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Gemcitabine and Sorafenib in Advanced Biliary Tract Cancer (GEMSO)

A Randomized, Double-blind, Multicenter Phase II Trial With Gemcitabine Plus Sorafenib Versus Gemcitabine Plus Placebo in Patients With Chemo-naive Advanced or Metastatic Adenocarcinoma of the Biliary Tract

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT00661830
Enrollment
103
Registered
2008-04-18
Start date
2008-05-31
Completion date
2010-06-30
Last updated
2013-11-21

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

Conditions

Adenocarcinoma

Keywords

advanced, metastatic, biliary, tract

Brief summary

This trial will be conducted to evaluate the efficacy, safety and tolerability of a combination of gemcitabine plus sorafenib in comparison of gemcitabine plus placebo as a first-line palliative therapy in chemo-naive advanced or metastatic CCC. There is strong scientific rationale for exploring the role of sorafenib in combination with gemcitabine in advanced CCC. Sorafenib is a novel signal transduction inhibitor that prevents tumor cell proliferation and angiogenesis through blockade of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway at the level of Raf kinase and the receptor tyrosine kinases VEGF-R2, R3 and PDGFR-β. Mutations in these signaling pathways display by far the most common genetic alterations in CCC and overexpression correlates to poor prognosis. Furthermore, there is no evidence of a consistent or meaningful pharmacokinetic interaction between sorafenib and gemcitabine, suggesting that sorafenib can safely be combined with gemcitabine. Clinical results of a combination of sorafenib and gemcitabine in a phase I study in pancreatic cancer suggested a therapeutic effect, and the safety and efficacy results together with the knowledge of the molecular pathology of CCC provide a rationale for a randomized, placebo-controlled phase II trial consisting of gemcitabine plus sorafenib in advanced CCC.

Interventions

DRUGGemcitabine

Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 body surface i.v. first cycle at day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43. Next cycles at day 1, 8, 15.

DRUGPlacebo

Placebo

DRUGSorafenib

Sorafenib 400 mg bid orally continuously

Sponsors

Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz
CollaboratorOTHER
Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Trials (IZKS)
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
PD Dr Markus Möhler
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

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

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Male and female patients aged 18 years and older * Signed and dated informed consent before the start of specific protocol procedures * Adenocarcinoma of the gallbladder or intrahepatic bile ducts or histologically proven hepatic metastases of an earlier resected and histologically proven biliary tract cancer * Not amenable to curative surgical resection * With at least one unidimensionally measurable target lesion in non-irradiated (or treated by photodynamic therapy, PDT) area (largest diameter ≥ 1 cm (spiral CT scan or MRI) or ≥ 2 cm (conventional CT scan) * With pain and biliary obstruction controlled * Cytologically or histologically confirmed * Note : in case of uncertain biliary tract origin (e.g., intrahepatic CCCs), inclusion is possible if * extensive search for primary tumor (thoracic and abdomino pelvic CT scan, colonoscopy, upper digestive endoscopy, serum PSA level for men or mammography for women, and FDG-PET if possible) is negative * histological examination is consistent with bile duct adenocarcinoma, with IHC positive for cytokeratin 7 and 19 and negative for cytokeratin 20 \[Shimonishi, 2000\]. * No histological evidence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) * No prior palliative (radio)-chemotherapy (gemcitabine or fluoropyrimidine-based chemotherapy) * Note: * previous adjuvant chemotherapy is allowed (completed since ≥ 6 months if containing gemcitabine or platinum salts); * previous irradiation (external radiotherapy, brachytherapy, chemoembolization) and PDT are allowed, provided that there is at least one unidimensionally measurable target lesion in untreated area * Resolution of all side effects of prior surgical procedures to grade ≤ 1 (except for the laboratory values specified below) * At least 4 weeks from any major surgery (at first dose of study drug) * ECOG Performance Status of 0-2

Exclusion criteria

* Surgery (except diagnostic biopsy), external radiotherapy, brachytherapy, or PDT within 30 days prior to start of treatment. * Other tumor type than adenocarcinoma (e.g. leiomyosarcoma, lymphoma) or a second cancer except in patients with squamous or basal cell carcinoma of the skin or carcinoma in situ of the cervix which has been effectively treated. Patients curatively treated and disease free for at least 5 years will be discussed with the sponsor before inclusion * History of cardiac disease: congestive heart failure \> NYHA class 2; active CAD (MI more than 6 months prior to study entry is allowed); cardiac arrhythmias requiring anti-arrhythmic therapy (beta blockers or digoxin are permitted) or uncontrolled hypertension * Any of the following within the 12 months prior to starting the study treatment,: coronary/peripheral artery bypass graft, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, or pulmonary embolism * Ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of grade ≥ 2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, or QTc interval \> 450 msec for males or \> 470 msec for females * Hypertension that cannot be controlled by medications ( \> 150/100 mmHg despite optimal medical therapy) * History of HIV infection * Active clinically serious infections ( \> grade 2 NCI-CTC version 3.0) * Known Central Nervous System tumors including metastatic brain disease * Patients with seizure disorder requiring medication (such as steroids or anti-epileptics) * History of organ allograft * Patients with evidence or history of bleeding diathesis * Active disseminated intravascular coagulation, or patients prone to thromboembolism * Patients undergoing renal dialysis * Pregnant or breast-feeding patients

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression-free Survival (PFS)one yearThe primary endpoint is the progression-free survival (PFS) defined as the time from start of treatment to first documentation of objective tumor progression or to death due to any cause, whichever occurs first during treatment or follow-up period. For patients not known to have died as of the data cut-off date and who do not have objective progressive disease, PFS will be censored at the date of the last objective progression-free disease assessment. For patients who receive subsequent anticancer therapy (after discontinuation from the study drug) prior to objectively determined disease progression or death, PFS will be censored at the date of the last objective progression-free disease assessment prior to post-discontinuation anti-cancer therapy. Acceptable documentation of objective disease progression status consists of objective assessments using CT scan assessment method.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall Survivalone yearOverall Survival (OS) is measured from start of treatment to death due to any cause until end of follow-up period. Time to last observation will be used if a patient has not died and OS for the patient will be considered censored at the date of the last observation.
Best Overall Responseone yearBest Overall Response (BOR) is defined as the best tumor response (confirmed partial or complete response, stable disease) that is achieved during treatment or within 30 days after termination of active therapy that is confirmed according to the RECIST tumor response criteria. Best response is determined from the sequence of responses assessed. For complete response (CR) or partial response (PR), best response must be confirmed by a second assessment within 4 -6 weeks. Two objective status determinations of CR before progression are required for a best response of CR. Two determinations of PR or better before progression, but not qualifying for a CR, are required for a best response of PR. Best response of Stable Disease (SD) is defined as disease that does not meet the criteria of CR, PR or Progressive Disease (PD) and has been evaluated at least one time, at least 6 weeks after baseline assessment.
Time to Objective Responseone yearTime to Objective Response (OR) is defined as the time from start of treatment to objective tumor response (CR or PR) is first documented according to the RECIST tumor response criteria during treatment or until 30 days after termination of active therapy. Response must subsequently be confirmed. For subjects failing to achieve an objective response and who did not progress during the trial, time to objective response will be censored at their last date of tumor evaluation.

Countries

Germany

Participant flow

Recruitment details

First patient in was on 27MAY2008 Last patient out was on 20JUL2011

Pre-assignment details

Six patients were enrolled but never treated. 97 patients were treated with study drug.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Gemcitabine + Sorafenib
Gemcitabine + Sorafenib Sorafenib : Sorafenib 400 mg bid orally continuously Gemcitabine : Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 body surface i.v. first cycle at day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43. Next cycles at day 1, 8, 15.
49
Gemcitabine + Placebo
Gemcitabine + Placebo Gemcitabine : Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m2 body surface i.v. first cycle at day 1, 8, 15, 22, 29, 36, 43. Next cycles at day 1, 8, 15. Placebo : Placebo
48
Total97

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyDeath3733
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up13
Overall StudyOther reason15
Overall StudyWithdrawal by Subject11

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGemcitabine + SorafenibGemcitabine + PlaceboTotal
Age Continuous62.59 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 9.01
63.23 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 11.92
62.91 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 10.5
ECOG Performance Status
0
30 participants35 participants65 participants
ECOG Performance Status
1
17 participants8 participants25 participants
ECOG Performance Status
2
0 participants1 participants1 participants
ECOG Performance Status
3
0 participants0 participants0 participants
ECOG Performance Status
4
0 participants0 participants0 participants
ECOG Performance Status
Missing
2 participants4 participants6 participants
Grading of adenocarcinoma
1 (well differentiated)
2 participants0 participants2 participants
Grading of adenocarcinoma
2 (moderately differentiated)
23 participants30 participants53 participants
Grading of adenocarcinoma
3 (poorly differentiated)
20 participants13 participants33 participants
Grading of adenocarcinoma
4 (undifferentiated)
1 participants0 participants1 participants
Grading of adenocarcinoma
Missing
3 participants5 participants8 participants
Number of non-target lesions
1
23 participants16 participants39 participants
Number of non-target lesions
2
6 participants16 participants22 participants
Number of non-target lesions
3
6 participants8 participants14 participants
Number of non-target lesions
4
2 participants0 participants2 participants
Number of non-target lesions
5
1 participants0 participants1 participants
Number of non-target lesions
Missing
11 participants8 participants19 participants
Number of target lesions
1
18 participants17 participants35 participants
Number of target lesions
2
16 participants10 participants26 participants
Number of target lesions
3
4 participants9 participants13 participants
Number of target lesions
4
4 participants4 participants8 participants
Number of target lesions
5
4 participants7 participants11 participants
Number of target lesions
6
1 participants1 participants2 participants
Number of target lesions
7
2 participants0 participants2 participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
49 Participants48 Participants97 Participants
Region of Enrollment
Germany
49 participants48 participants97 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
20 Participants23 Participants43 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
29 Participants25 Participants54 Participants
Sum Sizes of target lesions89.17 mm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 56.29
95.02 mm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 54.07
92.06 mm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 54.07
Time since histological diagnosis158.86 days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 347.69
275.81 days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 748.51
216.73 days
STANDARD_DEVIATION 581.55
Type of Adenocarcinoma
Adeno carcinoma, gall bladder
6 participants7 participants13 participants
Type of Adenocarcinoma
Adeno carcinoma, hepatic metastases
10 participants12 participants22 participants
Type of Adenocarcinoma
Adeno carcinoma, intrahepatic bile ducts
33 participants29 participants62 participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
47 / 4946 / 48
serious
Total, serious adverse events
33 / 4935 / 48

