Molecular Profiling for Risk Stratification in Appendiceal Cancer

May 8, 2026 updated by: City of Hope Medical Center

Molecular Profiling for Tumor Characterization and Risk Stratification in Patients With Appendiceal Cancer

This study investigates integrated epigenetic and epitranscriptomic features of appendiceal cancer using archived tumor tissue specimens from the same patient cohort. The study includes DNA methylation profiling and m6A epitranscriptomic profiling to define molecular subtypes, evaluate associations with clinicopathologic features, and develop molecular risk scores for prognostic stratification. The primary goal is to determine whether DNA methylation- and m6A-based molecular features can complement conventional histopathologic grading and improve risk stratification.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Appendiceal cancer is a rare and heterogeneous malignancy with limited clinically actionable biomarkers for risk stratification. Histologic grade remains one of the strongest determinants of prognosis, but outcomes among patients with lower-grade disease remain variable. This study is designed to characterize the molecular architecture of appendiceal cancer through integrated analysis of DNA methylation and m6A epitranscriptomic profiles generated from archived tumor tissue specimens from the same patient cohort.

The study uses formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded appendiceal cancer tissues, and where available benign or normal appendix tissues, together with matched clinicopathologic and follow-up data. DNA methylation profiling is performed to evaluate tumor-associated methylation patterns, identify differentially methylated regions or features, and assess their association with clinical and survival outcomes. In parallel, m6A epitranscriptomic profiling is performed using m6A-enriched RNA sequencing with matched input RNA sequencing to quantify transcriptome-wide m6A enrichment.

Molecular data are analyzed to identify tumor-associated epigenetic and epitranscriptomic alterations, define molecular subtypes, and construct continuous molecular risk scores. These molecular features are evaluated in relation to histologic grade, histologic subtype, lymph node metastasis, lymphovascular invasion, perineural invasion, peritoneal cancer index, overall survival, and progression-free survival.

The study aims to determine whether DNA methylation and m6A-based profiling can provide complementary molecular information for appendiceal cancer classification, prognostic modeling, and future biomarker development.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

400

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • United States
    • California
      • Duarte, California, United States, 91016
        • Recruiting
        • City of Hope Medical Center
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population includes adult patients with appendiceal cancer whose archived tumor specimens and associated clinicopathologic data are available for retrospective molecular profiling. The same patient cohort is used for DNA methylation and m6A epitranscriptomic analyses where sufficient biospecimen material is available. Benign or normal appendix tissue specimens may be included as non-malignant reference controls.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with histologically confirmed appendiceal adenocarcinoma or appendiceal cancer.
  • Availability of archived tumor tissue suitable for molecular profiling.
  • Availability of tissue for DNA methylation profiling, m6A epitranscriptomic profiling, or both.
  • Availability of relevant clinicopathologic data.
  • Availability of survival or follow-up information when applicable.
  • Age 18 years or older at diagnosis or tissue collection.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Insufficient tissue quantity or quality for molecular profiling.
  • Inadequate DNA or RNA quality for sequencing or molecular assay preparation.
  • Missing essential clinicopathologic information required for analysis.
  • Non-appendiceal primary tumor or metastatic tumor to the appendix from another primary site.
  • Patients who do not meet institutional review board or consent requirements, if applicable.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Appendiceal Cancer Cohort
Patients with histologically confirmed appendiceal cancer whose archived tumor tissue specimens and clinicopathologic data are available for integrated DNA methylation and m6A epitranscriptomic profiling.
Diagnostic test: DNA Methylation Profiling
Archived tissue specimens undergo DNA methylation profiling to characterize tumor-associated methylation alterations and identify methylation-based molecular features associated with clinicopathologic variables and survival outcomes. The profiling is performed for research purposes only and does not assign treatment.
Diagnostic test: m6A Epitranscriptomic Profiling
Archived tissue specimens undergo m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing with matched input RNA sequencing to quantify transcriptome-wide m6A enrichment. The resulting molecular data are used for subtype discovery, m6A score construction, reduced-panel development, and association with clinicopathologic and survival outcomes.
Benign Appendix Reference Cohort
Individuals with benign or normal appendix tissue specimens used as non-malignant reference samples for comparison of tumor-associated DNA methylation and m6A epitranscriptomic features.
Diagnostic test: DNA Methylation Profiling
Archived tissue specimens undergo DNA methylation profiling to characterize tumor-associated methylation alterations and identify methylation-based molecular features associated with clinicopathologic variables and survival outcomes. The profiling is performed for research purposes only and does not assign treatment.
Diagnostic test: m6A Epitranscriptomic Profiling
Archived tissue specimens undergo m6A methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing with matched input RNA sequencing to quantify transcriptome-wide m6A enrichment. The resulting molecular data are used for subtype discovery, m6A score construction, reduced-panel development, and association with clinicopathologic and survival outcomes.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall Survival
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Overall survival will be evaluated in relation to molecular profiling results and available clinicopathologic characteristics. Survival analyses may include Kaplan-Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards models
Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Progression-Free Survival
Time Frame: Through study completion, an average of 1 year
Progression-free survival will be evaluated in relation to molecular profiling results and available clinicopathologic characteristics. Time-to-event analyses may be performed using standard survival analysis methods.
Through study completion, an average of 1 year

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

City of Hope Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

January 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 4, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 14, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 8, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 23228_PACE

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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