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Tetracycline as a Prophylaxis for Rash in Patients With NSCLC Receiving Treatment With BIBW2992 (Afatinib)

Phase II, Open-label, Single Blind, Randomised Clinical Trial With Tetracycline as a Prophylaxis for Rash and Dermatological Recommendations Versus Dermatological Recommendations in Patients With NSCLC Receiving Treatment With BIBW 2992

Status
Completed
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01880515
Enrollment
107
Registered
2013-06-19
Start date
2010-12-31
Completion date
2014-11-30
Last updated
2025-05-11

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

Conditions

Lung Cancer, Skin Rash

Keywords

Lung cancer, BIBW 2992, Skin Rash, Tetracycline, Afatinib

Brief summary

1. Advanced NSCLC has a poor prognosis and the positive impact of chemotherapy is limited by the development of intrinsic and acquired resistance. 2. Over the past decade, less toxic agents such as the innovative targeted therapies, i.e. erlotinib or gefitinib, have the potential to improve the effectiveness and keep a good quality of life with a low toxicity 3. BIBW2992 (afatinib), an aniline-quinazoline, is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) irreversible inhibitor, and it has activity against erlotinib-resistant isoforms having mutations in EGFR and HER-2. 4. This molecule has shown benefits as a single agent in pre-treated patients who have progressed despite platinum-based chemotherapy, with a minimal toxicity compared to chemotherapy. 5. BIBW2992 is associated with adverse effects similar to those for erlotinib and gefitinib, such as rash and diarrhea. These symptoms can reduce the quality of life (QL) in patients and lead to inconsistent EGFR inhibitor dose administration 6. There is not a standard treatment for rash. However, case reports have tried to demonstrate the benefit in the treatment of these cutaneous injuries obtained with alcohol-free emollients, sunscreen with titanium dioxide or antibiotic (topic or oral) treatment regimens that include clindamycin or doxycycline, as well as anti-inflammatory drugs such as steroids and isotretinoin. 7. In order to reduce the incidence and severity of cutaneous toxicities, we will compare the prophylactic antibiotic treatment using tetracycline and general dermatological recommendations versus using only dermatological recommendations, in patients initiating the treatment with BIBW2992.

Detailed description

Case reports have tried to demonstrate the benefit in the treatment of rash obtained with: alcohol-free emollients used 2-3 times daily, sunscreen with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide with a skin protection factor (SPF) greater than 15, topic or oral antibiotic regimens (such as clindamycin, metronidazole, tetracyclines) when there is secondary infection as well as steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (betamethasone, triamcinolone) and isotretinoin. The objective of this project is to evaluate whether the prophylactic treatment with tetracycline can reduce dermatological toxicities such as rash, induced by the EGFR and HER-2 tyrosine kinase inhibitor BIBW 2992 in patients with non-small cell lung cancer.

Interventions

DRUGTetracycline

The experimental group will receive tetracycline 250mg every 12 hours for 1 month the same day at initiation of BIBW2992 whereas the non-intervention group will recieve general dermatological recomendations while on treatment with BIBW2992.

Sponsors

Instituto Nacional de Cancerologia de Mexico
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
SINGLE (Investigator)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Diagnosis of non-operable, locally advanced, recurrent or metastatic, histologically or cytologically documented non-small cell lung cancer (stage IIIB or IV). * Patients should have an evidence of measurable disease. * 18 years or older * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group - Performance Status 0-3 * At least 12 weeks of life expectancy * Patients with non-small cell lung cancer stages IIIB/IV who have received at least one cycle of platinum-based, first or second line systemic standard chemotherapy, and have a documented failure for this treatment. * More than 2 previous chemotherapy regimens are not allowed. The patients should have recovered from any toxic effect and at least 2 weeks should have elapsed from last dose before their entry (14 days for vinorelbine and other vinca alkaloids or gemcitabine). Patients who in the investigator's opinion are fully recovered from surgery for at least 4 weeks may also be considered for the study. Patients should have recovered from any severe toxicity (CTC \> 1) caused by any previous therapy. * Granulocyte count \> 1.5x 109/L and platelet count \> 100x 109/L. * Serum bilirubin \> 1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN) * AST and/or ALT \> 2 ULN (or \>5 x ULN when clearly attributable to presence of hepatic metastases). * Serum creatinine \> 1.5 ULN or creatinine clearance \< 60 mL/min * Capability to fulfill the study and follow-up procedures. * A negative pregnancy test should be obtained from all women of childbearing potential within 72 hours previous to therapy beginning. * Patients of reproductive potential should use effective contraceptive methods. * Written (signed) informed consent to participate in the study

