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NCT Number: NCT07328074

Electrocautery Resection Combined With HITHOC for Thymic Epithelial Tumors With Pleural Metastasis

The goal of this observational study is to explore the effectiveness of electrocautery resection combined with hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy (HITHOC) in patients with thymic epithelial tumors with pleural metastasis or recurrence. The study aims to:

* Evaluate whether this combined treatment improves event-free survival in patients with pleural metastasis from thymic epithelial tumors * Assess the rates of grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events * Examine how this treatment affects patients' quality of life

Participants will:

* Undergo extended thymectomy with electrocautery resection of pleural metastases * Receive two cycles of hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy with cisplatin and doxorubicin at 42-43°C, 2-4 days apart * Complete quality of life questionnaires (EQ-5D) at baseline and regular intervals * Have regular follow-up visits with imaging and clinical assessments for up to 36 months to monitor for disease recurrence or progression

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Key information

Conditions

Thymic Epithelial Tumor Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases Lymphatic Diseases Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Complex and Mixed Pleural Metastasis Pleural Recurrence Thoracic Neoplasms Thymic Carcinoma Thymoma Thymus Neoplasms

Age range

16 year–80 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Shanghai General Hospital, Department of Thoracic Surgery

Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, 200080, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Pathologically confirmed thymic epithelial tumor (TET)
  • Imaging evidence of thymic epithelial tumor with pleural dissemination or recurrence, deemed suitable for HITHOC by multidisciplinary thoracic team
  • Age ≥16 years and ≤80 years
  • American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I-II
  • Normal major organ function
  • No history of other malignancies
  • Prior chemotherapy completed >4 weeks, radiotherapy >6 weeks, immunotherapy >6 weeks before enrollment
  • No allergy to cisplatin or doxorubicin
  • Able to understand the study content and provide informed consent

Exclusion criteria

  • Evidence of extrathoracic metastasis on imaging or pathological examination
  • Myasthenia gravis in unstable phase or acute exacerbation
  • Severe systemic comorbidities, such as active infection, poorly controlled diabetes, coagulopathy, bleeding tendency, or ongoing thrombolytic/anticoagulation therapy
  • Positive serum pregnancy test or lactation (females)
  • History of organ transplantation (including autologous bone marrow transplantation and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation)
  • History of peripheral nervous system disease, significant psychiatric disorder, or central nervous system disease
  • Currently participating in other clinical trials

Treatment and study plan

Patients with thymic epithelial tumors with pleural metastasis or recurrence who undergo extended thymectomy with electrocautery resection of pleural metastases followed by two cycles of hyperthermic

Procedure

Extended thymectomy with electrocautery ablation and resection of pleural metastases. Larger lesions (>1cm) are thoroughly ablated with electrocautery followed by complete resection. Smaller lesions (≤1cm) that are difficult to resect are thoroughly ablated with electrocautery.

Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy (HITHOC)

Procedure

Two cycles of hyperthermic intrathoracic chemotherapy performed 2-4 days apart using BR-TRG-I device. Chemotherapy solution containing cisplatin (50 mg/m²) and doxorubicin (25 mg/m²) is circulated at 400 mL/min with inflow temperature maintained at 42-43°C for 60 minutes per cycle.

Primary outcomes

  1. Event-Free Survival (EFS)

    Time frame: From treatment initiation to first event (local recurrence, distant metastasis, or death), assessed up to 36 months

    Time from treatment start to first occurrence of local recurrence, distant metastasis, or death from any cause. Events are assessed through regular imaging and clinical follow-up.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Incidence of Grade ≥3 Treatment-Related Adverse Events

    Time frame: From treatment initiation through 30 days post-treatment

    Rate of grade ≥3 adverse events according to Clavien-Dindo classification related to surgery or chemotherapy. This includes surgical complications and chemotherapy-related toxicities.

  2. Overall Survival (OS)

    Time frame: From enrollment to death from any cause, assessed up to 36 months

    Time from disease grouping to death from any cause.

  3. Quality of Life Assessed by EQ-5D

    Time frame: Baseline, post-treatment, and at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months

    Quality of life assessed using the EuroQol 5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) questionnaire. The EQ-5D visual analog scale ranges from 0 (worst imaginable health state) to 100 (best imaginable health state). Higher scores indicate better quality of life.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Prospective Cohort Study of Electrocautery Resection Combined With Hyperthermic Intrathoracic Chemotherapy for Thymic Epithelial Tumors With Pleural Metastasis

Important dates

Study start
2026
Primary completion
2031
Study completion
2031
First posted
Jan 8, 2026
Registry last updated
Feb 5, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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