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Gastro-esophageal Junction (GEJ) CancerPhase 1NCT07700420

Perioperative FLOT(D) With Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy (PULSAR) in Esophageal Cancer

A Phase 1 study testing PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy and FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D) in people with Gastro-esophageal Junction (GEJ) Cancer and Esophagus Cancer, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

Recruiting

Looking for participants now. Contact the study team or a site below to ask about taking part.

Sites and contacts
Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the safety of the addition of PULSAR radiation to standard of care chemotherapy and immunotherapy in people with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer and to determine the safest dose of radiation that can be used. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 18 years and older
What is being tested?
PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy and FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D)
Could I receive a placebo?
No, everyone receives an active treatment
How many people
15 participants
Where
1 siteUnited States
Study dates
28 Aug 2026to 1 Oct 2031
Phase
Phase 1
Are there results?
Not yet: the study is under way

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 18 years and older
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • At least 18 years of age at date of enrollment. Both men and women and members of all races and ethnic groups will be included.
  • Willing and able to provide written informed consent.
  • Pathologic diagnosis of esophageal or gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma. GEJ cancer includes Siewart types 1 and 2 tumors. Siewart type 3 is also eligible as long as the patient is intended to be treated in the same way as for type 1 and 2 tumors (i.e. candidate for FLOT-(D), resectable, amenable to radiation)
  • T1N+ or T2-4N(any) by the American Joint Committee on Cancer staging manual 8th edition
  • Primary tumor (and lymph nodes) that appear to be resectable in the opinion of an experienced thoracic surgeon or surgical oncologist 19.
  • Measurable disease by RECIST 1.1 is not a requirement in order to enroll on this study. Those who have measurable disease at baseline will be followed by RECIST 1.1 criteria at time of restaging.
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  • Primary tumor (and applicable nodal sites) that appears amenable to radiation in the opinion of an experienced radiation oncologist.
  • Eastern cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-1
  • No prior systemic treatment or radiation for esophageal/GEJ adenocarcinoma. Patients who have received prior endoscopic therapies with subsequent recurrence necessitating curative-intent surgery will be eligible for enrollment.
  • Adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:
  • 10.0 ANC ≥1500/mL 10.1 Platelet ≥100,000/mL 10.2 Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.0 x the upper limit of normal (ULN). This will not apply to patients with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome, who will be allowed in consultation with their physician.
  • 10.3 AST and/or ALT both ≤ 1.5x ULN with alkaline phosphatase ≤2.5x ULN 10.4 Creatinine Clearance ≥ 30 mL/min by Cockroft Gault
  • All men, as well as women of child-bearing potential (WOCBP) must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) starting with the first dose of radiation through 120 days after completion of adjuvant chemotherapy or immunotherapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
  • 11a. A woman of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, marital status, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets the following criteria:
  • Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or
  • Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months).

