Clinical trial NCT00004246: Radiation Therapy Plus Fludarabine in Treating Patients With Locally Advanced Cancer of the Mouth, Pharynx, or Larynx
Official title: A Phase I Study of Fludarabine With Radiotherapy in Patients With Locally Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE1
Conditions: Head and Neck Cancer
Keywords: Radiation Therapy
RT
Radiotherapy
Fludarabine
Fludara
Fludarabine Phosphate
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity
stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the lip and oral cavity
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the oropharynx
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx
stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the nasopharynx
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx
stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the hypopharynx
stage III squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
stage IV squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx
Lead sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
First posted: 2004-05-03
Enrollment: 16
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Combining chemotherapy with radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectiveness of radiation therapy plus fludarabine in treating patients who have locally advanced cancer of the mouth, pharynx, or larynx.

Detailed description: OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the maximum tolerated dose of fludarabine that can be given during the sixth and seventh weeks of radiotherapy in patients with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx, based on the systemic toxicity of the drug and the acute mucosal reactions in the irradiated fields. II. Document the qualitative and quantitative toxicity of this combination therapy in this patient population.

OUTLINE: This is a dose escalation study of fludarabine. Patients receive radiotherapy on days 1-5 for 7 weeks. Patients receive fludarabine IV on days 1-5 of weeks 6 and 7 of radiotherapy. Fludarabine is administered 3-4 hours prior to daily radiotherapy. Cohorts of 3 patients receive escalating doses of fludarabine until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose that produces a severe toxicity rate nearest to 20%. Patients are followed every 4 weeks after the completion of treatment until acute reactions have resolved, then every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months for 2 years.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A maximum of 18 patients will be accrued for this study within 1.5 years.

Eligibility criteria: DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx, or larynx for which surgery would result in significant functional impairment Stage III or IV (T3-4 or N2-3) No distant metastases

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Zubrod 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 6 months Hematopoietic: Granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3 Platelet count at least 150,000/mm3 Hepatic: Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL SGOT less than 4 times upper limit of normal PT/PTT normal Renal: Creatinine no greater than 1.5 mg/dL Other: Not pregnant or nursing Fertile patients must use effective contraception No other concurrent acute illness or infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: No prior chemotherapy Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: No prior radiotherapy Surgery: See Disease Characteristics

Primary outcomes:
measure: Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of Fludarabine During Sixth & Seventh Weeks of Radiotherapy
timeFrame: Every 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Houston
country: United States
facility: University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center
state: Texas
Study officials:
affiliation: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
name: K. Kian Ang, MD, PhD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References: