Within the IPPON consortium we have a branch specialized in innovative surgical techniques to enhance treatment outcome in lung cancer patients.
By combining both worlds of high locoregional and distant exposure of chemotherapeutic drugs we attempt to improve the overall disease-free survival rate of patients with lung metastases or primary lung cancer.
Currently we are investigating pulmonary artery infusion with blood-flow occlusion as a lesser invasive technique to increase the dose of the delivered drug. It is tested in a pig model with the cytostatic drug gemcitabine, the current standard chemotherapy in lung cancer. Pharmacokinetics are determined specifically looking at lung and systemic concentrations. Later a phase I trials will be performed in patients with inoperable lung metastases and/or primary lung cancer. After defining the toxicity level and maximum tolerated dose, a phase II trial can be designed.