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Fermented Wheat Germ Extract in Women With Ovarian Cancer

A Pilot Randomized, Placebo-Controlled, Trial of Fermented Wheat Germ Extract in Women With Ovarian Cancer

Status
Terminated
Phases
Early Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02411565
Enrollment
3
Registered
2015-04-08
Start date
2016-03-01
Completion date
2018-01-08
Last updated
2019-01-23

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

Conditions

Ovarian Cancer

Keywords

epithelial, ovarian, fallopian tube, primary peritoneal carcinoma, peritoneal, ovary

Brief summary

The main purpose of this Pilot Study is to test the safety, tolerability and quality of life in women who take Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE), to determine if an active form of FWGE can be detected in the blood, and determine whether short-term therapy with FWGE has any effect on the tumor marker, cancer antigen 125 (CA-125).

Interventions

DRUGFermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE)

5.53 grams of FWGE combined with natural orange flavor and stevia Reb-A sweetener to create an instant drink mix, dissolved in 150 mL of water, orally once-daily, for 2 to 4 weeks.

DRUGPlacebo

Dried and pulverized, white and black rice, 5.53 grams, combined with natural orange flavor and stevia Reb-A sweetener, to create an instant drink mix, dissolved in 150 mL of water, orally once-daily, for 2 to 4 weeks.

OTHERStandard of Care: Planned Surgery

Participants will undergo their planned surgery during the 2nd to 4th week after entry into the study. However, if there are delays, patients can continue to take drug/placebo for a time period no greater than 2 months. If surgery has not occurred after this 2-month period, the patient will be removed from the study. Participants will take the study drug up until the day prior to surgery. The minimum amount of time on study drug is 2 weeks. A separate consent form will be obtained for the surgical procedure.

OTHERQuality of Life (QoL) Surveys: FACT-O

Quality of life questionnaire (FACT-O) at the time of enrollment, then weekly and the day of surgery.

Sponsors

H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Women with suspected epithelial ovarian, fallopian tube or primary peritoneal carcinoma scheduled to undergo surgical exploration with no prior treatment for the cancer. Signs of ovarian cancer include, but are not limited to: an elevated cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), a complex pelvic mass, ascites, and carcinomatosis. These signs are not necessary for suspicion or enrollment in this protocol. * Age \> 18 years and competent to give informed consent. * Must have a Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance status of 0, 1, or 2 and a life-expectancy of at least 60 days. * Adequate bone marrow function. * Adequate renal function. * Adequate hepatic function. * Participants must sign an approved informed consent and authorization permitting release of personal health information. * Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test prior to the study entry and be practicing an effective method of birth control during the course of the study, in a manner such that risk of failure is minimized.

Exclusion criteria

* Current use of FWGE * Known allergy to wheat, rice (contained in the placebo), orange or the sweetener, Stevia. * Potential participants who received neoadjuvant chemotherapy for ovarian cancer. * An upper gastrointestinal or other condition that would impair swallowing or absorption of oral medication. * Any serious illness or medical condition that would not permit the patient to be managed according to the protocol, including, but not to limited, any the following: History of significant neurologic or psychiatric disorder (e.g., uncontrolled psychiatric disorders) that would impair the ability to obtain consent or limit compliance with study requirement; Active uncontrolled or serious infection; Active peptic ulcer disease. * Uncontrolled hypertension defined as systolic greater than 180 and diastolic greater than 100.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Occurrence of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study TreatmentUp to 2 monthsAdverse events reported per treatment arm. An adverse event is the development of an untoward medical occurrence, undesirable medical condition, or recurrence or deterioration of a pre-existing medical condition subsequent to exposure to FWGE. This study will utilize the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0) for toxicity and adverse event reporting. Number of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study Treatment. All Adverse Events are listed, with causality noted in the Adverse Event section.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Quality of Life Scores Per Treatment ArmUp to 2 monthsFACT-O Quality of Life Score comparison per category and arm: Physical Well-Being; Social/Family Well-Being; Emotional Well-Being; Functional Well-Being; Additional Concerns. Score range for each question: 0 (Not at all) through 4 (Very much). High or Low Score could mean better or worse, depending on the wording of each group of questions. Investigators planned to analyze scores per treatment arm, in women who received Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE) (n=10) and those who received placebo (n=10). Drug manufacturing issues prevented investigators from completing the planned analysis.
Level of 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ)Up to 2 monthsInvestigators planned to perform Level comparison of 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ) in the serum of women receiving FWGE versus placebo for 20 participants.
Occurence of CA-125 ResponseUp to 2 monthsBiomarker-based response involves assessing the participant's longitudinal CA-125 values. The definition of CA-125 response is based on the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG 2005) criteria. CA-125 response was to be determined and compared between FWGE and placebo treated groups of 10 participants each.

