Metformin Combined With Gemcitabine as Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer After Curative Resection

Overview[ - collapse ][ - ]

Purpose Pancreatic cancer represents the most lethal of the common malignancies with a 5-year survival rate of less than 5%. For patients who are eligible for potentially curative resection, despite mortality and morbidity rates after surgery have improved, the recurrence rate is up to 85% within 2 years. Data from clinical trials indicate that adjuvant chemotherapy enhances 5-year survival to ~25% for patients who have undergone surgery to remove their tumor; and gemcitabine is the standard regimen of chemotherapy. Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Literatures reported that metformin might inhibit tumor growth by blocking some enzymes needed for cell growth. Some retrospective studies have revealed that diabetic patients taking metformin were less likely to develop pancreatic cancer. Additionally, pancreatic cancer patients treated with metformin showed a better survival than those without metformin. In this study, the researchers intend to investigate the activity and safety of the combination of gemcitabine and metformin in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that have removed by surgery.
ConditionStage IA Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Stage IB Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Stage IIA Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Stage IIB Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
InterventionDrug: Gemcitabine
Drug: Metformin
Drug: placebo
PhasePhase 2
SponsorXian-Jun Yu
Responsible PartyFudan University
ClinicalTrials.gov IdentifierNCT02005419
First ReceivedNovember 24, 2013
Last UpdatedDecember 22, 2013
Last verifiedDecember 2013

Tracking Information[ + expand ][ + ]

First Received DateNovember 24, 2013
Last Updated DateDecember 22, 2013
Start DateDecember 2013
Estimated Primary Completion DateJune 2017
Current Primary Outcome MeasuresRecurrence-free survival at one year after curative resection [Time Frame: From date of randomization (after curative resection) until the date of first documented recurrence or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed 2 months during therapy and 3 months thereafter up to 24 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]To evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of gemcitabine chemotherapy with versus without metformin hydrochloride in terms of recurrence-free survival in patients with pancreatic cancer at one year after curative resection. Computed tomography (CT) scan
Current Secondary Outcome Measures
  • Overall survival after curative resection [Time Frame: From date of randomization (after curative resection) until the date of death from any cause, assessed one month during therapy and 3 months thereafter up to 24 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]To evaluate the overall survival of patients (after curative resection) treated with this regimen. Outpatient visit, phone interview
  • Quality of life score after curative resection [Time Frame: One month during therapy and 3 months thereafter up to 24 months] [Designated as safety issue: No]To evaluate the quality of life score of patients (after curative resection) treated with this regimen. Outpatient visit, phone interview
  • Number of grade 3 and 4 toxicities according to NCI CTCAE version 4.0 [Time Frame: One week during therapy and 3 months thereafter up to 24 months] [Designated as safety issue: Yes]To evaluate the occurrence of grade 3 and 4 toxicities according to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE; version 4.0) in patients treated with this regimen. The toxicity profile includes but not limits neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, peripheral neuropathy, hypoglycemia, metabolic acidosis (acute or chronic, including ketoacidosis), which will be summarized as the percentage of patients by type and grade according to treatment group. Outpatient visit, laboratory findings

Descriptive Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Brief TitleMetformin Combined With Gemcitabine as Adjuvant Therapy for Pancreatic Cancer After Curative Resection
Official TitleA Phase II, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo Controlled Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of the Combination of Gemcitabine and Metformin in Treating Patients With Pancreatic Cancer After Curative Resection
Brief Summary
Pancreatic cancer represents the most lethal of the common malignancies with a 5-year
survival rate of less than 5%. For patients who are eligible for potentially curative
resection, despite mortality and morbidity rates after surgery have improved, the recurrence
rate is up to 85% within 2 years. Data from clinical trials indicate that adjuvant
chemotherapy enhances 5-year survival to ~25% for patients who have undergone surgery to
remove their tumor; and gemcitabine is the standard regimen of chemotherapy. Metformin is
the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus. Literatures reported that metformin
might inhibit tumor growth by blocking some enzymes needed for cell growth. Some
retrospective studies have revealed that diabetic patients taking metformin were less likely
to develop pancreatic cancer. Additionally, pancreatic cancer patients treated with
metformin showed a better survival than those without metformin. In this study, the
researchers intend to investigate the activity and safety of the combination of gemcitabine
and metformin in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that have removed by surgery.
Detailed DescriptionNot Provided
Study TypeInterventional
Study PhasePhase 2
Study DesignAllocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment
Condition
  • Stage IA Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
  • Stage IB Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
  • Stage IIA Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
  • Stage IIB Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
InterventionDrug: Gemcitabine
Patients receive gemcitabine 1000 mg/m^2 (iv, 30 minutes) on days 1, 8, and 15 for 3 weeks, followed by one week without treatment, and also receive placebo (Arm I)/ metformin (Arm II) on days 1-28. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for up to 6 circles in the absence of disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity.
Other Names:
GEMZARDrug: Metformin
Metformin will be administered at a dose of 500 mg twice daily. If well tolerated, the dose will be increased to 1000 mg twice daily in the second week. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks (2 g on days 1-28) for up to 6 circles in the absence of disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity.
Other Names:
glucophageDrug: placebo
Placebo will be administered at a dose of 500 mg twice daily. If well tolerated, the dose will be increased to 1000 mg twice daily in the second week. Treatment repeats every 4 weeks (2 g on days 1-28) for up to 6 circles in the absence of disease recurrence or unacceptable toxicity.
Study Arm (s)
  • Placebo Comparator: gemcitabine + placebo
    gemcitabine at 1000 mg/m^2 on days 1, 8, and 15; placebo at 2 g on days 1-28
  • Experimental: gemcitabine + metformin
    gemcitabine at 1000 mg/m^2 on days 1, 8, and 15; metformin at 2 g on days 1-28