Who cannot join

  • Patients with adenosquamous cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, GI stromal tumor, or neuroendocrine tumor (any grade) of the esophagus or GEJ.
  • Receipt of prior chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or both for esophageal or gastroesophageal junction cancer (any type).
  • Any other active malignancies besides localized skin cancers or in situ carcinomas. Patients with localized prostate or breast cancers who have been stable for ≥ 6 months on adjuvant therapy without evidence of active disease will be eligible to enroll on this study. Patients with a history of cancer that has not been active in the last 5 years may be included but only after consultation with the principal investigator.
  • Prior RT to the chest or abdomen (not esophagus/GEJ) that would, in the opinion of a radiation oncologist, limit the safety of PULSAR.
  • Known dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPYD) intermediate or poor metabolizer phenotype where administration of full dose 5-fluoruracil would be prohibitively toxic. It is not a requirement to test DPYD deficiency prior to enrollment. Patients found to be DPYD intermediate or poor metabolizers through the course of standard of care evaluation will be removed from the protocol and followed for DLTs. These patients will be replaced.
  • Uncontrolled comorbid illness or condition including congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness that would limit compliance with study requirements or that would be prohibitive of a surgical resection in the opinion of a surgical oncologist or thoracic surgeon.
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  • Chemotherapy, or other systemic cancer therapy for non-esophageal or GEJ cancer within 52 weeks prior to starting study treatment (with the exception of long-term adjuvant therapy for curative-intent prostate or breast cancer, as defined above).
  • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to FLOT chemotherapy, durvalumab or other agents used in study.
  • Subjects must not be pregnant or nursing due to the potential for congenital abnormalities and the potential of this regimen to harm nursing infants.
  • Unwilling or unable to undergo placement of chest wall mediport for chemotherapy administration.
  • Any autoimmune condition requiring immunosuppression beyond physiologic doses of steroids will not be eligible for receipt of durvalumab. Patient would still be eligible for enrollment for receipt of perioperative FLOT only and can enroll on this study while receiving FLOT.
  • Requirement of prednisone 10 mg (or prednisone equivalent) or more daily for any reason (Inhalational steroids for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, or the like, is allowable). Patient would still be eligible for enrollment for receipt of perioperative FLOT only if they are meeting all other eligibility criteria.
  • Judgment by the Investigator that the patient should not participate in the study if the patient is unlikely to comply with study procedures, restrictions, and requirements.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.

United States1 site, 1 recruiting
  • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

    Dallas, Texas, 75390

    Jennifer Knight, 214-648-7097, Jennifer.Knight@UTSouthwestern.edu

    Recruiting

Other trials in United States

About this study

Official title: A Phase I Trial of Perioperative FLOT(D) With Neoadjuvant Personalized Ultrafractionated Stereotactic Adaptive Radiotherapy (PULSAR) in Resectable Esophageal and Gastro-esophageal Junction Cancer

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn the safety of the addition of PULSAR radiation to standard of care chemotherapy and immunotherapy in people with esophageal and gastroesophageal junction cancer and to determine the safest dose of radiation that can be used.

Participants in this study will be undergoing clinically scheduled procedures. In addition to the standard of care visits and treatments, there will be additional visits and assessments with radiation.

Read the detailed description

Participants with resectable locally advanced esophageal or gastro-esophageal junction cancer will enroll to receive perioperative FLOT or FLOT(D) (standard of care) and will receive interdigitated neoadjuvant PULSAR delivered at one of three possible dose levels in four total fractions. Following completion of neoadjuvant portion of the study, patients will undergo re-evaluation for resectability and proceed to resection if it remains feasible. Following resection, patients will complete all planned curative intent therapy with four adjuvant cycles of FLOT or FLOT(D). Those who receive FLOT(D) will subsequently receive 10 cycles of adjuvant durvalumab monotherapy per standard of care1. All patients will enter follow-up on completion of FLOT chemotherapy.

Being tested
PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy, FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D)
Medical subject headings
Neoplasms, Esophageal Neoplasms

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative RadiotherapyRadiation

    -1 5.5 Gy x 4 Fractions

    1. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions
    2. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions with simultaneous boost to gross disease to 7 Gy x 4 Fractions
    3. 6 Gy x 4 Fractions with simultaneous boost to gross disease to 8 Gy x 4 Fractions
  • FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D)Drug

    5-fluorouracil 2600 mg/m2 leucovorin 200 mg/m2 ad oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 docetaxel 50 mg/m2 Durvalumab 1500 mg All medications are administered intravenously via mediport.

Study groups in NCT07700420
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
PULSAR radiation in combination with perioperative FLOT(D)ExperimentalPULSAR radiation plus FLOT(D) Each cycle of FLOT(D) consists of 5-fluorouracil 2600 mg/m2 administered over 24 hours, leucovorin 200 mg/m2 administered over 2 hours, oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2 administered over 2 hours and docetaxel 50 mg/m2 administered over 1 hour. All medications are administered intravenously via mediport. Durvalumab 1500 mg will be administered intravenously over 1 hour according to the usual q4 week schedule - with every other chemo cycle. On completion of adjuvant chemotherapy.
Receives: Radiation: PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy; Drug: FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D)

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PULSAR

    To determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PULSAR that produces a Dose-Limiting Toxicity (DLT) rate of 30% when interdigitated with perioperative FLOT(D) chemotherapy.

