This is a single-center, prospective, open-label, single-arm, phase Ib/II study evaluating the safety and efficacy of neoadjuvant propranolol combined with SOX chemotherapy and toripalimab in patients with resectable locally advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. A total of 49 participants will be enrolled. Stage 1 includes an initial safety lead-in of 12 participants, followed by efficacy evaluation using a Simon two-stage design. Participants will receive propranolol, toripalimab, oxaliplatin, and S-1 during the neoadjuvant period, followed by curative-intent surgery. The primary efficacy endpoint is pathological complete response. Secondary endpoints include safety and tolerability, major pathological response, R0 resection rate, event-free survival, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival. Exploratory analyses will assess changes in adrenergic stress markers, heart rate variability, peripheral immune parameters, β-adrenergic receptor signaling, and the tumor immune microenvironment.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
49
Propranolol will be administered orally at 10 mg twice daily beginning on Day 1 of the first neoadjuvant treatment cycle. The dose may be reduced to 5 mg twice daily, temporarily interrupted, or discontinued according to tolerability and predefined safety criteria, including heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory symptoms, and cardiac conduction abnormalities. Propranolol may be continued during postoperative treatment until completion of adjuvant therapy or the occurrence of unacceptable toxicity.
Toripalimab will be administered intravenously at a fixed dose of 240 mg on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Participants will receive 3 neoadjuvant cycles before surgery. After surgery, 3 additional cycles are recommended, followed by toripalimab maintenance as clinically appropriate for a total immunotherapy duration of up to 1 year from the first dose.
Oxaliplatin will be administered intravenously at 130 mg/m² on Day 1 of each 21-day cycle. Participants will receive 3 neoadjuvant cycles before surgery. Three additional postoperative cycles are recommended according to postoperative recovery, tolerability, and the investigator's assessment. Dose modification, interruption, or discontinuation will be permitted for treatment-related toxicity.
S-1 will be administered orally twice daily on Days 1-14 of each 21-day cycle, followed by a 7-day rest period. The total daily dose will be determined according to body surface area: 80 mg/day for body surface area below 1.25 m², 100 mg/day for body surface area of 1.25-1.49 m², and 120 mg/day for body surface area of 1.50 m² or greater. Participants will receive 3 neoadjuvant cycles, with 3 additional postoperative cycles recommended according to tolerability and postoperative recovery.
Pathological Complete Response (pCR) Rate
The proportion of participants with no residual viable tumor cells in the resected primary tumor and all dissected regional lymph nodes following neoadjuvant treatment, corresponding to Becker grade 1a. Participants who do not undergo surgery or do not have an assessable pathological result will be classified as non-pCR in the intention-to-treat analysis.
Time frame: At curative-intent surgery following completion of 3 neoadjuvant treatment cycles, approximately 13 to 15 weeks after treatment initiation.
Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT) Rate During the Safety Lead-in
The proportion of participants in the initial safety lead-in cohort who experience a dose-limiting toxicity related to study treatment. DLTs include predefined severe hematologic, nonhematologic, immune-related, cardiovascular, respiratory, or gastrointestinal toxicities; treatment-related death; or treatment-related toxicity resulting in a treatment delay of more than 21 days or inability to undergo planned surgery.
Time frame: From the first dose of study treatment through 30 days after surgery
Incidence of Treatment-Related Adverse Events
The proportion of participants who experience treatment-related adverse events, serious adverse events, or immune-related adverse events. Adverse events will be graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, version 5.0.
Time frame: From the first dose of study treatment through at least 30 days after the last dose, or until treatment-related adverse events have resolved or stabilized
Postoperative Complication Rate
The proportion of participants who experience postoperative complications following curative-intent surgery. Complications will be classified according to the Clavien-Dindo classification.
Time frame: Within 30 days after surgery
Major Pathological Response (MPR) Rate
The proportion of participants with 10% or less residual viable tumor cells in the resected primary tumor following neoadjuvant treatment. Participants who do not undergo surgery or do not have an assessable pathological result will be classified as non-MPR in the intention-to-treat analysis.
Time frame: At curative-intent surgery following completion of neoadjuvant treatment, approximately 13 to 15 weeks after treatment initiation
R0 Resection Rate
The proportion of participants undergoing curative-intent resection who achieve microscopically margin-negative resection, with no residual tumor at the proximal, distal, or applicable circumferential resection margins.
Time frame: At curative-intent surgery following completion of neoadjuvant treatment, approximately 13 to 15 weeks after treatment initiation
Event-Free Survival (EFS)
Event-free survival is defined as the time from the first dose of study treatment to the earliest occurrence of disease progression during neoadjuvant treatment, clinical deterioration preventing planned surgery, unresectable disease identified at surgery, postoperative recurrence, or death from any cause. Participants without an event will be censored at the date of their last event-free assessment.
Time frame: From the first dose of study treatment through up to 5 years
Recurrence-Free Survival (RFS)
Recurrence-free survival is defined as the time from curative-intent resection to the first documented local, regional, or distant recurrence, or death from any cause, whichever occurs first. Participants without recurrence or death will be censored at the date of their last disease assessment.
Time frame: From curative-intent surgery through up to 5 years
Overall Survival (OS)
Overall survival is defined as the time from the first dose of study treatment to death from any cause. Participants who are alive or lost to follow-up will be censored at the date they were last known to be alive.
Time frame: From the first dose of study treatment through up to 5 years
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