Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with poor prognosis and limited treatment options following failure of first-line therapy. Whole-body hyperthermia (WBHT) is a non-invasive treatment approach that raises the body's core temperature under controlled conditions and may enhance the effects of anticancer therapies through multiple biological mechanisms, including improved drug delivery, modulation of the immune response, and increased sensitivity to treatment.
The MATTERS-2 study is a multicentre, randomized clinical trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of WBHT in combination with standard systemic anticancer therapy in patients with metastatic PDAC after failure of first-line treatment. Participants will receive either standard systemic therapy alone or standard systemic therapy combined with WBHT.
The primary objective of the study is to determine whether the addition of WBHT improves clinical outcomes compared with standard therapy alone in terms of overall survival (OS) while maintaining safety. Secondary objectives include other clinical outcomes such as progression-free survival (PFS), disease control rate (DCR) and objective response rate (ORR). Further, quality of life assessments (QoL) and exploratory biomarker analyses will also be performed.
Subjects at least 18 years of age at time of signing the informed consent
Subjects with metastatic pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) confirmed by histology
Measurable disease per RECIST 1.1
Subjects previously treated with chemotherapy in first line for metastatic disease
Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Presence of brain metastasis (known or suspected)
Other malignant diseases in the medical history during the last 5 years (exceptions: carcinoma in situ of the cervix or adequately treated basal cell carcinoma of the skin)
Serious medical risk factors involving any of the major organ systems, including high cardiovascular risk defined as recent major cardiovascular events (such as myocardial infarction or stroke), clinically relevant heart failure due to structural or mechanical cardiac abnormalities (e.g., valvular disease or myocardial dysfunction), and clinically significant arrhythmias.
ElmediX
Lead sponsor
Xper research
Collaborator