Effect on Tumor Perfusion of a Chemotherapy Combining Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in Pancreatic Cancer

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease with conventional treatments having little impact on disease course. Novel approaches are urgently needed to address inherent resistance to the current therapies and to identify new drugs or combinations that will have a high chance of success in pancreatic cancer patients. This proof-of-concept trial is studying the "dynamic" tumor response after the administration of a short course of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) (a) during a window interval (4 weeks= 1 cycle) before surgery in resectable pancreatic cancer (cohort 1 = 21 patients) and (b) during at least 8 weeks (2 cycles) in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer (cohort 2 = 10 patients).
ConditionPancreatic Adenocarcinoma Resectable
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Locally Advanced
Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic
InterventionDrug: Gemcitabine
Drug: Abraxane
PhasePhase 0
SponsorJean-Luc Van Laethem
Responsible PartyErasme University Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT01715142
First ReceivedOctober 24, 2012
Last UpdatedOctober 24, 2012
Last verifiedOctober 2012

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateOctober 24, 2012
Last Updated DateOctober 24, 2012
Start DateDecember 2012
Estimated Primary Completion DateSeptember 2015
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresDynamic tumor response rate as defined by a 40% modification of tumoral perfusion and cellular density parameters. [Time Frame: 4 weeks (duration of 1 cycle of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for resectable patients); 8 weeks (duration of 2 cycles of treatment for locally advanced and metastatic patients)] [Designated as safety issue: No]In order to detect changes in the tumor microenvironment and to monitor treatment efficacy, Dynamic Contrast Enhanced-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DCE-MRI) and Diffusion Weighted-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (DW-MRI) constitute tools more and more used. The acquired data can be analyzed using a pharmacokinetic model to obtain quantitative parameters relative to tissue perfusion and vascular permeability (Ktrans, a volume transfer constant of contrast agent between blood plasma and the extravascular extracellular space; Apparent Coefficient Diffusion as a surrogate marker of tissue cellularity). DCE/DW-MRI will be achieved before each chemotherapy treatment (and also before surgery for resectable patients). Each patient will be his/her own control by comparing serial imaging results with those of the baseline MRI.
Current Secondary Outcome MeasuresNumber of participants with adverse events as assessed by National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.0. [Time Frame: 12 months] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]Number of participants with (serious) adverse events will be considered as a measure of safety of the whole therapeutic sequence (gemcitabine+Abraxane+surgery for resectable patients; gemcitabine+Abraxane for locally advanced/metastatic patients)

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleEffect on Tumor Perfusion of a Chemotherapy Combining Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in Pancreatic Cancer
Official TitleEvaluation of Tumoral Perfusion Modification by Dynamic Imaging After Chemotherapy Combining Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) in Patients With Potentially Operable, Locally Advanced or Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Brief Summary
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease with conventional
treatments having little impact on disease course. Novel approaches are urgently needed to
address inherent resistance to the current therapies and to identify new drugs or
combinations that will have a high chance of success in pancreatic cancer patients. This
proof-of-concept trial is studying the "dynamic" tumor response after the administration of
a short course of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane) (a) during a window interval (4
weeks= 1 cycle) before surgery in resectable pancreatic cancer (cohort 1 = 21 patients) and
(b) during at least 8 weeks (2 cycles) in locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer
(cohort 2 = 10 patients).
Detailed Description
Pancreatic cancer is a hypoperfused tumor, characterized by a high stroma density precluding
cytotoxics delivery to the epithelial tumoral compartment. There is thus a rationale for
combining chemotherapy and antistromal drugs like nab-paclitaxel (Abraxane), a solvent
(Cremophor® EL)-free, albumin-bound form of paclitaxel that has been initially developed to
reduce the toxicities associated with Taxol injection while maintaining or improving its
chemotherapeutic effect. This unique protein formulation provides a novel approach of
increasing intra-tumoral concentrations of the drug by a receptor-mediated transport process
allowing transcytosis across the endothelial cell.