    The RP2D of PULSAR will be determined by toxicity assessed by NCI CTCAE v5.0 toxicity criteria

    Measured: First administration of radiotherapy (RT) to 60 days after completion of RT or day of surgery, whichever occurs first

Secondary outcomes (6)
  1. Adverse events description per NCI CTCAE version 5.0

    To describe the adverse events associated with PULSAR and perioperative FLOT(D). Adverse events will be described using the NCI CTCAE version 5.0.

    Measured: Baseline until 60 days after completion of study-related activities; up to 5-years of follow-up.

  2. Pathological response rates

    To evaluate the rate of major pathologic response and complete pathologic response to PULSAR and FLOT(D) chemotherapy on the surgical sample by the Mandard criteria.

    Pathological response rates will be defined histopathologically by the Mandard criteria including an assessment of tumor regression and lymph node regression

    Measured: Time of enrollment to date of surgery

  3. Overall Survival

    To determine the overall survival, defined as the time between date of enrollment and the date of death or hospice enrollment

    Measured: Time of enrollment to date of death or hospice; up to after the last patient entering the study has completed 5-years of follow-up

  4. Disease-free survival

    To evaluate disease-free survival, defined as the time between date of enrollment and the first date of recognized recurrence of cancer, development of a new primary cancer, or death from any cause.

    Measured: Time of surgical resection until date of death, recurrence, development of new primary tumor, or hospice enrollment- up to 5-years of follow-up.

  5. Proportion of patients who undergo R0 resection

    To evaluate the R0 resection rate of patients who undergo surgery, defined as a negative surgical margin at time of resection as determined by histopathological examination.

    R0 resection will be defined as the percent of participants who underwent surgery with an R0 resection, defined as negative gross and microscopic margins from the tumor sample.

    Measured: Time of resection

  6. Proportion of patients undergoing FLOT(D)+PULSAR who experience delay in surgery

    To evaluate the proportion of patients undergoing FLOT(D)+PULSAR who experience delay in surgery due to recovery from toxicities.

    Delay in surgery will be defined as any unplanned rescheduling of surgery from initial planned surgical date as determined by the collaborating surgical oncologist or thoracic oncologist.

    Measured: Time of enrollment to date of surgery

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted14 Jul 2026
  2. Study start28 Aug 2026 (estimated)
  3. Primary completion1 Oct 2027 (estimated)
  4. Study completion1 Oct 2031 (estimated)

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrolment
15 participants (estimated)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT07700420
Sponsor's protocol ID
STU20250653
Status last verified
Aug 2026
First submitted
8 Jul 2026
Last updated
2 Sep 2026
Results posted
No
Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
Yes
Individual data sharing
Undecided

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A Phase 1 study testing PULSAR- Personalized Ultra-fractionated Stereotactic Ablative Radiotherapy and FLOT (Fluorouracil+Leucovorin+Oxaliplatin+Docetaxel)(D) in people with Gastro-esophageal Junction (GEJ) Cancer and Esophagus Cancer, run by University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at 1 site in United States.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 16 inclusion and 13 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

What does this phase mean?

Phase 1 studies test a treatment in a small group of people for the first time or in a new way, mainly to check safety and find the right dose.

Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.

Are results available for this study?

This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

Contact Jennifer Knight (214-648-7097, Jennifer.Knight@UTSouthwestern.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of PULSAR (time frame: First administration of radiotherapy (RT) to 60 days after completion of RT or day of surgery, whichever occurs first). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Sep 2026.

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