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Irinotecan and Docetaxel With or Without Cetuximab in Treating Patients With Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
Pancreatic Cancer
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00042939
Lead Sponsor
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group
Brief Summary

RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Monoclonal antibodies such as cetuximab can locate tumor cells and either kill them or deliver tumor-killing substances to them without harming normal cells. Combining chemotherapy with cetuximab may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This randomized phase II trial is studying giving irinotecan and docetaxel together with cetuximab to see how well it works compared to irinotecan and docetaxel alone in treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer .

Detailed Description

OBJECTIVES:

* Determine the efficacy of irinotecan and docetaxel with or without cetuximab, in terms of objective response rate, in patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas.

* Determine the time to progression and overall survival of patients treated with these regimens.

* Determine the proportion of patients with tumors that overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor.

OUTLINE: This is a randomized, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

* Arm A: Patients receive docetaxel IV over 1 hour and irinotecan IV over 30 minutes weekly on days 1, 8, 15, and 22.

* Arm B: Patients receive docetaxel and irinotecan as in arm A. Patients also receive cetuximab IV over 1-2 hours on days 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, and 36.

Courses repeat in both arms every 6 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients are followed every 3 months for 2 years, every 6 months for 1 year, and then periodically thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 92 patients (46 per treatment arm)

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
94
Inclusion Criteria
  • Histologically confirmed metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas

  • Sufficient tumor tissue from fine needle aspiration, core biopsy, or open biopsy available for epidermal growth factor receptor testing

  • At least 1 unidimensionally measurable primary or metastatic lesionge

  • Age of 18 and over

  • ECOG performance status 0-1

  • Negative pregnancy test

  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception

  • Creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min

  • LVEF normal

  • Absolute neutrophil count > 1,500/mm^3

  • Platelet count > 100,000/mm^3

  • Bilirubin ≤ upper limit of normal (ULN)*

  • SGOT or SGPT and alkaline phosphatase must meet the criteria for 1 of the following*:

    • SGOT or SGPT ≤ 2.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase ≤ ULN
    • SGOT or SGPT ≤ 1.5 times ULN AND alkaline phosphatase > ULN but ≤ 2.5 times ULN
    • SGOT or SGPT ≤ ULN AND alkaline phosphatase > 2.5 but ≤ 4 times ULN

NOTE: *Percutaneous stenting or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography may be used to normalize liver function tests

Exclusion Criteria
  • History of uncontrolled arrhythmias
  • History of congestive heart failure
  • History of uncontrolled angina pectoris
  • Prior chemotherapy
  • Pre-existing neuropathy ≥ grade 2
  • Prior hypersensitivity to polysorbate 80
  • Pregnant or nursing

