MedPath

Systemic and Topical Treatments for Rash Secondary to Erlotinib in Lung Cancer

Registration Number
NCT00473083
Lead Sponsor
British Columbia Cancer Agency
Brief Summary

The purpose of this trial is to determine if rash caused by erlotinib can be successfully treated and if so to determine the optimal treatment approach.

Hypothesis:

Hypothesis 1: If the incidence of rash is 50% while on erlotinib, prophylactic monotherapy with minocycline can prevent occurrence in 50% of these patients.

Hypothesis 2: Treatment of rash is successful in improving rash by at least one Grade in 80% of patients.

Hypothesis 3: In patients with untreated rash, the rash will be self-limiting in 25% of patients, and 65% will be grade 1, 2A, and 2b. Ten percent will be grade 3 requiring treatment with monotherapy intervention.

Detailed Description

Erlotinib has been shown to prolong survival in NSCLC patients who are no longer candidates for further chemotherapy. In July 2005, erlotinib was approved in Canada for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic NSCLC, following failure of first or second-line chemotherapy.

Erlotinib's side effect profile includes rash. The incidence of rash in clinical trials has been reported to be approximately 50 - 75%, and has been hypothesised to parallel tumour response (20).

The treatment of rash is controversial and many oncologists believe it is untreatable and self-limiting. The cause of the rash is not well understood but is felt to be a systemic event. Clinical experience of the investigators has suggested that minocycline 100 mg orally given twice-daily for 4 weeks and clindamycin 2% and hydrocortisone 1% topical cream for moderate to severe rash is a successful treatment.

The objectives of this trial are to better delineate the rash and its features and to describe an optimal treatment. Since the rash is often facial in distribution and can therefore lead to physical and psychological distress to the patient, a dermatology life quality index will also be completed throughout the study.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
150
Inclusion Criteria
  1. Histologically or cytological documented diagnosis of inoperable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic (stage IIIB or stage IV) non-small cell lung cancer.
  2. Evidence of disease (measurable disease is not mandatory).
  3. 18 years of age or older.
  4. ECOG performance status of 0 - 3.
  5. Written informed consent prior to study-specific screening procedures, with the understanding that the patient has the right to withdraw from the study at any time, without prejudice.
Exclusion Criteria
  1. A history of another cancer other than basal cell carcinoma or cervical cancer in situ within the past 3 years
  2. Prior therapy with any type of cancer growth factor inhibitor (EGFR inhibitor or agent targeting this family of growth factor receptors)
  3. Life expectancy of less than 12 weeks.
  4. Ongoing toxic effects from prior chemotherapy.
  5. Pregnant or lactating women.
  6. Females of childbearing potential who have a positive or no pregnancy test (pregnancy tests must be obtained within 72 hours before starting therapy). (Postmenopausal women must have been amenorrheic for at least 12 months to be considered of non-childbearing potential).
  7. Male or female patients with reproductive potential who are unwilling to use effective and reliable contraceptive methods throughout the course of the study and for 90 days after the last dose of study medication.
  8. Ongoing treatment with any inhibitors or inducers of CYP3A4 activity
  9. Any unstable systemic disease (including active infection, grade 4 hypertension, unstable angina, congestive heart failure, hepatic, renal or metabolic disease).
  10. Any significant ophthalmologic abnormality, especially severe dry eye syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Sjögren syndrome, severe exposure keratitis or any other disorder likely to increase the risk of corneal epithelial lesions.
  11. Unwilling or unable to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study.
  12. Patients who have experienced prior hypersensitivity reaction to active ingredients or excipients of the following compounds: erlotinib, minocycline, tetracycline, doxycycline or clindamycin.

