Initial Assessment of the Effect of the Addition of Disulfiram (Antabuse) to Standard Chemotherapy in Lung Cancer

Phase 2

Completed

• Conditions: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

• Registration Number: NCT00312819
• Lead Sponsor: Hadassah Medical Organization

Brief Summary

Recent studies in laboratory animals demonstrate the ability of disulfiram to significantly inhibit the growth and metastasis of a mouse model of lung cancer. Work with cells in vitro support the idea that this inhibition is mainly due to the inhibition of angiogenesis - the formation of new blood vessels in the tumor. Furthermore, it was found out that the best effect has been obtained when disulfiram has been used not at the highest dose but at an optimal dose, which is smaller. Thus, this trial will assess the addition of disulfiram to chemotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLCA).

Detailed Description

Metastatic non small cell lung cancer remains a deadly disease with median survival times of several months. Any treatment which can prolong patients' survival without causing severe side effects is of course an important addition to our limited arsenal in the fight against this disease. A recent article by Marikowsky and colleagues extended significantly our knowledge regarding the possible activity of disulfiram (well known in its commercial name Antabuse) as an anticancer agent (Marikowsky et al Int J of cancer 97 :34 2002). In this article it was demonstrated that disulfiram has potent antitumor activity and that it can act as a significant inhbitor of angiogenesis.

Since disulfiram has been well tolerated by thousands of patients, and there are observations that anti angiogenic therapy enhances the effect of chemotherapy (for example bevacizumab in combination with chemotherapy in colon carcinoma) we decided to conduct a clinical trial assessing the effect of the addition of this drug at moderate doses to chemotherapy which is used as one of the standard therapies in lung cancer. In order to obtain information regarding the effect of the addition of this drug, only 50% of the patients will be treated with the drug and the rest will be treated with placebo.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2006-03
• Study First Submitted: 2006-04-10
• Study First Submitted QC: 2006-04-10
• Study First Posted: 2006-04-11
• Status Verified: 2009-02
• Primary Completion: 2009-12
• Study Completion: 2009-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2010-08-30
• Last Update Posted: 2010-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: Female
• Target Recruitment: 60

Inclusion Criteria

• Metastatic non-small cell lung cancer
• Previously untreated
• ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1
• Liver function tests within the norm

Exclusion Criteria

• Over 18
• Willingness to abstain from alcohol
• Not pregnant
• Without a psychiatric history

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
tumor response disease free survival survival	3 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
treatment tolerance
Clinical response

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Oncology Institute Meir Medical Center; 🇮🇱 Kfar Saba, Israel