Skip to content

Evaluate PKs and Efficacy Assessment of Palifermin in Patients With Sarcoma

A Phase II Study to Evaluate the Pharmacokinetics, Safety, and Obtain a Preliminary Efficacy Assessment of Palifermin in Patients With Sarcoma Receiving Multicycle Chemotherapy With Doxorubicin and Ifosfamide

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00267046
Enrollment
49
Registered
2005-12-20
Start date
2005-12-31
Completion date
2009-07-31
Last updated
2012-05-16

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Oral Mucositis, Sarcoma

Keywords

Sarcoma, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Oral Mucositis, Doxorubicin, Adriamycin, Ifosfamide, Palifermin, Vincristine, Cisplatin, Placebo

Brief summary

Primary: 1. To evaluate the preliminary efficacy of palifermin in reducing the incidence and severity of oral mucositis (OM) in patients with sarcoma receiving multicycle chemotherapy. 2. To evaluate the pharmacokinetics (PK) of palifermin when given pre chemotherapy. 3. To evaluate the safety profile of palifermin when combined with multicycle chemotherapy. Exploratory: 1. To evaluate the biologic effect of palifermin on oral mucosa. 2. To investigate potential biomarker development by biochemical analysis in blood cells, serum, and plasma. 3. To investigate the effects of genetic variation in mucositis genes, drug metabolism genes, and drug target genes on patient response to the treatment regimen.

Detailed description

Palifermin is similar to a protein keratinocyte growth factor (KGF) that is naturally made in your body in small amounts. The function of palifermin is to stimulate the growth of specific cells that form the tissue lining of your mouth and digestive tract. Damage to these cells results in the breakdown of the normal protective barrier that these cells usually provide, potentially resulting in infection. If you are eligible to take part in this study, you will be randomly assigned (as in the toss of a coin) to receive either palifermin or placebo by vein 3 days before each cycle of chemotherapy. This will be done for 18 weeks (a total of 12 injections). A placebo is a substance that looks like the study drug, but which has no active ingredients. The infusion time will last 15-30 seconds. At the beginning of the study, for every 3 patients who are enrolled on this study, 2 of the 3 will receive palifermin. Neither you nor the study doctor will know which study drug you are assigned to receive. Within 1 or 2 days before you receive your first dose of palifermin and between 48 to 72 hours after you receive your first dose of palifermin, additional non-invasive optical imaging procedures may be performed. The purpose of these imaging procedures is to evaluate the effects of palifermin on mucosa (mucosal thickness). The types of optical imaging that may be done include optical coherence tomography (OCT), fluorescence and reflectance spectroscopy, or confocal microscopy. The oral cavity will be inspected and photographed. A probe about the size of a pen will be placed on one or two sites of oral buccal mucosa. A beam of light will then be directed to the oral tissue and optical signals will be collected from each site. This will take about 1 minute for each site. Before using the probe for each new participant, it will be disinfected per standard practice. You will receive adriamycin with ifosfamide or cisplatin chemotherapy. Adriamycin will be given as a continuous infusion through your central venous catheter (CVC) for 3 days. Ifosfamide will be given intravenously (intravenously (IV)--through a needle in your vein) through your CVC over 3 hours, every day for 4 days. Mesna will be given as a 24-hour IV infusion through your CVC every day for 4 days through the same catheter. Mesna is used to protect against bladder-related side effects. For patients with certain types of sarcoma, vincristine will be given through the catheter by rapid infusion on Day 1 only. In patients with bone sarcoma, cisplatin will be given on the first day as IV or intra-arterial infusion over around 4 hours instead of ifosfamide. You will need to come in to M. D. Anderson every 3 weeks for about 4 to 5 months during the treatment period, unless your doctor decides you need to come in more frequently. At these visits, you will have your vital signs measured and routine blood tests (about 3 teaspoons each) will be performed. In addition, you may have your oral cavity examined and photographed before and after receiving the study drug. Every effort will be made to take photographs in which you cannot be identified. Additional blood samples (about 3 teaspoons) will be taken before each cycle and as frequently as needed to measure your blood count and other tests to monitor the drug side effects and treatment effects. By the end of the study, you will have given about 10 tablespoons of blood. This amount includes the optional blood draws should you choose to allow it to be drawn. You will be responsible for notifying study staff (at your doctors visits or over the phone with the study staff) of any side effects you experience or medications (over the counter or prescription) that you take during the treatment period. You will also be required to notify any other doctors (separate from the study doctors) you see that you are participating in this research study. If your anemia becomes severe while you are on study, then a transfusion may be recommended. If mucositis develops, the prohibited medicines can be allowed for treatment of the condition. If you experience an intolerable side effect while on study, you may be taken off study. If you leave the study early for any reason, your doctor will continue to follow your progress for 4 weeks and will access your medical records for a minimum of 1 year after the last dose of study drug (either palifermin or placebo) was given. At your end of study visit, you will be evaluated for your disease status with imaging studies \[computed tomography (CT) scans or magnetic resonance images (MRI)\] and your weight and vitals signs will be measured. You will report any medications you have taken since your last visit and any side effects or blood transfusion that you have had. You will also have a final blood draw (about 3 teaspoons) for routine tests. The total length of your involvement in this study is expected to be about 18 weeks (4 to 5 months).