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Arm 1: Prophylactic TreatmentErlotinibParticipants will receive prophylactic treatment with minocycline 100 mg orally twice-daily for at least 4 weeks on the initiation of erlotinib therapy. If rash occurs during the 4 week period of minocycline prophylaxis, the minocycline prophylaxis will continue and additional treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule. If rash occurs after the completion of the 4 week prophylaxis period, treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule.
Arm 1: Prophylactic TreatmentClindamycin 2% in hydrocortisone 1% lotionParticipants will receive prophylactic treatment with minocycline 100 mg orally twice-daily for at least 4 weeks on the initiation of erlotinib therapy. If rash occurs during the 4 week period of minocycline prophylaxis, the minocycline prophylaxis will continue and additional treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule. If rash occurs after the completion of the 4 week prophylaxis period, treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule.
Arm 1: Prophylactic TreatmentTopical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% solnParticipants will receive prophylactic treatment with minocycline 100 mg orally twice-daily for at least 4 weeks on the initiation of erlotinib therapy. If rash occurs during the 4 week period of minocycline prophylaxis, the minocycline prophylaxis will continue and additional treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule. If rash occurs after the completion of the 4 week prophylaxis period, treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule.
Arm 2: Reactive TreatmentClindamycin 2% in hydrocortisone 1% lotionPts will receive treatment at initiation of rash. Tx is dependent on grading of rash as follows: Grade 1 or 2A: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied twice daily until resolution of rash by one grade Grade 2B: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash by 1 grade. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln. Grade 3: Pts will discontinue tx with erlotinib 150mg for 1 week and restart at 100mg once daily. Tx with topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash to Grade 1 or 2A. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln.
Arm 2: Reactive TreatmentErlotinibPts will receive treatment at initiation of rash. Tx is dependent on grading of rash as follows: Grade 1 or 2A: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied twice daily until resolution of rash by one grade Grade 2B: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash by 1 grade. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln. Grade 3: Pts will discontinue tx with erlotinib 150mg for 1 week and restart at 100mg once daily. Tx with topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash to Grade 1 or 2A. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln.
Arm 3: No Treatment Unless Severe (Grade 3)MinocyclineThis is the control group. Patients will be treated only if grade 3 rash develops. For grade 3 rash, treatment will be in accordance with that of Grade 3 rash in Treatment Arm 2.
Arm 3: No Treatment Unless Severe (Grade 3)Clindamycin 2% in hydrocortisone 1% lotionThis is the control group. Patients will be treated only if grade 3 rash develops. For grade 3 rash, treatment will be in accordance with that of Grade 3 rash in Treatment Arm 2.
Arm 3: No Treatment Unless Severe (Grade 3)ErlotinibThis is the control group. Patients will be treated only if grade 3 rash develops. For grade 3 rash, treatment will be in accordance with that of Grade 3 rash in Treatment Arm 2.
Arm 3: No Treatment Unless Severe (Grade 3)Topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% solnThis is the control group. Patients will be treated only if grade 3 rash develops. For grade 3 rash, treatment will be in accordance with that of Grade 3 rash in Treatment Arm 2.
Arm 2: Reactive TreatmentTopical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% solnPts will receive treatment at initiation of rash. Tx is dependent on grading of rash as follows: Grade 1 or 2A: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied twice daily until resolution of rash by one grade Grade 2B: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash by 1 grade. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln. Grade 3: Pts will discontinue tx with erlotinib 150mg for 1 week and restart at 100mg once daily. Tx with topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash to Grade 1 or 2A. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln.
Arm 1: Prophylactic TreatmentMinocyclineParticipants will receive prophylactic treatment with minocycline 100 mg orally twice-daily for at least 4 weeks on the initiation of erlotinib therapy. If rash occurs during the 4 week period of minocycline prophylaxis, the minocycline prophylaxis will continue and additional treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule. If rash occurs after the completion of the 4 week prophylaxis period, treatment by grade of rash will be according to the Treatment Arm 2 schedule.
Arm 2: Reactive TreatmentMinocyclinePts will receive treatment at initiation of rash. Tx is dependent on grading of rash as follows: Grade 1 or 2A: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied twice daily until resolution of rash by one grade Grade 2B: Topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash by 1 grade. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln. Grade 3: Pts will discontinue tx with erlotinib 150mg for 1 week and restart at 100mg once daily. Tx with topical clindamycin 2%, with hydrocortisone 1% in lotion base applied 2x daily and oral minocycline 100mg 2x daily for a min. of 4 weeks and continuing thereafter, as required, until resolution of rash to Grade 1 or 2A. Scalp lesions will be treated with a topical clindamycin 2%, triamcinolone acetonide 0.1% soln.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Overall Incidence of RashFrom onset of rash until resolution, up to 4 weeks following progression, an average of 1 year

The overall incidence of any grade of erlotinib-induced rash among the three treatment arms.

For overall incidence of rash a binary variable will be designed. Data will be summarized with percentages by treatment group.

Time Duration From Onset of Rash Until ResolutionFrom onset of rash until resolution, up to 4 weeks following progression, an average of 1 year

To investigate if the rash caused by erlotinib is self-limiting.

A time variable will be defined to identify the duration from onset of rash until resolution. Resolution will be defined as resolution to severity Grade 1 for patients with rash of maximum severity grade \>1 and resolution to Grade 0 for patients with maximum rash severity = 1. For patients where resolution is not observed the time considered will be the maximum time from onset of rash until end of the study.

The analyses will be performed using the following two sub-populations: subjects with maximum severity of rash of Grade 1, 2a and 2b will constitute one sub-population and Grade 3 will be considered the second sub-population.

The comparisons will be performed primarily for Group 1 vs. Group 3 and Group 2 vs. Group 3 and secondly for Group 1 vs. Group 2.

Overall Incidence of Grade 3 RashFrom onset of rash until resolution, up to 4 weeks following progression, on average of 1 year

The overall incidence of grade 3 erlotinib-induced rash among the three treatment arms.

For overall incidence of rash a binary variable will be designed. Data will be summarized with percentages by treatment group.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Severity of Rash Caused by ErlotinibOnset until resolution, up to 4 weeks following progression, on average of 1 year

The maximum severity of rash per subject will be summarized by treatment group. The summary will include only subjects who indicated any occurrence of rash.

Overall SurvivalUntil death
Duration of TreatmentUp to one year
Time to First Presentation of RashUp to onset of rash while on study treatment

Trial Locations

Locations (9)

Tom Baker Cancer Centre

🇨🇦

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Cross Cancer Institute

🇨🇦

Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

BC Cancer Agency Vancouver Centre

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

BC Cancer Agency - Vancouver Island Centre

🇨🇦

Victoria, British Columbia, Canada

Mount Sinai Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Princess Margaret Hospital

🇨🇦

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

BC Cancer Agency - Abbotsford

🇨🇦

Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada

Burnaby Hospital Regional Cancer Centre

🇨🇦

Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada

BC Cancer Agency - Fraser Valley Centre

🇨🇦

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

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