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Irinotecan/Docetaxel/CetuximabcetuximabPatients received Cetuximab intravenously once a week for 6 weeks. On day 1 of cycle 1 only, an initial dose of 400 mg/m² (over 120 minutes) was administered. Thereafter, a once-a-week maintenance dose of 250 mg/m² (infused over 60 minutes), was given. The infusion rate never exceeded 5 ml/minute. On the day of the initial dose, the administration of Cetuximab was followed by the administration of docetaxel, after a 60-minute observation period. (The observation period was 30 minutes following maintenance doses.) Docetaxel was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a dose of 35 mg/m². Docetaxel was diluted in 100-150 ml of infusion solution. After the completion of the docetaxel infusion, irinotecan was administered intravenously over 30 minutes at a dose of 50 mg/m². Chemotherapy was administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks rest. Cetuximab was administered once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. A cycle of treatment was 6 weeks.
Irinotecan/Docetaxelirinotecan hydrochlorideDocetaxel was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a dose of 35 mg/m². Docetaxel was diluted in 100-150 ml of infusion solution. After the completion of the docetaxel infusion, irinotecan was administered intravenously over 30 minutes at a dose of 50 mg/m². Chemotherapy was administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks rest. This constituted a cycle of treatment. Patients were evaluated after 2 cycles.
Irinotecan/DocetaxeldocetaxelDocetaxel was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a dose of 35 mg/m². Docetaxel was diluted in 100-150 ml of infusion solution. After the completion of the docetaxel infusion, irinotecan was administered intravenously over 30 minutes at a dose of 50 mg/m². Chemotherapy was administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks rest. This constituted a cycle of treatment. Patients were evaluated after 2 cycles.
Irinotecan/Docetaxel/CetuximabdocetaxelPatients received Cetuximab intravenously once a week for 6 weeks. On day 1 of cycle 1 only, an initial dose of 400 mg/m² (over 120 minutes) was administered. Thereafter, a once-a-week maintenance dose of 250 mg/m² (infused over 60 minutes), was given. The infusion rate never exceeded 5 ml/minute. On the day of the initial dose, the administration of Cetuximab was followed by the administration of docetaxel, after a 60-minute observation period. (The observation period was 30 minutes following maintenance doses.) Docetaxel was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a dose of 35 mg/m². Docetaxel was diluted in 100-150 ml of infusion solution. After the completion of the docetaxel infusion, irinotecan was administered intravenously over 30 minutes at a dose of 50 mg/m². Chemotherapy was administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks rest. Cetuximab was administered once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. A cycle of treatment was 6 weeks.
Irinotecan/Docetaxel/Cetuximabirinotecan hydrochloridePatients received Cetuximab intravenously once a week for 6 weeks. On day 1 of cycle 1 only, an initial dose of 400 mg/m² (over 120 minutes) was administered. Thereafter, a once-a-week maintenance dose of 250 mg/m² (infused over 60 minutes), was given. The infusion rate never exceeded 5 ml/minute. On the day of the initial dose, the administration of Cetuximab was followed by the administration of docetaxel, after a 60-minute observation period. (The observation period was 30 minutes following maintenance doses.) Docetaxel was administered intravenously over 60 minutes at a dose of 35 mg/m². Docetaxel was diluted in 100-150 ml of infusion solution. After the completion of the docetaxel infusion, irinotecan was administered intravenously over 30 minutes at a dose of 50 mg/m². Chemotherapy was administered once a week (days 1, 8, 15, 22) for 4 consecutive weeks followed by 2 weeks rest. Cetuximab was administered once a week for 6 consecutive weeks. A cycle of treatment was 6 weeks.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Proportion of Patients With Objective Response Evaluated by RECIST (Solid Tumor Response Criteria)Assessed every 12 weeks until progression

Per RECIST criteria, Complete response (CR)= disappearance of all target and nontarget lesions Partial response (PR)= \>=30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions from baseline, and persistence of one or more non-target lesion(s) and/or the maintenance of tumor marker level above the normal limits.

Objective response = CR + PR

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Progression-free SurvivalAssessed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 1 year

Progression-free survival was defined as the shorter of:

1. The time from registration to progression. or

2. The time from registration to death without documentation of progression given that the death occured within 4 months of the last disease assessment without progression (or registration, whichever is more recent).

Progression is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameters of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum longest diameter recorded since the baseline measurements, or the appearance of one or more new lesion(s) or unequivocal progression of existing nontarget lesions.

Overall SurvivalAssessed every 3 months for 2 years and then every 6 months for 1 year

Overall survival was defined as time from registration to death from any cause.

Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) StatusOriginal tumor tissue samples submitted within one month of patient randomization

EGFR expression was be evaluated by staining 5-micron paraffin sections of tumor biopsies with anti-EGFR clone 2-18C9 (DAKO Corporation, Carpinteria, CA) using an indirect immunoperoxidase technique according to the instructions provided by DAKO. In brief, this includes an antigen retrieval pretreatment, the blocking of endogenous peroxidase activity, incubation with anti-EGFR antibody or a negative reagent control, staining with a detection system, visualization, and coverslipping.

Proportion of Patients With Thromboembolic EventsAssessed every 6 weeks while on treatment and for 30 days after the end of treatment

To determine the rate of thromboembolic events in this population when prophylactic enoxaparin sodium is administered.

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