Effect of Calcium on Gleevec Pharmacokinetics (PK) in Healthy Volunteers

This research study is being conducted through the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI). It will evaluate the concentrations of Gleevec®, an oral drug used to treat some types of cancer, in the blood of healthy volunteers when taken with and without Tums Ultra®, a calcium product often used in the treatment of upset stomach and as a calcium supplement.

This is an open-label, single-institution, randomized cross-over, fixed-schedule investigation of the effects of calcium carbonate on the pharmacokinetics (PK) of Gleevec® in healthy volunteers. Healthy volunteers will be recruited to participate in this study such that twelve subjects (6 men / 6 women) will complete the study at UPCI. Subjects will be compensated for participation.

Half of the subjects will receive Gleevec® alone on Day 1 and Gleevec® and calcium carbonate on Day 15, and the other half will receive Gleevec® and calcium carbonate on Day 1 and Gleevec® alone on Day 15, determined by randomization of subjects receiving either the combination or Gleevec® alone during the first visit. Doses will be 400 mg Gleevec® and 4000 mg calcium carbonate (4 x Tums Ultra 1000® chewable tablets, equivalent to 4000 mg calcium carbonate or 1600 mg calcium.

Multiple PK blood samples will be taken from Days 1-4 and Days 15-18. Gleevec® PK will be assessed after oral administration of 400 mg Gleevec® alone, and after oral administration of 400 mg Gleevec® with concomitant administration of 4000 mg calcium carbonate. Two 10-hour outpatient dosing visits and six brief outpatient visits are required to accommodate all study procedures.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Healthy men or women 18 years of age or older. Healthy subjects are defined as individuals who are free from clinically significant illness or disease (such as coronary arterial disease, chronic heart failure, bleeding disorder, hypertension, chronic renal failure etc.) as determined by their medical history, physical examination, and laboratory studies. For the purposes of this protocol, "clinically significant" is defined as any history or indication of illness or disease, such as those listed above.
* Body Mass Index (BMI) \< 31 kg/m2 (weight/height2).
* Female patients of childbearing potential must have negative pregnancy test within 14 days before initiation of study drug dosing. Postmenopausal women must be amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential. Female patients of reproductive potential must agree to employ an effective barrier method of birth control throughout the study and for up to 7 days following discontinuation of study drug.
* Written, voluntary informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Abnormal marrow function as defined by leucocyte, neutrophil, or platelet counts outside of normal limits.
* Any evidence of renal dysfunction (proteinuria; serum creatinine \> upper limit of normal; or if serum creatinine \> upper limit of normal, a calculated creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min/1.73 m2).
* Impaired hepatic function (liver enzymes greater than the upper limit of normal or bilirubin outside the normal range).
* Taking any medications (including over the counter products), herbal products, mineral supplements or vitamins (other than a daily multivitamin preparation), other than contraceptives (for women), within 2 weeks of start of the study. All forms of contraceptive medication are permissible for this study and would not result in a female's exclusion from participation. Patients who take medications on a chronic basis, such as antihypertensive medications or thyroid replacement therapy, etc. are not eligible for the study.
* Subjects has received any other investigational agents within 28 days of first day of study drug dosing.
* Female subjects who are pregnant or breast-feeding.