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
Incidence of Changes in Tissue Proliferative Assays and Gene ExpressionUp to 2 monthsChanges in tissue proliferative assays and gene expression per treatment arm.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Recruitment details

Participants were enrolled at Moffitt Cancer Center March 2016 through February 2017.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE)
FWGE administration 2-4 weeks prior to planned surgery, + Quality of Life (QoL) Surveys: FACT-O
1
Placebo Administration
Placebo administration 2-4 weeks prior to planned surgery, + Quality of Life (QoL) Surveys: FACT-O
2
Total3

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicFermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE)Placebo AdministrationTotal
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
1 Participants0 Participants1 Participants
Age, Continuous63 years74.5 years70.6 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants0 Participants0 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
1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
1 participants2 participants3 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
1 Participants2 Participants3 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
EG001
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
0 / 10 / 2
other
Total, other adverse events
1 / 11 / 2
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 10 / 2

Outcome results

Primary

Occurrence of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study Treatment

Adverse events reported per treatment arm. An adverse event is the development of an untoward medical occurrence, undesirable medical condition, or recurrence or deterioration of a pre-existing medical condition subsequent to exposure to FWGE. This study will utilize the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.0 (CTCAE v4.0) for toxicity and adverse event reporting. Number of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study Treatment. All Adverse Events are listed, with causality noted in the Adverse Event section.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

Population: All participants.

ArmMeasureValue (NUMBER)
Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE)Occurrence of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study Treatment1 Adverse Events
Placebo AdministrationOccurrence of Adverse Events Probably Related to Study Treatment0 Adverse Events
Secondary

Level of 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ)

Investigators planned to perform Level comparison of 2,6-dimethoxy-p-benzoquinone (2,6-DMBQ) in the serum of women receiving FWGE versus placebo for 20 participants.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

Population: Drug manufacturing issues prevented investigators from completing the planned analysis.

Secondary

Occurence of CA-125 Response

Biomarker-based response involves assessing the participant's longitudinal CA-125 values. The definition of CA-125 response is based on the Gynecologic Cancer Intergroup (GCIG 2005) criteria. CA-125 response was to be determined and compared between FWGE and placebo treated groups of 10 participants each.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

Population: Drug manufacturing issues prevented investigators from completing the planned analysis.

Secondary

Quality of Life Scores Per Treatment Arm

FACT-O Quality of Life Score comparison per category and arm: Physical Well-Being; Social/Family Well-Being; Emotional Well-Being; Functional Well-Being; Additional Concerns. Score range for each question: 0 (Not at all) through 4 (Very much). High or Low Score could mean better or worse, depending on the wording of each group of questions. Investigators planned to analyze scores per treatment arm, in women who received Fermented Wheat Germ Extract (FWGE) (n=10) and those who received placebo (n=10). Drug manufacturing issues prevented investigators from completing the planned analysis.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

Population: Drug manufacturing issues prevented investigators from completing the planned analysis.

Other Pre-specified

Incidence of Changes in Tissue Proliferative Assays and Gene Expression

Changes in tissue proliferative assays and gene expression per treatment arm.

Time frame: Up to 2 months

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