Patient case: 70-year-old male with prostate cancer; genetic feature: PTEN

Clinical trial: A Phase Ib Study of Intravenous Copper Loading With Oral Disulfiram in Metastatic, Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

Summary: The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and optimal dosing of intravenous copper chloride and disulfiram in men with metastatic castrate-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Eligible men will have neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC), adenocarcinoma CRPC with non-liver/peritoneal metastases (lymph nodes, bone, or lung) or adenocarcinoma CRPC with liver and/or peritoneal metastases. Subjects will receive three doses of intravenous copper chloride and take disulfiram and oral copper gluconate until disease progression (up to two years). Subjects will also undergo a PET scan with radioactive copper 64 to measure the levels of copper in their tumor. The central hypotheses of this project are that (a) copper chloride and disulfiram are safe to give together and that (b) the combination of disulfiram with copper will have efficacy for both mCRPC and NEPC.


Eligibility: Inclusion Criteria:
  1. Age ≥ 18 years
  2. Karnofsky performance status ≥ 70 (Appendix 1)
  3. Life expectancy of ≥ 12 weeks as determined by treating investigator
  4. Adequate laboratory parameters
  -  Adequate bone marrow function as shown by: ANC ≥ 1.5 x 109/L, Platelets ≥ 100 x 109/L, Hb>9 g/dL
  -  AST/SGOT and ALT/SGPT ≤ 2.5 x Institutional Upper Limit of Normal (ULN)
  -  Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x Institutional ULN
  -  Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x Institutional ULN or 24-hour clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
  5. Histologically confirmed diagnosis of prostate cancer. Histologic variants of prostate cancer, including neuroendocrine features and small cell carcinoma of the prostate are included.
  6. Radiographic evidence of metastatic disease.
  7. Ongoing ADT using an LHRH agonist (e.g. leuprolide, goserelin) or antagonist (e.g. degarelix) must continue on therapy unless prior bilateral orchiectomy has been performed. Screening serum testosterone must be <50 ng/dl.
  8. Evidence of disease progression on ADT as evidenced by one of the following:
  -  2 consecutive PSA levels 50% or greater above the PSA nadir achieved on ADT and separated at least 1 week apart, OR
  -  CT or MRI based evidence of disease progression (soft tissue, nodal or visceral disease progression) according to PCWG3 criteria or RECIST 1.1 criteria, or at least 1 new bone scan lesion as compared to the most immediate prior radiologic studies, OR
  -  Absolute rise in PSA of 2.0ng/mL or greater, minimum 2 consecutive rising PSA levels with an interval of ≥ 1 week between each PSA level
  9. A minimum of 2 weeks elapsed off of antiandrogen therapy prior to registration (i.e. flutamide, nilutamide, and bicalutamide) without evidence of an anti-androgen withdrawal response.
  10. For subjects in Groups B or C, previous use of at least one androgen pathway inhibitor (either abiraterone acetate or enzalutamide) for metastatic CRPC
  11. For subjects in Group A with NEPC, previous use of at least one platinum-containing chemotherapy regimen.
  12. A minimum of 4 weeks off of enzalutamide or abiraterone if applicable.
  13. A minimum of 4 weeks from prior chemotherapy, including but not limited to, docetaxel, cabazitaxel, mitoxantrone, carboplatinum, cisplatin, or estramustine; if applicable.
  14. A minimum of 4 weeks from any major surgery prior to registration.
  15. Ability to swallow, retain, and absorb oral medication.
  16. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  17. Willingness to abstain from alcohol or any alcohol-containing fluids for the duration of the study.
  Exclusion Criteria:
  Subjects who meet any of the following criteria will be excluded from the study:
  1. Symptomatic subjects who accept treatment with approved palliative or life-prolonging therapies, including docetaxel and cabazitaxel chemotherapy. (Note: subjects who refuse chemotherapy or are not symptomatic or in immediate need for standard systemic therapies may be included.)
  2. History of Wilson's disease or other copper deficiency.
  3. Uncontrolled hypertension (systolic BP >160 mmHg or diastolic BP > 95 mmHg) or other medical condition that could jeopardize the assessment of toxicity on study.
  4. Active or symptomatic viral hepatitis or chronic liver disease.
  5. Clinically significant heart disease as evidenced by myocardial infarction, or arterial thrombotic events in the past 6 months, severe or unstable angina, or New York Heart Association (NYHA) Class II-IV heart disease or cardiac ejection fraction measurement of < 50% at baseline.
  6. Atrial Fibrillation, or other cardiac arrhythmia requiring therapy.
  7. Corrected QT interval calculated by the Bazett formula (QTcB) >480 msec.
  8. Other malignancy, except non-melanoma skin cancer, with a ≥ 30% probability of death within 24 months.
  9. Administration of an investigational therapeutic within 30 days of Cycle 1, Day 1.
  10. Any condition which, in the opinion of the investigator, would preclude participation in this trial.

Relevance to patient case: not relevant