Interventions

DRUGPalifermin

180 mcg/kg 3 days prior to chemotherapy

DRUGPlacebo

Single dose 3 days prior to chemotherapy

DRUGAdriamycin (Doxorubicin)

30 mg/m\^2 IV continuous infusion for 72 hours; days 0, 1, 2 (infusion completing on day 3) (total dose = 90 mg/m\^2).

DRUGIfosfamide

2.5 g/m\^2 IV bolus over 3 hours, days 0,1, 2, 3 (total dose = 10 g/m\^2); for patients receiving the AI Regimen.

DRUGVincristine

2 mg IV on day 0, for patients with small cell histology receiving the AI Regimen.

DRUGCisplatin

120 mg/m\^2 on day 0, for patients receiving the AP Regimen.

Sponsors

M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
15 Years to 65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Patients with sarcoma which is locally advanced, at high risk for relapse or metastatic for whom treatment with high dose doxorubicin (90 mg/m2) with ifosfamide (AI) or cisplatinum (AP) is indicated. 2. Patients (male and female) with childbearing potential (defined as not post-menopausal for 12 months, negative blood pregnancy test, or no previous surgical sterilization) must use adequate birth control. 3. Adequate hematologic (Absolute neutrophil count (ANC)\>/= 1500/mm\^3, \>/= Hgb 10gm/dL, platelet count \>/= 150,000/mm\^3), renal (serum creatinine \</= 1.5mg/dL), hepatic (serum bilirubin count \</= 1.5 \* normal and SGPT \< 3 \* normal) functions. 4. Karnofsky Performance Status \>/= 80. 5. Signed informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

1. Pregnant or lactating women. 2. Patients with comorbid condition which renders patients at high risk of treatment complication. 3. Patients with metastatic disease to CNS. 4. Patient has uncontrolled angina, congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association \> class II or known ejection fraction \< 40%), uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, acute myocardial infarction within 3 months or has uncontrolled hypertension. 5. Patient has an active seizure disorder. Patients with a previous history of seizure disorders will be eligible for the study, if they have had no evidence of seizure activity, and they have been free of antiseizure medication for the previous 5 years. 6. Prior surgery or radiotherapy (RT) within 2 weeks of study entry. 7. Prior treatment with palifermin, or other keratinocyte growth factors (eg, KGF-2). 8. Thirty days or less since receiving an investigational product or device in another clinical trial. Current enrollment in another clinical trial is not permitted unless the sole purpose of the trial is to obtain post-treatment data on the subject (eg, long-term follow-up or survival data). 9. Known sensitivity to any of the products to be administered during this study, including Escherichia coli-derived products. 10. Psychological, social, familial, or geographical reasons that would prevent scheduled visits and follow-up. 11. Patients with a history of pancreatitis.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Cumulative Incidence Rate of Oral MucositisWithin 6 blinded cycles (3-week cycles), up to 18 weeks.Cumulative incidence of World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 or \> mucositis (moderate to severe) in participants completing up to 6 blinded cycles. Rate defined as participants who had Grade 2 or \> divided by total number of participants who completed up to 6 blinded cycles. WHO Criteria of Grade 1: possible buccal mucosal scalloping with/without erythema; No ulcers; swallows solid diet. Grade 2: ulcers with or without erythema; swallow solid diet. Grade 3: ulcers with/without (extensive) erythema; swallow liquid, not solid diet. Grade 4: mucositis to extent alimentation not possible.
Median Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesWithin the first 2 blinded cycles (3-week cycles), up to 6 weeks.Median maximum score (0 to 10, with 10 being the worst) for participant-reported outcomes in the first 2 blinded cycles for Mouth Pain, Overall Mouth and Throat Soreness, and Rectal Soreness while median maximum score for Swallowing, Drinking and Eating Difficulty (0 to 4, with 4 being the difficult).

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Recruitment Period: 12/2005 to 02/2008. All recruitment done at UT MD Anderson Cancer Center.

Pre-assignment details

Of the 49 enrolled, one participant withdrew before assignment to groups.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Palifermin
Palifermin + Chemotherapy (AI or AP Regimen); AI = Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) + Ifosfamide: Palifermin 180 mcg/kg 3 days prior to chemotherapy; Adriamycin 30 mg/m\^2 intravenous (IV) for 72 hours starting Days 0 for total 90 mg/m\^2. Ifosfamide 2.5 g/m\^2 IV bolus Days 0-3 (total 10 g/m\^2); Vincristine 2 mg IV Day 0. AP=Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) + Cisplatin: Palifermin 180 mcg/kg 3 days prior to chemotherapy; Adriamycin 30 mg/m\^2 IV continuous infusion for 72 hours starting Day 0(total = 90 mg/m\^2); Cisplatin 120 mg/m\^2 on day 0.
32
Placebo
Placebo + Chemotherapy (AI or AP Regimen): AI = Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) + Ifosfamide: A single dose placebo 3 days prior to chemotherapy; Adriamycin 30 mg/m\^2 intravenous (IV) for 72 hours starting Days 0 for total 90 mg/m\^2. Ifosfamide 2.5 g/m\^2 IV bolus Days 0-3 (total 10 g/m\^2); Vincristine 2 mg IV Day 0. AP=Doxorubicin (Adriamycin) + Cisplatin: A single dose placebo 3 days prior to chemotherapy; Adriamycin 30 mg/m\^2 IV continuous infusion for 72 hours starting Day 0(total = 90 mg/m\^2); Cisplatin 120 mg/m\^2 on day 0.
16
Total48

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyChemotoxicity20
Overall StudyDisease progression42
Overall StudyOpen-label palifermin27
Overall StudyRadiation01
Overall StudySurgery31
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicPaliferminPlaceboTotal
Age, Customized42 years39 years42 years
Number of participants on two different chemotherapy regimens.
Number of participants on AI chemotherapy
30 Participant15 Participant45 Participant
Number of participants on two different chemotherapy regimens.
Number of participants on AP chemotherapy
2 Participant1 Participant3 Participant
Participants' Completion of 6 Blinded Cycles
Completed 6 Cycles
20 participants5 participants25 participants
Participants' Completion of 6 Blinded Cycles
Not Completed 6 Cycles
12 participants11 participants23 participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
32 participants16 participants48 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
15 Participants8 Participants23 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
17 Participants8 Participants25 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
31 / 328 / 16
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 320 / 16

Outcome results

Primary

Cumulative Incidence Rate of Oral Mucositis

Cumulative incidence of World Health Organization (WHO) grade 2 or \> mucositis (moderate to severe) in participants completing up to 6 blinded cycles. Rate defined as participants who had Grade 2 or \> divided by total number of participants who completed up to 6 blinded cycles. WHO Criteria of Grade 1: possible buccal mucosal scalloping with/without erythema; No ulcers; swallows solid diet. Grade 2: ulcers with or without erythema; swallow solid diet. Grade 3: ulcers with/without (extensive) erythema; swallow liquid, not solid diet. Grade 4: mucositis to extent alimentation not possible.

Time frame: Within 6 blinded cycles (3-week cycles), up to 18 weeks.

Population: Intention to treat (ITT).

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEAN)
PaliferminCumulative Incidence Rate of Oral MucositisCumulative incidence of WHO grade 2 or higher muco44 Percentage of Participants
PaliferminCumulative Incidence Rate of Oral MucositisCumulative Incidence of WHO Grade 3 or 4 Mucositis13 Percentage of Participants
PlaceboCumulative Incidence Rate of Oral MucositisCumulative incidence of WHO grade 2 or higher muco88 Percentage of Participants
PlaceboCumulative Incidence Rate of Oral MucositisCumulative Incidence of WHO Grade 3 or 4 Mucositis51 Percentage of Participants
p-value: <0.001Fine and Gray method.
Primary

Median Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded Cycles

Median maximum score (0 to 10, with 10 being the worst) for participant-reported outcomes in the first 2 blinded cycles for Mouth Pain, Overall Mouth and Throat Soreness, and Rectal Soreness while median maximum score for Swallowing, Drinking and Eating Difficulty (0 to 4, with 4 being the difficult).

Time frame: Within the first 2 blinded cycles (3-week cycles), up to 6 weeks.

Population: Intention to treat (ITT).

ArmMeasureGroupValue (MEDIAN)
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesOverall Mouth and Throat Soreness1 Units on a scale
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesDrinking Difficulty0 Units on a scale
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesEating Difficulty0 Units on a scale
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesMouth Pain1 Units on a scale
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesSwallowing Difficulty0 Units on a scale
PaliferminMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesRectal Soreness0 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesSwallowing Difficulty2 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesMouth Pain5 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesOverall Mouth and Throat Soreness5.5 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesRectal Soreness4 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesEating Difficulty2 Units on a scale
PlaceboMedian Maximum Score for Patient Reported Outcomes in 2 Blinded CyclesDrinking Difficulty1.5 Units on a scale

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 30, 2026