Recruitment Information[ + expand ][ + ]

Recruitment StatusRecruiting
Estimated Enrollment300
Estimated Completion DateJune 2017
Estimated Primary Completion DateDecember 2016
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

- Signed informed content obtained prior to treatment

- Age ≥ 18 years and ≤ 80 years

- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2

- Patients must have histologically confirmed pancreatic adenocarcinoma (or any mixed
pathology if adenocarcinoma is predominant) after curative resection (R0). The
pathological staging does not exceed the stage IIB.

- No tumor lesions are seen by abdominal and thoracic CT scan 4~8 weeks after surgery,
and no serious adverse events are occurred during this period

- The expected survival after surgery ≥ 6 months

- White blood cell (WBC) ≥ 3 × 10^9/L; Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1.5 × 10^9/L;
Platelets (PLT) ≥ 100 × 10^9/L; Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL

- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]/
alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamic pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) ≤ 2.5 ×
institutional upper limit of normal (ULN); Total bilirubin (TBIL) ≤ ULN; Creatinine
(CRE) ≤ 1.5 × ULN

- Prothrombin time (PT) and international normalized ratio (INR) ≤ 1.5 × ULN

- Patients with diabetes (diagnosed after surgery) are eligible for this trial; all
diabetic patients who are enrolled on this study should discuss the need to change
their diabetes management regimen with their primary care physician or
endocrinologist prior to enrollment

- Diabetic patients who are on metformin are eligible as long as they have been on
metformin for less than 6 months (estimated 6 months or less duration of metformin
therapy from start of metformin to enrollment on study)

Exclusion Criteria:

- Active second primary malignancy or history of second primary malignancy within the
last 3 years

- Patients who have received any form of anti-tumor therapy before surgery, including
chemotherapy, radiotherapy, interventional chemoembolization, radiofrequency
ablation, and molecular targeted therapy

- Use of any other investigational agents

- Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing
or active infection, internal hemorrhage, pancreatic leakage, bile leakage,
symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia,
or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study
requirements

- History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or
biological composition to metformin or gemcitabine

- Current use of metformin for more than 6 months prior to enrollment on study

- Metabolic acidosis, acute or chronic, including ketoacidosis

- Pregnant or nursing women

- Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients

- Patients who are unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures
GenderBoth
Ages18 Years
Accepts Healthy VolunteersNo
ContactsContact: Xianjun Yu, M.D., Ph.D.
+86-21-6417-5590
yuxianjun88@hotmail.com
Location CountriesChina

Administrative Information[ + expand ][ + ]

NCT Number NCT02005419
Other Study ID NumbersMET1310128-2
Has Data Monitoring CommitteeYes
Information Provided ByFudan University
Study SponsorXian-Jun Yu
CollaboratorsNot Provided
Investigators Principal Investigator: Xianjun Yu, M.D., Ph.D. Department of Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Pancreatic Cancer Institute,Fudan University; 270 Dong An Road, Shanghai 200032, China
Verification DateDecember 2013

Locations[ + expand ][ + ]

Department of Pancreatic and Hepatobiliary Surgery, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center; Pancreatic Cancer Institute, Fudan University
Shanghai, China, 200032
Contact: Xianjun Yu, M.D., Ph.D. | +86-21-6417-5590 | yuxianjun88@hotmail.com
Principal Investigator: Xianjun Yu, M.D., Ph.D.
Recruiting