured by several response criteria — histologic, laparoscopic, radiographic, and tumor marker CEA,” he noted. These promising results provide a strong rationale for launching a larger, multicenter randomized trial. City of Hope is preparing to initiate this next phase of research to further assess PIPAC’s impact on patient survival and quality of life. However, Dr. Raoof urges caution against the off-label use of PIPAC outside of clinical trials until more definitive efficacy data is available.
Beyond Dr. Raoof’s oral abstract presentation on March 28 at 8:26 p.m. ET in TCC Ballroom BC, City of Hope will contribute five additional poster abstracts at the SSO 2025 Annual Meeting, which takes place from March 27 to 29 in Tampa, Florida. These include:
- P64:Genetic Pathogenic Variants in Asian American/Pacific Islander Women with Breast Cancer: Implications for Surgical and Oncologic Care
- Presenter: Dr. Jennifer Tseng
- P167:Impact of Systematic Discontinuation of Mitomycin C HIPEC for Colorectal Peritoneal Metastasis on Oncologic Outcomes at an NCI Cancer Center
- Presenter: Dr. Muhammad Talha Waheed
- P187:Upfront Colectomy vs. Initial Appendectomy Followed by Completion Colectomy for Appendiceal Cancer: Comparison of Outcomes
- Presenter: Dr. Muhammad Talha Waheed
- P453:Percutaneous Transesophageal Gastrostomy as an Alternative Approach for Palliative Decompression of Malignant Bowel Obstruction
- Presenter: Dr. Kristofor Olson
- P114:Reduced Hepatotoxicity and Equivalent Survival with a Lower Hepatic Arterial Floxuridine Starting Dose in the Adjuvant Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases
- Presenter: Dr. Kevin Labadie
City of Hope’s participation in the SSO 2025 Annual Meeting underscores its commitment to pioneering new cancer treatment strategies and improving patient outcomes. With the promising early results from the PIPAC trial and ongoing research efforts, the institution continues to shape the future of oncologic care. The upcoming randomized trial will be crucial in determining whether this novel approach can significantly extend survival and enhance the quality of life for patients battling peritoneal metastases. As the field of cancer research advances, City of Hope remains at the forefront, dedicated to translating scientific discoveries into tangible, life-saving treatments.
