Appendix Cancer

This is a single-arm clinical trial to evaluate the feasibility of a chemotherapy regimen using adaptive, individualized dose escalation of 5-FU chemotherapy for patients who have good tolerance of the initial dose. Study participants will also receive oxaliplatin chemotherapy together with 5-FU, at standard doses. The goal of the study is to examine the feasibility and effectiveness of this approach, using individualized dose escalation of 5-FU in patients who do not have serious side effects at lower doses.

This research study is being conducted to improve the quality of care of participants who have a diagnosis of gastrointestinal cancer (anal, colon, rectal, esophageal, stomach, small bowel, appendix, pancreas, gall bladder, liver, neuroendocrine tumor of gastrointestinal origin). This study has 3 components as follows- 1. Ensuring appropriate biomarker testing and evidence-based care: Biomarkers are molecules in the tumor or blood that indicate normal or abnormal processes in participant's body and may indicate an underlying condition or disease. Various molecules, such as DNA (genes), proteins, or hormones, can serve as biomarkers since they all indicate something about participant's health. Biomarker testing can also help choose participant's treatment. Additionally, a tumor board will be conducted periodically to provide treatment recommendations to participant's treating physician. Participants will receive standard-of-care treatment if participant enroll in this study. Participant will not receive any experimental treatment. 2. Assistance with clinical trial enrollment. The study team will help participants enroll in a clinical trial appropriate for participant's condition. However, enrolling in a clinical trial is totally up to the participant. 3. Health literacy: The study team will provide information relevant to participant's diagnosis to enrich participant's understanding of participant's condition and treatment. Investigator will provide questionnaires to assess participant's understanding before and after participant's have been provided with educational/informational material appropriate for participant's diagnosis.

Patients with digestive tract malignancy often experience severe and unremitting abdominal pain that negatively affects physical, emotional, and social function, as well as health related quality of life (HRQOL). Therapeutic virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising and evidence-based treatment modality for cancer pain. Users of VR wear a pair of goggles with a close-proximity screen in front of the eyes that creates a sensation of being transported into lifelike, three-dimensional worlds. To date, VR has been limited to short-term clinical trials for cancer pain. Moreover, limited research exists on theory-based VR modalities beyond mere distraction, such as VR that employs acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) with components of biofeedback and mindfulness. To bridge these gaps, this study seeks to: (1) assess the impact of immersive VR on patient-reported outcomes (PROs), including pain, activity metrics, and opioid use among patients with visceral pain from a digestive tract malignancy; (2) assess differences in PROs, activity metrics, and opioid use between skills-based VR therapy vs. distraction VR therapy; and (3) determine patient-level predictors of VR treatment response in visceral cancer pain. To address these aims, the study will measure PROs and opioid use in 360 patients randomized among 3 groups and follow them for 60 days after enrollment: (1) an enhanced VR group receiving skills-based VR; (2) a distraction-based VR group receiving patient-selected VR videos; and (3) a VR sham control group using a VR headset with 2-D content. The results will inform best practices for the implementation of VR for visceral cancer pain management and guide selection of patient-tailored experiences.

The aim of this study is to establish and optimize the target-specific PET/CT imaging method, and its physiological and pathological distribution characteristics, on the basis of which the diagnostic efficacy of the above imaging agents in digestive system malignant tumors will be evaluated.

The PIPAC NAL-IRI study is designed to examine the maximal tolerated dose of nanoliposomal irinotecan (Nal-IRI, Onivyde) administered with repeated pressurized intraperitoneal aerosol chemotherapy (PIPAC), in a monocentric, phase I trial.

The GAP Study is a prospective cohort study designed to comprehensively investigate genetic variations that may contribute to cancer development among individuals diagnosed with appendix/appendiceal cancer who are ages 18+ years.

The goal of this observational study is to investigate the beneficial value of complementary surgery for appendiceal neuro-endocrine tumours in children. .

Complicated and uncomplicated appendicitis follow different epidemiological trends also suggesting different pathophysiology behind these two different forms of appendicitis. In 3-10% of patients complicated acute appendicitis is enclosed by formation of a circumscribed periappendicular abscess. The clinically established practice of antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary, has been shown safe and effective, allowing the acute inflammatory process to subside in more than 90% of cases without surgery. The need of subsequent interval appendectomy has been questioned with appendicitis recurrence risk varying between 5-26%. During trial enrollment in our randomized Peri-APPAC trial based on the interim analysis results with 17% appendiceal tumor rate in the study population, the trial was prematurely terminated based on ethical concerns. All the follow-up group patients were re-evaluated and surgery was offered and recommended to all follow-up group patients. After this assessment and additional appendectomies, two more tumors were diagnosed resulting in neoplasm rate of 20% in the whole study group all diagnosed in patients over 40 years and the neoplasm rate in patients over 40 years was 29%. Based on high appendiceal tumor rate in patients over 40 years, the appendiceal neoplasm rate needs to be further evaluated in prospective patient cohorts undergoing interval appendectomy as interval appendectomy is generally well tolerated and obliterates the risk of missing a possible tumor. In a recent systematic review of retrospective cohort studies with 13.244 acute appendicitis patients the overall appendiceal tumor rate was 1% after appendectomy, but in patients presenting with appendiceal inflammatory mass the neoplasm rate varied from 10% to 29%. This nationwide prospective multicenter cohort study is designed to assess the prevalence of appendiceal tumors associated with a periappendicular abscess. All consecutive patients presenting with a periappendicular abscess are recommended to undergo interval appendectomy after initial conservative treatment with antibiotic therapy and drainage, if necessary. All patients older than 35 years will undergo laparoscopic interval appendectomy at 2 to 3 months and this is also recommended for the patients between 18 and 35 years of age. Asymptomatic patients under 35 years not willing to undergo interval appendectomy, will undergo a follow-up MRI at 1 year after the initial non-operative treatment.