Evaluation of the Cryodestruction of Non Abdominopelvic Desmoid Tumors in Patients Progressing Despite Medical Treatment

Desmoid tumors (DT) are rare tumors (2-4 cases/million/year) that originate from musculoaponeurotic structures. Although they are benign tumors with no metastatic potential, DT are considered as locally aggressive tumors, with local invasiveness and tissue destruction, leading to pain, and disability. Surgery remains the keystone of therapy, but is limited by the anatomical situation of extra-abdominal desmoid (EAD) tumors (chest wall, root members). In patients where surgery is considered, negative-margin resection (R0) is recommended, but this frequently results in cosmetic/functional impairment. Moreover, prognostic impact of R0 resections remains controversial. The outcome after initial surgery depends upon several factors such as age, tumor site, and tumor size as demonstrated by recent data from the French Sarcoma Group.

Alternative therapies to DT surgery for front-line or recurrence include NSAID's, anti-estrogens alone or in combination, -interferon, chemotherapy, targeted therapies or radiation therapy. All of these medical approaches however may fail to achieve long-term disease control and a number of patients suffer from irreducible pain, and disability from tumor volume.

Cryoablation is a promising technique that is suitable for patients experiencing extra-abdominal DT. The procedure is based on repeated cycles of freezing/passive thawing of the tumor, leading to cell death. The technique has many advantages, among which: the accurate control of iceball under real-time MRI or CT-scan monitoring (that is not possible with other techniques such as radiofrequency), the lack of mutilation, the possibility of repeating the procedure. The cryoablation procedure has proven to be beneficial for the treatment of various tumors (liver metastases, breast, kidney). Recently, percutaneous cryotherapy has been reported in the treatment of EAD tumors poorly suited to surgery, with promising results.

In the light of these encouraging data, it is believed that patients with extra-abdominal DT not amenable to surgery unless unacceptable surgical sequel and progressing after at least two lines of adequate medical therapy (tamoxifen, NSAID or chemotherapy), could benefit from the cryoablation procedure. Tumor cryotherapy-induced regression should allow symptoms relief, prolonged progression-free survival and a better quality of life.

Completed

Looking for future studies?

Notify Me

Key information

Conditions

Desmoid Tumors Fibroma Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms, Connective Tissue Neoplasms, Connective and Soft Tissue Neoplasms, Fibrous Tissue

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Service d'Imagerie Interventionnelle

Strasbourg, Alsace, 67091, France

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Extra-abdominal desmoid tumor (confirmed by prior biopsy)
18 years of age or older
Tumor deemed accessible for cryoablation procedure by the operator in the investigator center
At least one measurable lesion (RECIST v1.1) using MRI (gadolinium injection mandatory)
90 % of destruction of the tumor achievable in one procedure of cryoablation with a possible second cryoablation procedure (if a complete treatment must be achieved).
Progressive disease under standard treatment (after at least two lines of adequate medical therapy, including tamoxifen, non-steroid anti-inflamatory or chemotherapy), with presence of functional symptoms and/or pain The definition of progressing tumors also involves patients with RECIST stable disease, but with persistent functional disability or tumor-induced pain not controlled by adequate pain medication including narcotics.
Unresectable tumor or tumor amenable only to mutilating surgery, deemed inappropriate, and discussed in multidisciplinary meeting (RCP)
ECOG performance status 0-2
Biological and hematological parameters:

neutrophils 1,5.109/L
platelet count 100.109/L
No significant hemostatic abnormalities
Subject affiliated to social security
Signed informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Any contra-indication for the procedure as stated by the radiologist in terms of tumor size, proximity to neural/vascular structures making the procedure at unacceptable risk
Impaired hemostasis, that may interfere with the conduct of the cryoablation
Concurrent participation in other experimental studies that could affect endpoints of this study
Contraindication to any form of sedation
Contraindication to MRI or gadolinium injection (proven allergy, subject with impaired renal function (defined by a creatinine clearance below 30 ml/min by MDRD formula))
Psychiatric disorders and adults under guardianship
Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Patients under judicial protection

Treatment and study plan

"cryoprobes"

Device

Patient undergo percutaneous cryoablation of desmoid tumor, with cryoprobes

Primary outcomes

Non-progression of non-abdominopelvic desmoid tumor

Time frame: 12 months
The success of cryoablation, i.e. non-progression of non-abdominopelvic desmoid tumor, will be declared if the MRI control at 1 year after the last procedure shows:
- no suspicious contrast enhancement (the suspicious character is defined by heterogeneous or nodular or crescent-shape contrast enhancement) in the treated zone,
- and if the cryolesion (ablation zone) is not increasing in size compared to early post-ablation control (M1)

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University Hospital, Strasbourg, France

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Evaluation of the Cryodestruction of Non Abdominopelvic Desmoid Tumors in Patients Progressing Despite Medical

Acronym: CRYODESMO01

Important dates

Study start: 2015
Primary completion: 2017
Study completion: 2017
First posted: Jun 19, 2015
Registry last updated: Jan 20, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

Completed