Colorectal Cancer
Conditions
Keywords
Vitamin D, Vitamin D3, colon cancer, rectal cancer, Cholecalciferol
Brief summary
The purpose of this study is to investigate the therapeutic effect and the safety of high-dose vitamin D supplementation in metastatic colorectal cancer patients. We propose to supplement metastatic (stage 4) colorectal cancer patients with oral doses of vitamin D to raise serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D \[25(OH)D\] levels to the high normal range of 200-250 nmol/L. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the metabolic consequences, including tolerability and toxicity, of prolonged, high-dose physiological vitamin D in patients with colorectal cancer. The secondary objective is to evaluate patient survival with regards to high-dose vitamin D supplementation. Hypothesis: Whereas low doses of vitamin D reportedly play a significant role in prevention of colorectal cancers, do much larger (pharmacological) doses of vitamin D have a significant therapeutic effect against the same kind of cancer?
Detailed description
Metastatic (stage 4) colorectal cancer patients who were randomly assigned to the treatment arm of this study will be orally supplemented with high doses of vitamin D to achieve serum 25(OH)D concentrations of 200-250 nmol/L (80-100 ng/ml). Therefore, the supplementation dosage is not pre-set but will be determined on an individual basis. Vitamin D supplementation will be continued for 16 months, followed by a 12 month follow up period. Monthly monitoring of serum 25(OH)D and calcium levels will assure the safety of our treatment protocol. Subjects in the control arm of the study will be receiving standard cancer care at InspireHealth that includes supplementation with at least 2,000 International Units of vitamin D.
Interventions
DRUGVitamin D
We propose to study high-dose, oral vitamin D supplementation, raising serum 25-hydroxy-vitamin D (25(OH)D) concentrations to 200 -250 nmol/L, in metastatic colorectal cancer patients with safety, tolerability and survival as the main outcome measurements. The dose is not pre-set and will depend on the individual subjects' serum 25(OH)D concentration. Subjects will be supplemented for 16 months with a daily oral dose, followed by a 12 months follow-up period.
Sponsors
Lotte & John Hecht Memorial Foundation
University of British Columbia
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
(We will recruit stage 4 (metastatic) colorectal cancer patients who are clients at InspireHealth): * Age \> 18 * Histologically confirmed colon or rectal cancer * Known metastatic disease (stage-4) confirmed histologically or radiologically * Life expectancy of \>8 months * May receive anti-neoplastic therapy at the discretion of their physician * Stable metastatic disease defined as no change in systemic for the month before and the month after commencing study * Signed informed consent
Exclusion criteria
(Stage 4 colorectal cancer patients): * Pregnant / lactating women * Known hypersensitivity to vitamin D * Pre-existing renal stone disease based on history * Pre-existing hypercalcemia * Severe renal or hepatic dysfunction (≥ 2x of the upper normal range) * granulomatous disease (TB and sarcoid) * unable to give informed consent in English (translations of study documents in languages other than English will not be provided)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| The metabolic consequences, including tolerability and toxicity, of prolonged, high-dose physiological vitamin D in patients with colorectal cancer. | After 16 months of intervention |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame |
|---|---|
| Patient survival with regards to high-dose vitamin D supplementation. | After 16 months of intervention |
Countries
Canada
Outcome results
None listed