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Research Study of IV Vitamin C in Combination With Irinotecan vs Irinotecan Alone for Advanced Colorectal CA

Phase I/II Study of Intravenous Ascorbic Acid in Combination With Irinotecan Versus Irinotecan Alone for Advanced Colorectal Cancer

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 1Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01550510
Enrollment
4
Registered
2012-03-12
Start date
2011-12-31
Completion date
2015-02-28
Last updated
2025-05-06

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

Conditions

Stage IV Colorectal Cancer

Keywords

Stage IV Colorectal cancer, Colorectal Neoplasms, Intestinal Neoplasms, Gastrointestinal Neoplasms, Digestive System Neoplasms, Neoplasms by Site, Neoplasms, Digestive System Diseases, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Colonic Diseases, Intestinal Diseases, Rectal Diseases, Ascorbic Acid, Vitamins, Irinotecan, Integrative Medicine, Complementary Medicine, Alternative Medicine Antioxidants, Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action, Pharmacologic Actions, Protective Agents, Physiological Effects of Drugs, Micronutrients, Growth Substances, Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic, Antineoplastic Agents, Therapeutic Uses, Radiation-Sensitizing Agents, Topoisomerase I Inhibitors, Topoisomerase Inhibitors, Enzyme Inhibitors

Brief summary

This protocol is a phase I/II, study of ascorbic acid (AA) infusions combined with treatment with irinotecan versus treatment with irinotecan alone in patients with recurrent or advanced colorectal cancer who have failed at least one treatment regimen with a 5-FU based therapy. This study will be conducted as an amendment to Investigational New Drug # 77486.

Detailed description

Phase I: To assess whether or not (IV) Ascorbic Acid (AA) with irinotecan therapy is relatively safe and well-tolerated. This aim will be assessed by enrolling a minimum of 6 subjects meeting inclusion criteria, using a modified 3+3 design. Safety will be assessed with the following: toxicity graded by the NCI CTC, urinalysis pre- and post-infusion, basic metabolic panel, and CBC. From our experience and in the experience of our study collaborators, we hypothesize that the combination of IV AA with irinotecan will not be associated with adverse events. Phase II: To utilize CT or PET/CT (when available) scans to evaluate disease progression to assess overall tumor response rate (complete and partial response) in subjects with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer treated with the combination of ascorbic acid and irinotecan versus irinotecan alone.

Interventions

DRUGAscorbic Acid

3x a week for 9 weeks

DRUGIrinotecan

350mg/m2 once a week every 3 weeks

Sponsors

Thomas Jefferson University
Lead SponsorOTHER

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

* Age \> 18 years * Metastatic colorectal carcinoma (stage IV disease). * Patients must have progressed on one or more prior chemotherapy treatment regimens including at least one trial of a 5-FU/oxaliplatin based therapy (FOLFOX) in combination with bevacizumab. Patients must not have had standard chemotherapy within at least 2 weeks of beginning ascorbic acid treatment provided that they have recovered from any toxicities that they experienced. * G6PD status \> lower limit of normal * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0 to 2. * Laboratory at baseline evaluation for inclusion in the study: creatinine ≤1.5X upper limit (if the creatinine is elevated, but ≤1.5X the ULN, a 24 hour creatinine clearance will be obtained); transaminase (AST/ALT) ≤2.0X upper limit of normal; bilirubin levels ≥ 2 mg/dL; ANC ≥1,500/mm3; Hemoglobin \> 8g/dL; platelet ≥ 100,000/mm3; * Women of childbearing potential will confirm a negative pregnancy test and must practice effective contraception during the study. * Willing and able to provide informed consent and participate in the study procedures.

Exclusion criteria

* Patients with evidence of a significant current psychiatric disorder that would prevent completion of the study as determined by the PI will not be allowed to participate. * Co-morbid medical condition that would affect survival or tolerance as determined by the PI. This includes patients who have not fully recovered from toxicities associated with prior therapy. It also includes subjects who, as determined by the PI, are at risk of experiencing fluid overload (i.e., congestive heart failure). * Patients who currently abuse alcohol or drugs. * Patients with known glomerular filtration rate of \<60ml/min or with nephrotic range proteinuria. * Pregnant or lactating women * Enrollment in active clinical trial/ experimental therapy or IND study within the prior 30 days. * Contraindication for CT or PET/CT as per the PI. * Patients who are on strong inducers of CYP3A4 which include but are not limited to: Aminoglutethimide, Bexarotene, Bosentan, Carbamazepine, Dexamethasone, Efavirenz, Fosphenytoin, Griseofulvin, Modafinil, Nafcillin, Nevirapine, Oxcarbazepine, Phenobarbital, Phenytoin, Primidone, Rifabutin, Rifampin, Rifapentine, St. John's wort.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants That Experience Serious Adverse Events as Defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0.9 weeks +/- 2 weeksSafety: The primary aim is to assess whether or not (IV) Ascorbic Acid (AA) with irinotecan therapy is relatively safe and well-tolerated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants That Are Alive After 11 Weeks.9 weeks +/- 2 weeksTo evaluate progression-free survival related to treatment of patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Ascorbic Acid+Irinotecan
Ascorbic Acid (50-100g, 3x weekly) Ascorbic Acid: 3x a week for 9 weeks
4
Standard of Care (Irinotecan Alone)
350mg/m2 once a week every 3 weeks
0
Total4

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicAscorbic Acid+IrinotecanTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
3 Participants3 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
1 Participants1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
4 Participants4 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
1 Participants1 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
4 participants4 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
3 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
1 Participants1 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 40 / 0
other
Total, other adverse events
2 / 40 / 0
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 40 / 0

Outcome results

Primary

Number of Participants That Experience Serious Adverse Events as Defined by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0.

Safety: The primary aim is to assess whether or not (IV) Ascorbic Acid (AA) with irinotecan therapy is relatively safe and well-tolerated according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0.

Time frame: 9 weeks +/- 2 weeks

Population: The study was closed early due to lack of accrual. The data were not collected or analyzed.

Secondary

Number of Participants That Are Alive After 11 Weeks.

To evaluate progression-free survival related to treatment of patients with advanced or recurrent colorectal cancer

Time frame: 9 weeks +/- 2 weeks

Population: The study was closed early due to lack of accrual. The data were not collected or analyzed.

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