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Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma With Tetrathiomolybdate
This study has been completed.
Sponsored by: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
Information provided by: National Center for Research Resources (NCRR)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006332
  Purpose

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a deadly tumor for which the incidence is increasing in the United States, primarily due to prevalence of hepatitis C infection. An important aspect of the development of HCC is that it occurs in patients who have underlying cirrhosis of the liver, thereby limiting the therapeutic options. There is potential curative treatment for these patients, such as resection of the tumor lesion and liver transplantation, but these treatments are feasible in a small percent of patients only. Furthermore, the majority of the patients with HCC are also not candidates for palliative treatments such as percutaneous ablation of the tumor, chemotherapy or radiation. Additionally, it has been shown that these palliative treatment modalities do not alter survival, and are associated with significant risks. Therefore, there are no treatment options for most patients with HCC. A new theory has emerged in the fight against cancer through inhibition of angiogenesis (development of new blood vessels). The hypothesis being that if there is no blood supply "feeding" the tumor cells cannot divide or survive. One such approach, pioneered in this institution by Drs. George Brewer and Sofia Merajver, is the anticopper approach using the medication tetrathiomolybdate (TM). By creating a mild copper deficiency state, several pathways required for angiogenesis are inhibited. They performed a Phase I trial in which patients with metastatic cancer were treated with TM resulting in decrease tumor vascularity. TM had excellent safety profile in this patient population. HCC is well known to be a hypervascular tumor. An antiangiogenesis approach might provide a novel treatment for this HCC. This is a pilot study of 10 patients with HCC who are not candidates for curative surgical therapy with resection or liver transplantation, nor for ablative techniques. Patients seen in the General Liver clinic and Liver Transplant clinic who have an overall good performance status, with an expected survival of more than 6 months will be enrolled. After an initial evaluation, they will be given 120 mg/day of TM in divided doses for one year. The size and vascularity of the tumor will be evaluated by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The primary outcome of this study is to prevent tumor progression.


Condition Intervention Phase
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Drug: Tetrathiomolybdate
Phase II

MedlinePlus related topics: Cancer
Drug Information available for: Tetrathiomolybdate
U.S. FDA Resources
Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Open Label
  Eligibility

Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older
Genders Eligible for Study:   Both
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Patients with definite diagnosis of HCC based on a Dynamic MRI revealing a vascular mass in the liver and histologic confirmation of HCC.
  • Patients who are not candidates for surgical resection, OLT or radiofrequency ablation.
  • Patients with no prior treatment for HCC.
  • Patients with extrahepatic spread and/or vascular invasion are permissible.
  Contacts and Locations
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00006332

Locations
United States, Michigan
3912 Taubman Center
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109-0362
Sponsors and Collaborators
  More Information

Study ID Numbers: NCRR-M01RR00042-1707, M01RR00042
Study First Received: October 4, 2000
Last Updated: June 23, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00006332  
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government

Keywords provided by National Center for Research Resources (NCRR):
Molybdenum

Study placed in the following topic categories:
Liver Diseases
Digestive System Neoplasms
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular
Molybdenum
Liver neoplasms
Carcinoma
Liver Neoplasms
Tetrathiomolybdate
Digestive System Diseases
Gastrointestinal Neoplasms
Adenocarcinoma
Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial
Hepatocellular carcinoma

Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action
Antineoplastic Agents
Growth Substances
Physiological Effects of Drugs
Trace Elements
Enzyme Inhibitors
Angiogenesis Inhibitors
Pharmacologic Actions
Neoplasms
Neoplasms by Site
Therapeutic Uses
Micronutrients
Chelating Agents
Angiogenesis Modulating Agents
Growth Inhibitors

ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on January 16, 2009