NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 08-C-0033

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Multicenter Phase II Study of Belinostat (PXD-101) in Previously Chemotherapy Treated Thymoma and Thymic Carcinoma
Number:
08-C-0033
Summary:
Background:

-Cisplatin-containing chemotherapy is the standard treatment for advanced tumors of the thymus that cannot be removed surgically.

-New treatment options are needed for patients with advanced tumors of the thymus that do not improve with cisplatin-containing therapy.

-Belinostat is a drug that inhibits enzymes called histone deacetylasess. Histone deacetylase inhibitors have shown promising activity in many cancers and may be useful in treating patients with thymic tumors.

Objectives:

-To assess the safety and effectiveness of belinostat for treatment of benign and malignant thymic tumors in patients who failed after to standard treatment.

Eligibility:

-Patients 18 years of age or older with an advanced thymic tumor that has progressed after treatment with platinum-containing chemotherapy.

Design:

-Patients receive belinostat treatment in 21-day cycles. The drug is given as an infusion through a vein during days 1 through 5 of each cycle. Treatment cycles continue as long as the medicine is tolerated and the cancer does not worsen.

-Patients have a physical examination and several blood tests during every cycle.

-Patients have an electrocardiogram every cycle before starting the belinostat infusion and again on the last day of the infusion.

-Patients undergo computed tomography (CT) or other imaging test, such as ultrasound or MRI, every two cycles to evaluate the response of the tumor to treatment.

-Tumor tissue obtained from a previous biopsy is used for research purposes.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: No
Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Histologically confirmed invasive recurrent or metastatic thymoma or thymic carcinoma by the pathology department / CCR / NCI.

Patients must have had at least one prior platin-containing chemotherapy regimen. There is no limit to the number of prior chemotherapy regimens received. Progressive disease should have been documented before entry into the study.

Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least one lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) as greater than 20 mm with conventional techniques or as greater than 10 mm with spiral CT scan.

Patients must have recovered from toxicity related to prior therapy to at least to grade 1 (defined by CTCAE 3.0) and must not have had prior chemotherapy within 4 weeks. Patients must be at least 28 days since any prior radiation or major surgery.

-Target lesions cannot be selected within previously irradiated areas, if not newly arising or clearly progressing after irradiation as proven by repeat scanning.

- Concurrent corticosteroids for myasthenia gravis, or other paraneoplastic syndromes, or other chronic conditions are allowed.

Age greater than 18 years.

Life expectancy of greater than 3 months.

Performance status (ECOG) less than or equal to 2.

Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function (as defined below). Patients must have returned to base line or grade one from any acute toxicity related to prior therapy.

Laboratory Test/Required Value:

Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/microl.

Platelets greater than 100,000/microl.

INR less than or equal to 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) or

PTT abnormality can be explained by the presences of lupus anticoagulant or in the therapeutic range if on anticoagulation.

Total bilirubin less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limits of normal.

AST(SGOT) and ALT(SGPT) less than or equal to 3 times institutional upper limit of normal.

Creatinine less than or equal to 1.5 times institutional upper limits of normal or Calculated Creatinine greater than 45 mL/min/1.73 m(2) for patients with creatinine.

Clearance levels above institutional normal.

The effects of belinostat on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. For this reason and because HDAC inhibitors are known to be teratogenic, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation and continue for at least 2 months after completion. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with belinostat, breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with belinostat.

Ability to comply with intravenous administration schedule, and the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Patients with symptomatic brain metastases should be excluded from this clinical trial because of their poor prognosis and because they often develop progressive neurologic dysfunction that would confound the evaluation of neurologic and other adverse events. However, patients who have had treatment for their brain metastases and whose brain metastatic disease status has remained stable for at least 3 months without steroids may be enrolled at the discretion of the principal investigator.

Uncontrolled medical illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or uncontrolled, symptomatic congestive heart failure (AHA Class II or worse), uncontrolled hypertension, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

Marked baseline prolongation of QT/QTc interval, e.g., repeated demonstration of a QTc interval greater than 500 msec (Fridericia's formula used for correction); Long QT Syndrome. Any concomitant medication that may cause QTc prolongation, induce Torsades de Pointes.

HIV-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy are excluded from the study because of possible pharmacokinetic interactions with belinostat. HIV positive patients not receiving antiretroviral therapy are excluded due to the possibility that belinostat may worsen their condition and the likelihood that the underlying condition may obscure the attribution of adverse events with respect to belinostat.

Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents.

History of another invasive malignancy in the last five years. Adequately treated non-invasive, non-melanoma skin cancers as well as in situ carcinoma of the cervix will be allowed.

Prior treatment with drugs of the HDAC inhibitor class.

Patients with tumor amenable to potentially curative therapy as assessed by the investigator.

Subjects with resectable tumors would not be eligible for the study.

Special Instructions:
Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
HDAC Inhibitor
Recruitment Keyword(s):
Thymic Carcinoma
Thymoma
Condition(s):
Thymoma
Thymic Carcinama
Investigational Drug(s):
Belinostat (PDX101)
Investigational Device(s):
None
Intervention(s):
Drug: Belinostat (PDX101)
Supporting Site:
National Cancer Institute

Contact(s):
NCI Referral Office
National Institute of Health Clinical Center (CC), 9000 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States: NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office
Phone: 1-888-NCI-1937
Fax: Not Listed
Electronic Address: ncicssc@mail.nih.gov

Citation(s):
Giaccone G, Wilmink H, Paul MA, van der Valk P.Systemic treatment of malignant thymoma: a decade experience at a single institution.Am J Clin Oncol. 2006 Aug;29(4):336-44.

Wright CD.Management of thymomas.Crit Rev Oncol Hematol. 2007 Jun 12.

Giaccone G.Treatment of malignant thymoma.Curr Opin Oncol. 2005 Mar;17(2):140-6. Review.

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

If you have:


Command Menu Bar

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home


Clinical Center LogoNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 09/15/2008
Search The Studies Help Questions