Clinical trial NCT02181634: Phase II Trial of Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine for First-Line Treatment of Patients With Cholangiocarcinoma
Official title: A Multi-Institutional, Single Arm, Two-Stage Phase II Trial of Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine for First-Line Treatment of Patients With Advanced or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: PHASE2
Conditions: Cholangiocarcinoma
Keywords: Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma
Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma
CCA
Bile Duct Cancer
Nab-Paclitaxel
Abraxane®
Gemcitabine
Gemzar®
Lead sponsor: PrECOG, LLC.
Sponsor class: OTHER
Collaborators: name: Celgene Corporation
First posted: 2014-07-04
Enrollment: 74
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: NA
Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: Patients with advanced or metastatic cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) who are not eligible for curative surgery, transplantation, or ablative therapies will receive nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine chemotherapy.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine. The effectiveness will be determined by improvement in the length of time during and after treatment, that the CCA does not get worse.

Detailed description: Advanced cholangiocarcinomas (CCAs) are aggressive tumors with median survival time after diagnosis of less than 12 months, and five-year overall survival (OS) of \~5% with systemic chemotherapy. Currently available systemic therapies for CCA are largely ineffective, thus the rationale for the proposed research is to investigate targeted delivery of chemotherapy.

The goal of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel in patients with advanced CCA. This is based on the premise that nab-paclitaxel binds to SPARC (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine) through its interaction with albumin, leading to an increase in intra-tumoral concentration of gemcitabine through decreased deoxycytidine deaminase (CDA) enzyme. We hope to improve on the OS of patients with advanced CCA through the use of the synergistic combination of nab-paclitaxel and gemcitabine to specifically target the SPARC protein in the peri-tumoral stroma. We aim to provide critical data to further develop pharmacologic strategies to target the desmoplastic stroma in order to increase chemotherapy responsiveness of CCAs.

We will also examine whether circulating tumor cell (CTC) levels with targeted gene expression analysis and stromal SPARC levels correlate with patient outcome and thus serve as prognostic biomarkers. We will evaluate the role of Human Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 (hENT1), CDA and tumor fibrosis as additional prognostic and predictive biomarkers in CCA. This clinical trial hopes to improve on the poor prognosis of patients with advanced CCA by establishing the activity of a platinum-free doublet, nab-paclitaxel plus gemcitabine that has shown clear clinical benefit in pancreatic cancer which has close biological parallels to CCA.

A maximum of 70 patients will be enrolled to attain 67 eligible/evaluable patients. Stage I will enroll 37 patients. If 21 or more patients are alive and progression-free at 6 months, the study will proceed to Stage II and an additional 33 patients will be enrolled.

Procurement of archived tissue, if available, from a previous diagnostic biopsy is mandatory for enrollment. If not available, this will not preclude participation in the trial, nor will additional biopsies be performed for research purposes only.

Optional blood samples will be requested.

Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* Must have histologically-confirmed diagnosis of cholangiocarcinoma Stage II, III, or IV CCA (intra-hepatic, extra-hepatic and perihilar) that is not eligible for curative resection, transplantation, or ablative therapies. Tumors of mixed histology are not allowed.
* Must have radiographically measurable disease in at least one site not previously treated with radiation, chemoembolization, radioembolization, or other local ablative procedures; a new area of tumor progression within or adjacent to a previously-treated lesion, if clearly measurable by a Radiologist, is acceptable.
* May have received prior radiation, chemoembolization, radioembolization, or other local ablative therapies, or hepatic resection if completed ≥ 4 weeks prior to registration AND if patient has recovered to ≤ grade 1 toxicity. NOTE: Measurable disease (as required above) must still be present.
* May have received prior radiation for bone or brain metastases if patient is now asymptomatic and has completed all radiation and steroid therapy (if applicable) ≥ 2 weeks prior to registration.
* Age ≥ 18 years.
* Child-Pugh score of A or B with ≤ 7 points.
* Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1.
* Willing to provide archived tissue, if available, from a previous diagnostic biopsy.
* Must be able to tolerate CT and/or MRI with contrast.
* Adequate organ function obtained ≤ 2 weeks prior to registration:

  * Absolute Neutrophil Count ≥ 1500/mm³
  * Hemoglobin ˃9.0 g/dL
  * Platelets ˃100,000/mm³
  * Serum Creatinine ≤ 1.5x Upper Limit Normal (ULN)
  * Creatinine Clearance ≥ 50 mL/min
  * Albumin ≥ 2.8 g/dL
  * Total Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL or ≤ 1.5x ULN
  * Aspartate Aminotransaminase (AST)/Alanine Aminotransaminase (ALT) ≤ 2.5x ULN (≤ 5x ULN in patients with liver metastases)
  * International Normalized Ratio (INR) \<1.5x the ULN \[INR ≥ 1.5 is allowed if anticoagulation is used.\]
* Women must not be pregnant or breastfeeding since nab-paclitaxel and/or gemcitabine may harm the fetus or child.
* Must not have received prior systemic cytotoxic chemotherapy or targeted therapy for this cancer.
* Must not be receiving treatment with other investigational agents.
* Must not have a pre-existing \>grade 2 peripheral neuropathy.
* Must not be receiving immunosuppressive medications, including systemic corticosteroids, aside from the following exceptions: used for adrenal replacement, appetite stimulation, therapy for asthma, bronchitis exacerbation (≤ 2 weeks), anti-emesis, or pre-medication for procedures (i.e. CT scan).
* No known Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, or Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) seropositivity.
* Must not have undergone liver transplantation.
* Must not have serious non-healing wound, ulcer, bone fracture, or abscess.
* Must not have undergone a major surgical procedure \<4 weeks prior to registration.
* Must not have possible histories of pneumonitis or pneumonitis risk factors.
* Must not have an active second malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical carcinoma in situ.
* Must have no ongoing or active, uncontrolled infections.
* Must have no evidence of significant, uncontrolled concomitant diseases including, but not limited to: symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, myocardial infarction within preceding 12 months, uncontrolled peripheral vascular disease, cerebrovascular accident within preceding 12 months, pulmonary disease impairing functional status or requiring oxygen, connective tissue disease including lupus.
* Must not have any history of allergic reaction(s) attributed to compounds of similar composition to nab-paclitaxel or gemcitabine.

