Phase II Trial of Locally Advanced/Metastatic Soft Tissue Sarcoma or Advanced/Metastatic Malignant GIST
Condition: Sarcoma; Malignant Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor
MeSH terms: Sarcoma; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors
Study type: Interventional
Phase: Phase 2

Summary: 
      Study Design Type of Study This is an open-label, single arm, prospective, multiple-center
      phase II study

      Duration of the Study Period in One Subject Treatment duration is planned for six cycles,
      unless there is evidence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients with
      continued response after six cycles could receive two additional cycles of therapy. In case
      complete response and in the absence of unacceptable toxicity, treatment will be continued
      for at least 2 further cycles to achieve the minimal of 6 total cycles.

      Study Objectives Primary Objective The primary objective is to determine the response rate of
      sequential gemcitabine and docetaxel combination in patients with locally advanced/metastatic
      soft tissue sarcoma or imatinib mesylate refractory GIST.

      Secondary Objectives The secondary objectives of this study are to determine the time to
      progression in patients treated with this regimen, the toxicity of this regimen in these
      patients, the overall survival and the quality of life.

      Molecular analysis of genetic aberration in soft tissue sarcoma The genetic aberrations of
      soft tissue sarcoma as reported in literature will be determined. The genetic aberration will
      be correlated to chemotherapy responses.

      c-kit and PDGFR gene mutations induced by imatinib mesylate and chemotherapy Those acquired
      gene mutation of c-kit and PGDFR induced by imatinib mesylate will be first determined. We
      will also examine further gene mutation of c-kit and PGDFR caused by combination
      chemotherapy.
    

Detailed description: 
      Eligibility Criteria:

      Inclusion criteria:

      Patients must have a histologically confirmed diagnosis of (1) locally advanced unresectable
      or metastatic soft tissue sarcoma; or (2) unresectable/metastatic GIST previously treated
      with imatinib mesylate and is documented to have drug resistance to imatinib mesylate
      treatment defined by tumor progression.

      Age greater than or equal to 18 years and younger than or equal to 70 years old.

      Measurable disease: defined as lesions that can be measured in at least one dimension by
      physical examination or medical imaging techniques. Ascites, pleural effusions, and bone
      marrow disease will not considered measurable disease.

      Patients must have an ECOG performance status of less than or equal to 2. Patients must have
      recovered (defined as toxicity less than grade 2) from toxic effects of all prior therapy
      before entering onto study.

      A treatment of drug free interval of at least 4 weeks since the last dose of chemotherapy or
      imatinib mesylate therapy is required.

      More than 4 weeks since prior radiotherapy is required. Adequate bone marrow function with an
      ANC greater than or equal to 1,500/ml, platelet count greater than or equal to 100,000/ ml
      (transfusion independent) and hemoglobin greater than or equal to 8.0 g/dl (transfusions
      permitted).

      Patients must have adequate renal function with serum creatinine less than or equal to 1.5
      mg/dl.

      Patients must have adequate liver function, defined as bilirubin within 1.5 times the upper
      limit of normal, and liver transaminases within 2.5 times the upper limit of normal.

      All patients must sign a document of informed consent indicating their awareness of the
      investigational nature and the risks of the study.

      Exclusion criteria:

      Patients who have prior treatment with gemcitabine or taxane. Pregnant or breast feeding
      females. Active or uncontrolled infection. Patients with brain or leptomeningeal metastases.

      Treatment Plan:

      For safety and convenience of drug administration, a Port-A catheter implantation is required
      before the start of the first chemotherapy course.

      Gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 will be administered by intravenous infusion over 80 minutes on day 1
      and day8, and docetaxel 60 mg/m2 over 60 minutes on day 1 of a 21-day cycle. After the first
      cycle of the chemotherapy, if the ANC of the patient is always ≥ 1500/ml before the starting
      of the next cycle, the dosage of docetaxel will be escalated to 75 mg/m2 on day 1 of the next
      and following cycles.

      All patients received filgrastim 300 mg subcutaneously once per day on day 12 to 15.

      During treatment, complete blood cell counts are performed weekly. History and physical
      examinations and assessment of toxicities are performed before each cycle of treatment.

      Patients with progressive disease evaluated at the third or sixth course should be suggested
      salvage treatment and withdrawn from protocol treatment.

      Patients with SD, CR, or PR continue on study and undergo repeat CT scan after cycle 6.

      Patients who have continued response at the sixth course will be given two additional courses
      of chemotherapy, and undergo a CT scan again after cycle 8.

      Dose Adjustments: dose adjustments were required in the following situations:

      If patients experienced febrile neutropenia or had platelet count of less than 25,000/ml
      lasting more than 5 days, doses of gemcitabine and docetaxel will be reduced to 75% of the
      previous dose in all subsequent cycles.

      If at day 1 of the treatment cycle the ANC is less than 1,500/ml or if the platelet count is
      less than 50,000/ml, treatment will be delayed 1 week.

      Patients in whom the ANC or platelet count has not recovered after a 2-week delay will be
      removed from the study.

      If on day 8 the ANC is 500 to 999/ul and the platelet is ≥ 50,000/ul, gemcitabine are
      provided at 75% of the day 1 doses.

      If at day 8 the ANC is less than 500/ul or if the platelet count is less than 50,000/ul,
      gemcitabine at the day 8 dose will not be provided in that cycle.

      If the patients experience grade 3 or 4 neurotoxicity, treatment will be delayed for 1 week.
      If neurotoxicity has resolved to ≤ grade 2, treatment resumed with the docetaxel dose
      decreases to 75% of the previous dose for all subsequent cycles.

      If the patient's bilirubin level is more than 1.5 mg/dL, the docetaxel treatment will be hold
      for that cycle. If bilirubin returns to ≤ 1.5 mg/dL, docetaxel treatment will be resumed in
      the subsequent cycles.

      If patients experienced other grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicities (except alopecia),
      treatment will be hold for up to 2 weeks; treatment will be resumed if nonhematologic
      toxicity has resolved to ≤ grade 2.

      Criteria for Withdrawal from Study Documented disease progression. A new cycle of
      chemotherapy will be given if ANC ≥ 1500/ml, platelet count ≥ 50,000/ ml (transfusion
      independent) and hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dl (transfusions permitted). On the scheduled Day 1 of a
      new treatment cycle, if the hemogram is not yet recovered, chemotherapy will be postponed and
      the patient will be followed weekly until the resolution of toxicity. If the interruption is
      more than 2 weeks from the schedule Day 1, the patient should be taken off protocol
      treatment.

      Occurrence of adverse event that the attending physician considers withdrawal from protocol
      treatment is for the patient's optimal benefit.

      Voluntary withdrawal.
    

Intervention name(s): Gemcitabine , Docetaxel
Intervention type(s): Drug
Intervention description(s): Gemcitabine 800 mg/m2 IV over 80 minutes on day 1 and day 8, and Docetaxel 60 mg/m2 IV over 60 minutes on day 1 of a 21-day cycle
Intervention MeSH terms: Gemcitabine; Docetaxel
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Treatment