Conditions: Lung Cancer Endobronchial Dysplasia
Keywords: chemoprevention lung cancer pioglitazone
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 92
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
This is a chemoprevention trial evaluating the diabetic agent pioglitazone. Non-diabetic subjects at risk for lung cancer (based on smoking history, lung function testing, and atypical cells in a sputum sample) receive either placebo or pioglitazone and have chest computerized tomography (CAT) scans and examinations of their airways with a bronchoscope at the start of the trial and after 6 months on treatment. Compensation will be provided to the subject after completing the trial.

Detailed description:
This trial evaluates the oral peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist pioglitazone in a double-blind placebo controlled trial. The high risk current and former smokers qualify based on tobacco exposure, airflow limitation on lung function testing, and sputum cytologic atypia. Subjects have a quantitative high resolution thoracic CT scan and a fluorescent bronchoscopy at study entry and after 6 months on drug or placebo. Biologic samples are collected at both time points. The primary outcome is endobronchial histology and determining if pioglitazone can retard progression. Secondary endpoints related to the PPAR gamma signaling pathway will also be analyzed.

Arms:
arm 1: Current or former smokers receive 6 months of treatment with pioglitazone arm 2: Current or former smokers receive 6 months of treatment with placebo

Interventions: intervention 1: fluorescence bronchoscopy intervention 2: quantitative high resolution CT scan intervention 3: PIOGLITAZONE VS. PLACEBO 30 mg
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: examination of the central airways with a bronchoscope. Both white light and fluorescent light will be used. intervention 2: High resolution CT scan of the chest intervention 3: Patients will be randomized to receive either pioglitazone or placebo. Pioglitazone hydrochloride, a thiazolidinedione antidiabetic agent and a potent peroxisome proliferator-

activated receptor-gamma agonist. It is FDA approved for the treatment of Type II diabetes. It has been previously administered to non-diabetic subjects. The most common side effect of pioglitazone is fluid retention and modest weight gain. There is a potential risk that pioglitazone may cause an elevation in liver enzymes and more serious hepatotoxicity (rare). There is risk of edema and weight gain associated with pioglitazone therapy. 5% experienced peripheral edema in clinical trials. fluid retention may result in new onset heart failure or exacerbation of existing heart failure. Small risk of hypoglycemia, anemia, myalgia, bone fracture, headache, and macular retinal edema exists. There is insufficient information to confirm its safety in Pregnancy/Breastfeeding. Bladder cancer is more serious but rare.

Protocol document: