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Gemcitabine Plus Ascorbate for Sarcoma in Adults

A Phase II Trial of Gemcitabine Plus High-Dose Ascorbate in Locally Advanced Unresectable or Metastatic Soft Tissue and Bone Sarcomas in Adults

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03468075
Enrollment
10
Registered
2018-03-16
Start date
2018-07-11
Completion date
2020-10-19
Last updated
2020-12-10

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

Conditions

Sarcoma, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Unresectable Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Metastatic Bone Tumor, Bone Sarcoma

Keywords

Sarcoma, Soft tissue, Ascorbate

Brief summary

This study will enroll patients who have a diagnosis of locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic soft tissue or bone sarcoma (except gastrointestinal stromal tumors and Kaposi's sarcoma) from any site.

Detailed description

This study will enroll male and female patients 18 years old or older who have a diagnosis of locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic soft tissue or bone sarcoma (except GIST and Kaposi's) from any site. A minimum of 1 prior chemotherapy regimen, including adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy for the treatment of sarcoma, must have been given. Patients eligible for an anthracycline should have received a prior anthracycline containing regimen. Patients who decline or are not eligible for anthracycline treatment may be considered for this protocol as a first line treatment. Patients with a diagnosis of liposarcoma should also have received eribulin. During screening, subjects will receive a test dose (15g) of ascorbate. If the test dose results in any toxicity \>/= CTCAE grade 3 or a significant medical event in the opinion of the principal investigator, the patient will be considered a screen failure. Subjects who pass screening will then receive ascorbate, 75g, on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 of a 28-day cycle. Gemcitabine will be administered on Days 1, 8 and 15, after the infusion of ascorbate. Concomitant treatment will continue for at least 6 cycles. Patients whose disease has not progressed while receiving gemcitabine and ascorbate and who are tolerating therapy may continue either single agent gemcitabine or concomitant treatment beyond 6 cycles at the discretion of the investigator. Treatment will be terminated with progression of disease. Disease will be assessed by CT of the chest, abdomen and pelvis or MRI of the lesion every 2 cycles for progression.

Interventions

Following 15g test dose, 75g administered on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 of a 28-day cycle

DRUGGemcitabine

Administered on Days 1, 8 and 15, after the infusion of ascorbate

Sponsors

University of Iowa
CollaboratorOTHER
St. Baldrick's Foundation
CollaboratorOTHER
Mohammed Milhem, MBBS
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

1. Male or female patients aged ≥ 18 years old 2. ECOG Performance Status of ≤ 2 3. Ability to provide written informed consent obtained prior to participation in the study and any related procedures being performed * Patients must meet the following laboratory criteria: * Hematology: * Neutrophil count of \>1500/mm3 * Platelet count of \> 100,000/mm3L * Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dL (transfusion to meet eligibility allowed) * Biochemistry: * AST/SGOT and ALT/SGPT ≤ 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) or ≤ 5.0 x ULN if the transaminase elevation is due to disease involvement * Alkaline phosphatase \< 5 x ULN * Serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x ULN or 24-hour creatinine clearance ≥ 50 ml/min * Total serum calcium \>/= LLN or if calcium is below LLN then corrected calcium for serum albumin should be \>/= LLN * Serum potassium ≥ LLN * Serum sodium ≥ LLN * Serum albumin ≥ LLN or 3g/dl 4. Tolerate a 15g ascorbate infusion (screening dose) 5. Baseline MUGA or ECHO done only in subjects with prior doxorubicin exposure. The test must demonstrate LVEF ≥ the lower limit of the institutional normal. 6. Women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days of the first administration of study treatment and must be willing to use two methods of contraception one of them being a barrier method during the study and for 3 months after last study drug administration 7. Any patient with the diagnosis of locally advanced, unresectable or metastatic soft tissue or bone sarcoma (except GIST and Kaposi's) from any site. A minimum of 1 prior chemotherapy regimen, including adjuvant and neo-adjuvant therapy for the treatment of sarcoma. Patients eligible for an anthracycline should have received a prior anthracycline containing regimen. Patients who decline or are not eligible for anthracycline treatment may be considered for this protocol as a first line treatment. Patients with a diagnosis of liposarcoma should also have received eribulin if they received anthracycline-based therapy prior to eribulin. Patients with a diagnosis of myxoid liposarcoma should have received trabectedin. Patients with angiosarcoma should have received either taxol or docetaxel. Patients must have measurable disease defined as at least 1 lesion ≥ 1cm in the greatest dimension. 8. Patients with metastatic bone sarcomas who have failed all available therapies that have demonstrated clinical benefit. Available therapies include but not limited to methotrexate, adriamycin and cisplatin for osteosarcoma and vincristine, adriamycin and Cytoxan, ifosfamide, etoposide (VAC/IE)for Ewing's sarcoma. 9. Previous exposure to Gemcitabine will only be allowed if there is no residual toxicity from previous treatments. Toxicity must be graded as 0 or 1 prior to study. 10. Patients must have had disease progression on or following their most recent treatment regimen or on presentation for the first time with locally advanced unresectable or metastatic disease.

Exclusion criteria

1. G6PD (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) deficiency 2. New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure (see Appendix E) 3. History of myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months prior to Day 1 4. History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to Day 1 5. Known CNS disease, except for treated brain metastasis: Treated brain metastases are defined as having no evidence of progression or hemorrhage after treatment and no ongoing requirement for dexamethasone, as ascertained by clinical examination and brain imaging (MRI or CT) during the screening period. Anticonvulsants (stable dose) are allowed. Treatment for brain metastases may include whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT), radiosurgery (RS; Gamma Knife, LINAC, or equivalent) or a combination as deemed appropriate by the treating physician. Patients with CNS metastases treated by neurosurgical resection or brain biopsy performed within 3 months prior to Day 1 will be excluded 6. Actively receiving insulin or requiring fingerstick glucose monitoring at time of ascorbate infusion (unless an exception is granted by the IND sponsor, medical monitor, and the PI). 7. Significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, requiring surgical repair or recent peripheral arterial thrombosis) within 6 months prior to Day 1 8. Evidence of bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy (in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation) 9. Pregnancy (positive pregnancy test) or lactation. Use of effective means of contraception (men and women) in subjects of child-bearing potential 10. Patients who are on the following drugs and cannot have a drug substitution: flecainide, methadone, amphetamines, quinidine, and chlorpropamide. High dose ascorbic acid may affect urine acidification and, as a result, may affect clearance rates of these drugs. 11. Other concurrent severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions 12. Patients who have received chemotherapy or any investigational drug \< 2 weeks prior to starting study drug or who have not recovered from side effects of such therapy. 13. Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days prior to Day 1 or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during the course of the study. 14. Concomitant use of any anti-cancer therapy or radiation therapy. Palliative radiation therapy to non-target lesions is permitted. 15. Male patients whose sexual partners are WOCBP not using a double method of contraception during the study and 3 months after the end of treatment. One of these methods must be a condom. 16. Patients with a history of another primary malignancy within 2 years other than curatively treated CIS of the cervix, or basal or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin 17. Patients with known positivity for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV); baseline testing for HIV is not required. High-dose ascorbate acid is a known CYP450 3A4 inducer, which results in lower serum levels of antiretroviral drugs. 18. Patients with any significant history of non-compliance to medical regimens or with inability to grant a reliable informed consent. 19. Patients with GIST tumors and Kaposi's Sarcoma are excluded. 20. Patients with history of more than one symptomatic oxalate stone in the last 6 months or visible stone in the kidney or ureter on screening CT scan.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tumor ResponseEvery 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatmentFrom first day of treatment to documented disease progression as described by RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results are provided in nominal categories (CR, PR, SD, PD) as per RECIST.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Progression Free SurvivalEvery 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatmentTime from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to documented disease progression or death due to any cause. Progression will be defined using the RECIST 1.1 guidelines. Results are provided in nominal categories (CR, PR, SD, PD) as per RECIST.
Overall SurvivalEvery 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatmentTime from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to death.
Incidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Up to 30 days after completion of study treatmentCategorize and quantify adverse events from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to end of study per (CTCAE) version 4.03.

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Gemcitabine + High-Dose Ascorbate
Subjects will receive ascorbate, 75g, on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 of a 28-day cycle. Gemcitabine will be administered on Days 1, 8 and 15, after the infusion of ascorbate. Concomitant treatment will continue for 6 cycles. Patients whose disease has not progressed while receiving gemcitabine and ascorbate and who are tolerating therapy may continue either single agent gemcitabine or concomitant treatment beyond 6 cycles at the discretion of the investigator. Ascorbate: Following 15g test dose, 75g administered on Days 1, 2, 8, 9, 15 and 16 of a 28-day cycle Gemcitabine: Administered on Days 1, 8 and 15, after the infusion of ascorbate
10
Total10

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicGemcitabine + High-Dose Ascorbate
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
0 Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
6 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
4 Participants
Age, Continuous68 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
1 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
9 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
8 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
10 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
6 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
4 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
6 / 10
other
Total, other adverse events
9 / 10
serious
Total, serious adverse events
2 / 10

Outcome results

Primary

Tumor Response

From first day of treatment to documented disease progression as described by RECIST 1.1 criteria. Results are provided in nominal categories (CR, PR, SD, PD) as per RECIST.

Time frame: Every 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateTumor ResponseSD1 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateTumor ResponsePR1 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateTumor ResponsePD8 Participants
Secondary

Incidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03

Categorize and quantify adverse events from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to end of study per (CTCAE) version 4.03.

Time frame: Up to 30 days after completion of study treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (NUMBER)
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Blood and lymphatic system disorders4 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Gastrointestinal disorders7 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Infections and infestations1 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Investigations43 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Metabolism and nutrition disorders2 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders1 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Psychiatric disorders1 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Renal and urinary disorders1 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Respiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders11 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders3 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03Vascular disorders2 adverse events
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateIncidence of Adverse Events (AE) Per CTCAE 4.03General disorders and administration site conditions7 adverse events
Secondary

Overall Survival

Time from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to death.

Time frame: Every 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateOverall SurvivalAlive5 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateOverall SurvivalDead5 Participants
Secondary

Progression Free Survival

Time from start of therapy (day 1, cycle 1) to documented disease progression or death due to any cause. Progression will be defined using the RECIST 1.1 guidelines. Results are provided in nominal categories (CR, PR, SD, PD) as per RECIST.

Time frame: Every 2 months for first 6 months, then every 3 months up to 2 years post treatment

ArmMeasureGroupValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateProgression Free Survival2 months7 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateProgression Free Survival3 months1 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateProgression Free Survival6 months1 Participants
Gemcitabine + High-Dose AscorbateProgression Free Survival9 months1 Participants

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