Primary outcomes:
measure: Progression-Free Survival (PFS) Rate at 6 Months (Proportion of Participants Alive and Progression-Free at 6 Months)
timeFrame: Assessed at 6 months
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Overall Survival (OS)
timeFrame: Every 3-6 months for up to 3 years
measure: Progression-free Survival (PFS)
timeFrame: Every 3-6 months for up to 3 years
measure: Time To Progression (TTP)
timeFrame: Every 3-6 months for up to 3 years
measure: Overall Response Rate (ORR)
timeFrame: Every 3-6 months for up to 3 years
measure: Disease Control Rate (DCR)
timeFrame: Every 3-6 months for up to 3 years
measure: Association Between PFS and Maximum Change in Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9 From Baseline
timeFrame: CA 19-9 was evaluated every 8 weeks until progression or for up to 3 years and off-treatment
measure: Association Between OS and Maximum Change in Carbohydrate Antigen (CA) 19-9 From Baseline
timeFrame: CA 19-9 was evaluated every 8 weeks until progression or for up to 3 years and off-treatment
Other outcomes:
measure: Change in Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs)
timeFrame: Prior to Cycle 1, Day 1; Cycle 1 Day 8; Cycle 3, Day 1 and at Off Treatment
measure: Stromal SPARC Expression
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Fibrosis Expression
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: CDA Expression
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: hENT Expression
timeFrame: Baseline
measure: Banking Biospecimens for Future Assessment
timeFrame: Prior to Cycle 1, Day 1; Cycle 1, Day 8; Cycle 3, Day 1 and at Off Treatment
Locations:
city: Denver
country: United States
facility: Colorado Cancer Research Program
state: Colorado
city: Chicago
country: United States
facility: Northwestern University
state: Illinois
city: Oak Lawn
country: United States
facility: Advocate Christ Medical Center
state: Illinois
city: Sioux City
country: United States
facility: Siouxland Hematology-Oncology Associates
state: Iowa
city: New Orleans
country: United States
facility: Ochsner Medical Center
state: Louisiana
city: Boston
country: United States
facility: Tufts Medical Center
state: Massachusetts
city: Worcester
country: United States
facility: University Massachusetts Memorial Medical Center
state: Massachusetts
city: Ann Arbor
country: United States
facility: St. Joseph Mercy Health System
state: Michigan
city: Ann Arbor
country: United States
facility: University of Michigan Health System
state: Michigan
city: Ann Arbor
country: United States
facility: University of Michigan Medical Center
state: Michigan
city: Saint Louis Park
country: United States
facility: Metro Minnesota CCOP
state: Minnesota
city: New Brunswick
country: United States
facility: Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey
state: New Jersey
city: Bronx
country: United States
facility: Montefiore Medical Center
state: New York
city: New York
country: United States
facility: Mount Sinai Hospital
state: New York
city: Rochester
country: United States
facility: University of Rochester Medical Center
state: New York
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: University of Pennsylvania, Abramson Cancer Center
state: Pennsylvania
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: University of Pennsylvania; Abramson Cancer Center at Presbyterian Medical Center
state: Pennsylvania
city: Philadelphia
country: United States
facility: Fox Chase Cancer Center
state: Pennsylvania
city: Knoxville
country: United States
facility: University of Tennessee Medical Center
state: Tennessee
city: Nashville
country: United States
facility: Vanderbilt University/Ingram Cancer Center
state: Tennessee
city: Dallas
country: United States
facility: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
state: Texas
city: La Crosse
country: United States
facility: Gundersen Health System
state: Wisconsin
city: Madison
country: United States
facility: University of Wisconsin-Madison
state: Wisconsin
city: Wauwatosa
country: United States
facility: Aurora Cancer Care
state: Wisconsin
city: Vienna
country: Austria
facility: Medical University of Vienna
Study officials:
affiliation: University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor, MI
name: Vaibhav Sahai, MD
role: STUDY_CHAIR
References:
citation: Sahai V, Catalano PJ, Zalupski MM, Lubner SJ, Menge MR, Nimeiri HS, Munshi HG, Benson AB 3rd, O'Dwyer PJ. Nab-Paclitaxel and Gemcitabine as First-line Treatment of Advanced or Metastatic Cholangiocarcinoma: A Phase 2 Clinical Trial. JAMA Oncol. 2018 Dec 1;4(12):1707-1712. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2018.3277.