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Hydroxychloroquine and Gefitinib to Treat Lung Cancer
This study is currently recruiting participants.
Verified by National University Hospital, Singapore, December 2008
Sponsors and Collaborators: National University Hospital, Singapore
Massachusetts General Hospital
AstraZeneca
Information provided by: National University Hospital, Singapore
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00809237
  Purpose

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer mortality in men and women in Singapore.Chemotherapy and biologically targeted agents can extend survival only modestly for these patients; therefore, discovery of novel ways to prolong the disease course is a top research priority.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway plays a central role in the neoplastic transformation of NSCLC and promotes cancer cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. The predominance of EGFR signaling in NSCLC makes the pathway an attractive candidate for the development of targeted therapeutics. Over the last three years, the FDA has approved two drugs for salvage treatment of NSCLC, gefitinib (Iressa ®, formerly known as ZD1839) and erlotinib (Tarceva ®, formerly known as OSI-774). Both are small molecule orally-bioavailable tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of the EGFR TK domain, and have been shown to improve survival compared to placebo in asian patients when administered after failure of first or second line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC.


Condition Intervention Phase
Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Drug: Gefitinib, Hydroxychloroquine
Phase I
Phase II

MedlinePlus related topics: Cancer Lung Cancer
Drug Information available for: ZD1839 Hydroxychloroquine Hydroxychloroquine sulfate
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Non-Randomized, Open Label, Active Control, Single Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study
Official Title: A Phase II With a Lead in Phase I Study to Examine the Tolerability, Safety Profile and Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine and Gefitinib in Advanced Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Further study details as provided by National University Hospital, Singapore:

Primary Outcome Measures:
  • For the phase I lead in study: To identify the tolerability, the dose limiting toxicity (DLT) and the general safety profile of HCQ and gefitinib when used in combination. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • For the phase II study: To determine the response rates to HCQ and Gefitinib. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Secondary Outcome Measures:
  • For the phase I lead in study: To determine the PK (pharmacokinetic) parameters of HCQ plus gefitinib. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]
  • For the phase II study: To determine the time to progression for patients treated with HCQ and Gefitinib. [ Time Frame: 2 years ] [ Designated as safety issue: Yes ]

Estimated Enrollment: 71
Study Start Date: November 2008
Estimated Study Completion Date: November 2010
Estimated Primary Completion Date: November 2010 (Final data collection date for primary outcome measure)
Arms Assigned Interventions
Gefitinib, Hydroxychloroquine: Experimental

For the lead in phase I study, recruited patients will receive one week of 250 mg of Gefitinib, before HCQ at the assigned dose is introduced in addition to Gefitinib 250 mg om.

After the MTD of HCQ is determined, the phase II study will proceed with the combination of 250 mg of Gefitinib and the MTD dose of HCQ.

Drug: Gefitinib, Hydroxychloroquine
Gefitinib 250 mg om Hydroxychloroquine at maximally tolerated dose

Detailed Description:

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common cause of cancer mortality in men and women in Singapore.Chemotherapy and biologically targeted agents can extend survival only modestly for these patients; therefore, discovery of novel ways to prolong the disease course is a top research priority.

The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling pathway plays a central role in the neoplastic transformation of NSCLC and promotes cancer cell survival, metastasis, and angiogenesis. The predominance of EGFR signaling in NSCLC makes the pathway an attractive candidate for the development of targeted therapeutics. Over the last three years, the FDA has approved two drugs for salvage treatment of NSCLC, gefitinib (Iressa ®, formerly known as ZD1839) and erlotinib (Tarceva ®, formerly known as OSI-774). Both are small molecule orally-bioavailable tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) of the EGFR TK domain, and have been shown to improve survival compared to placebo in asian patients when administered after failure of first or second line chemotherapy for advanced NSCLC.

Recently, it was found that somatic mutations in the EGFR gene sensitize NSCLC tumors to TKIs. These mutations are present in approximately 50 % of asian patients with NSCLC. Retrospective studies suggest that patients harboring a mutation may derive greater clinical benefit from treatment with TKIs than patients without a mutation.

Nevertheless, all patients that benefit from TKI treatment ultimately develop resistance to therapy manifesting as progression of their cancer, after which there remains few, if any treatment options. Hence, there would be vast clinical utility in understanding the mechanisms of TKI resistance and developing strategies to reverse or prevent it.

We have preliminary data which shows that the combination of hydroxychloroquine and gefitinib results in delayed acquired resistance to gefitinib in cell lines that harbour the EGFR mutation. In addition, the addition of hydroxychloroquine to gefitinib can result in reversal of acquired resistance to gefitinib. Much parallel has been observed in resistance mechanisms between NSCLC cell lines and molecular changes observed in patients thus far.

The long term aim therefore is to examine the efficacy of this combination in delaying acquired resistance to gefitinib in NSCLC patients.

First, however, the MTD and DLT of each drug when used in combination therapy will be examined in this study. The other aim is to examine the pharmacokinetic effect and interactions of hydroxychloroquine on gefitinib, and vice versa. Gefitinib is usually well tolerated, with main toxicities of rash and diarrhoea. Hydroxychloroquine is also FDA approved and widely used and generally well-tolerated for rheumatological conditions.

  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   21 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

For the lead in phase I study:

  1. Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer.
  2. Stage IIIB with pleural effusion or stage IV disease by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th edition staging criteria.
  3. Age equal to or greater than 21 years
  4. Measurable disease, defined according to RECIST criteria
  5. Performance status of 0, 1, or 2 on the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group(ECOG) Performance Status scale.
  6. At least 2 weeks since prior radiation treatment, chemotherapy or targeted therapy (from the day that protocol treatment begins).

