Conversion Therapy Plus Surgery and Radiotherapy for Retroperitoneal Nodal Metastases in Gastric Cancer

This study targets patients with gastric adenocarcinoma characterized by a low metastatic burden-specifically, isolated metastases to para-aortic (station 16) lymph nodes without evidence of peritoneal carcinomatosis, distant organ metastases, or non-regional lymph node involvement. Patients are stratified by PD-L1 combined positive score (CPS ≥1 vs. <1) and receive first-line systemic conversion therapy with the SOX regimen (S-1 plus oxaliplatin), with or without a PD-1 inhibitor. In the experimental arm, patients demonstrating disease control (CR/PR/SD) undergo D2 radical gastrectomy, followed by five cycles of adjuvant SOX and intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) targeting the station 16 nodal basin (45-50 Gy/25 fractions; positive nodes 56-60 Gy/25 fractions), with concurrent capecitabine or S-1. Maintenance immunotherapy continues for up to one year in CPS ≥1 patients. The control arm receives standard-of-care systemic treatment with CAPEOX or SOX ± immunotherapy, without surgery or radiotherapy. Tumor tissue, peripheral blood, and fecal samples will be collected at multiple time points for exploratory biomarker analyses, including tumor immune microenvironment profiling, tumor mutational burden (TMB), mismatch repair status (MSI), and circulating immune cell subsets. A total of 54 patients will be enrolled (2:1 randomization), with an accrual period of 18 months and 24 months of follow-up.

Inclusion:

Histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma with isolated para-aortic (station 16) lymph node metastasis; pMMR or MSS subtype; ECOG performance status 0-2; Life expectancy ≥ 3 months; Adequate organ function (hematologic, hepatic, renal); Ability to provide tumor tissue for biomarker analysis; Ability to understand and willingness to sign written informed consent; Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test and agree to use effective contraception during study and for 12 months after treatment; men with partners of childbearing potential must also agree to contraception.

Exclusion criteria

Evidence of visceral or peritoneal metastasis; MSI-H or dMMR subtype; HER2-positive disease (IHC 3+ or IHC 2+ with FISH positive); Prior systemic anti-tumor therapy; Prior malignancy within 3 years (except adequately treated basal cell/squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma); Prior PD-1/PD-L1/CTLA-4 therapy; Participation in another interventional trial within 4 weeks; Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic therapy within past 2 years; Uncontrolled infection, hepatitis B, C, or HIV; CNS metastases or carcinomatous meningitis; Uncontrolled cardiovascular disease (unstable angina, recent MI, NYHA III-IV heart failure, QTc ≥480 ms); Interstitial lung disease or uncontrolled pulmonary disease; Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (FBG >10 mmol/L); Pregnancy or breastfeeding; Major surgery within 4 weeks prior to randomization; Any other condition that may interfere with protocol compliance or increase risk as judged by the investigator.