Exclusion criteria

* Patients allergic to the antibiotic therapy used. * Any unsteady systemic disease (including active infection, uncontrolled hypertension, unsteady angina, congestive cardiac failure, hepatic, renal or metabolic disease). * A previous treatment using a systemic anti-tumor therapy with EGFR inhibitors (tyrosine kinase inhibitors). * Any other malignant pathology within 5 previous years (except for carcinoma in situ of cervix or basal-cell type skin cancer appropriately treated). * Patients with cerebral metastases or spinal marrow compression recently diagnosed and/or definitely surgery and/or radiation naïve-treatment patients are excluded. Those with previously diagnosed and treated metastasis to Central Nervous System (CNS) or spinal marrow compression, having an evidence of steady disease (clinically steady in imaging studies) are accepted for at least 2 months. * Any significant ophthalmologic abnormality, especially severe dry-eye syndrome, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, Sjögren's syndrome, severe exposure keratitis and any other disorder that may increase the risk for corneal epithelial injure. Contact lens use during the study is not recommended. The decision to continue to use contact lens should be discussed with the oncologist responsible for patient treatment and the ophthalmologist. * Patients who cannot take oral medication, requiring intravenous nutrition, who underwent previous surgical procedures affecting absorption, or with active peptic ulcer. * Nursing women.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Frequency of Participants Who Experienced Any Grade of Rash As Characterized By The Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.0Percentage of adverse events at week 8Sum of participants who experienced any grade rash according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.0, from the initiation of BIBW2992 compared to week 8.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Quality of Life (QoL)from baseline to 6 monthsA QoL questionnaire from European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) organization (Spanish version) will be performed at initiation of BIBW 2992 and then every month of follow-up until progression
Progression Free-survival24 weeks from baselineThe measure will be from the start of consumption to the first documented evidence of progression according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, or if patients still survive the measure will be made after 24 weeks
Progression Free SurvivalParticipants will be followed for the duration of the treatment, an average of 8 weeks.From the start of consumption of BIBW 2992 to the date progression or last follow up

Countries

Mexico

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Tetracycline
Patients will receive tetracycline 250mg every 12 hours for 1 month plus general dermatological recommendations Tetracycline: The experimental group will receive tetracycline 250mg every 12 hours for 1 month the same day at initiation of BIBW 2992
45
No Tetracycline
This arm only with general dermatologic recommendations. Patients in this arm can receive tetracycline after week 4 of assessment only if rash grade 3-4 occur
45
Total90

Withdrawals & dropouts

PeriodReasonFG000FG001
Overall StudyDisease Progression57
Overall StudyLost to Follow-up32

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicNo TetracyclineTetracyclineTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
33 Participants33 Participants66 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
12 Participants12 Participants24 Participants
Age, Continuous56.6 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14
57.5 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14
57.05 years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 14
Region of Enrollment
Mexico
45 participants45 participants90 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
33 Participants33 Participants66 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
12 Participants12 Participants24 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
— / —— / —
other
Total, other adverse events
0 / 450 / 45
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 450 / 45

Outcome results

Primary

Frequency of Participants Who Experienced Any Grade of Rash As Characterized By The Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.0

Sum of participants who experienced any grade rash according to the Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.0, from the initiation of BIBW2992 compared to week 8.

Time frame: Percentage of adverse events at week 8

Population: Forty five patients were assigned to receive reactive treatment; the other 45 received pre-emptive tetracycline.There were no differences among demographics, disease stage and dermatological baseline characteristics between treatment groups.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
TetracyclineFrequency of Participants Who Experienced Any Grade of Rash As Characterized By The Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.044.5 Percentage of Patients w/any grade rash
No TetracyclineFrequency of Participants Who Experienced Any Grade of Rash As Characterized By The Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Effects (CTCAE) V4.075.5 Percentage of Patients w/any grade rash
95% CI: [0.17, 0.99]
Secondary

Progression Free-survival

The measure will be from the start of consumption to the first documented evidence of progression according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, or if patients still survive the measure will be made after 24 weeks

Time frame: 24 weeks from baseline

Secondary

Progression Free Survival

From the start of consumption of BIBW 2992 to the date progression or last follow up

Time frame: Participants will be followed for the duration of the treatment, an average of 8 weeks.

Population: We estimated the progression free survival with the Kaplan Meier method, and comparisons among groups were performed with the log-rank test.

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
TetracyclineProgression Free Survival8.1 months
No TetracyclineProgression Free Survival12.3 months
p-value: 0.41Log Rank
Secondary

Quality of Life (QoL)

A QoL questionnaire from European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) organization (Spanish version) will be performed at initiation of BIBW 2992 and then every month of follow-up until progression

Time frame: from baseline to 6 months

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Mar 17, 2026