    Patients who had been on gefitinib should have a wash out period of two weeks prior to commencement of treatment drugs for this study.

  7. Adequate organ function including the following:

    • Adequate bone marrow reserve:

      • Total white blood cell count (WBC) > 3.0 x 109/L
      • Platelet count >100 x 109/L
      • Hemoglobin >8 g/dL
    • Hepatic:

      • Bilirubin: = 1.25 times the upper limit of normal (ULN)
      • Alanine transaminase (ALT): = <5 times the ULN
      • Aspartate transaminase (AST): = <5 times the ULN
    • Renal: Serum creatinine =< 1.5 times the ULN, or creatinine clearance =>60mL/minute as calculated by the standard Cockcroft Gault formula.
  8. Approval for HCQ treatment by an eye doctor, based on a screening eye exam. Examples of disqualifying baseline conditions include macular degeneration and other retinal disease, see exclusion criteria.
  9. Willingness to comply with protocol procedures including the blood-sampling schedule for PK analyses and periodic eye examinations.
  10. Willingness to participate in clinical research as evidenced by their signature on the informed consent form.
  11. Tumor block from subject's biopsy or surgical resection specimen should ideally be available but is not a mandatory requirement for study entry.

For the phase II study:

Inclusion criteria as above, except that:

  1. NSCLC patients must be non-smokers and have adenocarcinomas.
  2. Patients who had been on gefitinib should have a wash out period of two weeks prior to commencement of treatment drugs for this study. They must have responded to Gefitinib previously (either CR, PR or SD) for more than twelve weeks to be eligible.

Exclusion Criteria:

For both lead in phase I and phase II study:

  1. Current use of hydroxychloroquine for any reason.
  2. Known hypersensitivity to chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, or any closely related drug.
  3. Known hypersensitivity to erlotinib, gefitinib, or any closely related drug.
  4. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, as HCQ may cause hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency.
  5. Cataracts that would interfere with required funduscopic examinations, or severe baseline visual impairment including macular degeneration, retinopathy or visual field changes, or having only one functional eye. All patients must undergo a screening eye exam prior to enrollment.
  6. Pregnant or breastfeeding. HCQ crosses the placenta and use is not recommended during pregnancy except for life-threatening malaria. The effects of gefitinib on a fetus are unknown. For these reasons, female subjects of childbearing age must practice acceptable methods of birth control to avoid pregnancy. Male subjects must also practice acceptable methods of birth control to prevent pregnancy of a partner.
  7. Symptomatic CNS metastases or newly diagnosed CNS metastases that have not yet been definitively treated with radiation and/or surgery. Note that patients with a history of CNS metastases or cord compression are allowable if they have been definitively treated and are clinically stable. Maintenance steroids are allowed but maintenance seizure medication is not allowed.
  8. Prior radiation therapy inclusive of all identified target lesions. Note that prior palliative radiation to bony disease, CNS disease, or a limited thoracic area is allowed, provided that there is measurable disease outside the field and radiation is completed at least two weeks prior to starting treatment and the patient has fully recovered from all side effects.
  9. Any evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease. Note that patients with chronic, stable radiographic changes who are asymptomatic need not be excluded.
  10. Malignancies within the past 3 years except for adequately treated carcinoma of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin.
  11. Although not an absolute exclusion criteria, caution should be exercised in patients with a diagnosis of prophyria or non-light-sensitive psoriasis, as HCQ can significantly exacerbate both of these conditions.
  12. Evidence of any other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study, in the opinion of the investigator.
  13. Use of any non-FDA approved or investigational agent within 2 weeks of enrolling onto the trial, or failure to recover from the side effects of any of these agents.
  14. Penicillamine use for Wilson's disease or any other indication, as concomitant use with HCQ can increase toxicity to penicillamine.
  15. Concommitant use of anti-convulsants is not allowed.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00809237

Contacts
Contact: Tan Min Chin, MD 65-67724140 Tan_Min_CHIN@nuh.com.sg
Contact: Boon Cher Goh, MD 65-67724140 Boon_Cher_GOH@nuh.com.sg

Locations
Singapore
National University Hospital Recruiting
Singapore, Singapore, 119074
Contact: Tan Min Chin, MD     65-67724140     Tan_Min_CHIN@nuh.com.sg    
Contact: Boon Cher Goh, MD     65-67724140     Boon_Cher_GOH@nuh.com.sg    
Principal Investigator: Tan Min Chin, MD            
Sponsors and Collaborators
National University Hospital, Singapore
Massachusetts General Hospital
AstraZeneca
Investigators
Principal Investigator: Tan Min Chin, MD National University Hospital, Singapore
  More Information

Responsible Party: National University Hospital ( Dr Tan Min Chin )
Study ID Numbers: NS 01/03/08
Study First Received: December 16, 2008
Last Updated: December 16, 2008
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00809237  
Health Authority: Singapore: Health Sciences Authority

Keywords provided by National University Hospital, Singapore:
Non-small cell lung cancer
Gefitinib
Hydroxychloroquine

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Thoracic Neoplasms
Non-small cell lung cancer
Respiratory Tract Diseases
Lung Neoplasms
Hydroxychloroquine
Lung Diseases
Gefitinib
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Carcinoma

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Respiratory Tract Neoplasms
Anti-Infective Agents
Antiprotozoal Agents
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents
Enzyme Inhibitors
Protein Kinase Inhibitors
Pharmacologic Actions
Antimalarials
Neoplasms
Antiparasitic Agents
Neoplasms by Site
Therapeutic Uses
Antirheumatic Agents

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 14, 2009