Abraxane has been approved for commercialization in 38 countries, including the US, Canada,
the EU, Australia, China, India and Korea for the treatment of women with metastatic breast
cancer. Abraxane alone and in combination is being evaluated in a number of cancers,
including metastatic melanoma, non-small cell lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and other solid
tumors.
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 0
Study DesignEndpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Resectable
  • Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Locally Advanced
  • Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Metastatic
InterventionDrug: Gemcitabine
Administrated intravenously at a dose of 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes weekly, on day 1, day 8, day 15 followed by one week of rest (before surgery of before starting of the next cycle depending on the cohort allocation)
Other Names:
GEMZARDrug: Abraxane
Administrated intravenously at a dose of 125 mg/m2 over 30 minutes weekly, on day 1, day 8, day 15 followed by one week of rest (before surgery of before starting of the next cycle depending on the cohort allocation)
Other Names:
nab-paclitaxel
Study Arm (s)Experimental: Gemcitabine+Abraxane
Chemotherapy combining gemcitabine and Abraxane during 4 weeks (1 cycle) before surgery (cohort 1: resectable patients) and during at least 8 weeks (2 cycles or more in case of response of stable disease) (cohort 2: locally advanced and metastatic patients)

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusNot yet recruiting
Estimated Enrollment31
Estimated Completion DateSeptember 2015
Estimated Primary Completion DateJune 2014
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Histo(cyto)logically proven ductal pancreatic adenocarcinoma;

- Resectable or potentially resectable tumor; resectability assessed during a
multidisciplinary meeting with expert surgeon and radiologist (cohort 1), or locally
advanced and/or metastatic tumor (cohort 2);

- First line chemotherapy;

- Age > 18 years;

- WHO performance status (PS) grade 0 or 1;

- Absolute neutrophil count > 1.5 x 10 9 / L, platelets > 100 x 10 9/ L, creatinine
clearance (Cockcroft and Gault formula) > 60 ml/min, haemoglobin level > 10 g/dl
(transfusions authorized), bilirubin<1.5 g/dl;

- Optimal biliary drainage;

- Women of child-bearing potential (WCBP), defined as a sexually mature woman who has
not undergone a hysterectomy or tubal ligation of who has not been naturally
postmenopausal for at least 24 consecutive months, must have a negative serum or
urine pregnancy test prior to treatment. All WCBP, all sexually active male patients,
and all partners of patients must agree to use adequate methods of birth control
throughout the study;

- Signed informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Previous anticancer therapy for the pancreatic adenocarcinoma;

- Biliary obstruction without endoscopic biliary drainage;

- Any contre-indication for surgery;

- Prior malignancy (except non-melanoma skin cancer, and in situ carcinoma of the
uterine cervix treated with a curative intent and any other tumor in complete
remission with a disease-free interval > 3 years);

- Uncontrolled congestive heart failure or angina pectoris, myocardial infarction
within 1 year prior to study entry, uncontrolled hypertension (systolic pressure >
160 mm or diastolic pressure > 100 mm under well conducted antihypertensive
treatment), QT prolongation;

- Major uncontrolled infection;

- Severe hepatic impairment;

- Any medical, psychological, or social condition, which, in the opinion of the
investigator, could hamper patient's compliance to the study protocol and/or
assessment/interpretation of the data;

- Pregnant or lactating women, or patients of both genders with procreative potential
not using adequate contraceptive methods;

- Patients receiving or having received any investigational treatment within 4 weeks
prior to study entry, or participating to another clinical study; patients previously
enrolled into this study.
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsContact: Jean-Luc Van Laethem, MD, PhD
jl.vanlaethem@erasme.ulb.ac.be
Location CountriesBelgium

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT01715142
Other Study ID Numbers2012-003592-19
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeNo
Information Provided ByErasme University Hospital
Study SponsorJean-Luc Van Laethem
CollaboratorsCelgene Corporation
Investigators Principal Investigator: Jean-Luc Van Laethem, MD, PhD Erasme University Hospital
Verification DateOctober 2012

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Antwerp University Hospital (UZA)
Edegem, Antwerpen, Belgium, 2650
Contact: Marc Peeters, MD,PhD | marc.peeters@uza.be
Principal Investigator: Marc Peeters, MD, PhD
Not yet recruiting
Erasme University Hospital (ULB)
Brussels, Belgium, 1070
Contact: Jean-Luc Van Laethem, MD, PhD | jl.vanlaethem@erasme.ulb.ac.be
Principal Investigator: Jean-Luc Van Laethem, MD, PhD
Not yet recruiting