Outcome results

Primary

Progression-free Survival (PFS)

The primary endpoint is the progression-free survival (PFS) defined as the time from start of treatment to first documentation of objective tumor progression or to death due to any cause, whichever occurs first during treatment or follow-up period. For patients not known to have died as of the data cut-off date and who do not have objective progressive disease, PFS will be censored at the date of the last objective progression-free disease assessment. For patients who receive subsequent anticancer therapy (after discontinuation from the study drug) prior to objectively determined disease progression or death, PFS will be censored at the date of the last objective progression-free disease assessment prior to post-discontinuation anti-cancer therapy. Acceptable documentation of objective disease progression status consists of objective assessments using CT scan assessment method.

Time frame: one year

Population: All subjects who receive at least one dose of trial treatment are included in the analysis.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Gemcitabine + SorafenibProgression-free Survival (PFS)91 days
Gemcitabine + PlaceboProgression-free Survival (PFS)148 days
95% CI: [0.811, 2.023]Regression, Cox
Secondary

Best Overall Response

Best Overall Response (BOR) is defined as the best tumor response (confirmed partial or complete response, stable disease) that is achieved during treatment or within 30 days after termination of active therapy that is confirmed according to the RECIST tumor response criteria. Best response is determined from the sequence of responses assessed. For complete response (CR) or partial response (PR), best response must be confirmed by a second assessment within 4 -6 weeks. Two objective status determinations of CR before progression are required for a best response of CR. Two determinations of PR or better before progression, but not qualifying for a CR, are required for a best response of PR. Best response of Stable Disease (SD) is defined as disease that does not meet the criteria of CR, PR or Progressive Disease (PD) and has been evaluated at least one time, at least 6 weeks after baseline assessment.

Time frame: one year

Population: All subjects who receive at least one dose of trial treatment are included in the analysis.

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Gemcitabine + SorafenibBest Overall ResponsePartial response4 participants
Gemcitabine + SorafenibBest Overall ResponseProgressive disease0 participants
Gemcitabine + SorafenibBest Overall ResponseStable disease24 participants
Gemcitabine + SorafenibBest Overall ResponseMissing21 participants
Gemcitabine + SorafenibBest Overall ResponseComplete response0 participants
Gemcitabine + PlaceboBest Overall ResponseMissing18 participants
Gemcitabine + PlaceboBest Overall ResponseComplete response0 participants
Gemcitabine + PlaceboBest Overall ResponsePartial response3 participants
Gemcitabine + PlaceboBest Overall ResponseStable disease27 participants
Gemcitabine + PlaceboBest Overall ResponseProgressive disease0 participants
Secondary

Overall Survival

Overall Survival (OS) is measured from start of treatment to death due to any cause until end of follow-up period. Time to last observation will be used if a patient has not died and OS for the patient will be considered censored at the date of the last observation.

Time frame: one year

Population: All subjects who receive at least one dose of trial treatment are included in the analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Gemcitabine + SorafenibOverall Survival255 days
Gemcitabine + PlaceboOverall Survival341 days
95% CI: [0.747, 1.927]Regression, Cox
Secondary

Time to Objective Response

Time to Objective Response (OR) is defined as the time from start of treatment to objective tumor response (CR or PR) is first documented according to the RECIST tumor response criteria during treatment or until 30 days after termination of active therapy. Response must subsequently be confirmed. For subjects failing to achieve an objective response and who did not progress during the trial, time to objective response will be censored at their last date of tumor evaluation.

Time frame: one year

Population: All subjects who receive at least one dose of trial treatment and had no progression during the trial are included in the analysis

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
Gemcitabine + SorafenibTime to Objective ResponseNA days
Gemcitabine + PlaceboTime to Objective ResponseNA days

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026