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Megestrol Acetate With or Without Pterostilbene in Treating Patients With Endometrial Cancer Undergoing Hysterectomy

Open-Label Randomized Phase II Trial of Megestrol Acetate With or Without Pterostilbene in Patients With Endometrial Cancer Scheduled for Hysterectomy

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03671811
Enrollment
44
Registered
2018-09-14
Start date
2019-01-21
Completion date
2027-02-28
Last updated
2026-06-03

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

Conditions

Atypical Endometrial Hyperplasia, Endometrial Carcinoma

Brief summary

This phase II trial studies how well megestrol acetate with or without pterostilbene works in treating patients with endometrial cancer undergoing hysterectomy. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as megestrol acetate, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Pterostilbene is an antioxidant found in blueberries or grapes, and it has been shown to be effective in killing tumor cells and reducing cancer burden. It is not yet known whether giving megestrol acetate with or without pterostilbene may work better in treating patients with endometrial cancer.

Detailed description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE: I. Determine the effect of megestrol acetate (MA) plus pterostilbene (PTE) versus MA alone on tumor proliferation (Ki-67) during the preoperative window in patients with endometrial cancer (EC) who are scheduled for hysterectomy. EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES: I. Determine the effect of MA plus PTE versus MA alone on histologic response during the preoperative window in patients with EC or endometrial complex atypical hyperplasia who are scheduled for hysterectomy. II. Explore biological characteristics of tumors to determine potential biomarkers which could select for treatment eligibility in future studies. OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms. ARM I: Patients receive pterostilbene orally (PO) twice daily (BID) and megestrol acetate PO BID for 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unaccepted toxicity. ARM II: Patients receive megestrol acetate PO BID for 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unaccepted toxicity. After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up at 6 weeks.

Interventions

DRUGMegestrol Acetate

Given PO

BIOLOGICALPterostilbene

Given PO

Sponsors

City of Hope Medical Center
Lead SponsorOTHER
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
CollaboratorNIH

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

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

Inclusion criteria

* Documented informed consent of the participant and/or legally authorized representative * Willing to undergo an intraoperative biopsy/or standard of care tissue collection during surgery, following completion of treatment with MA +/- PTE * Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0-2 * Histologically confirmed EC or complex atypical hyperplasia of the endometrium * Candidate for a total hysterectomy with or without bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy * About to initiate preoperative window period, with planned hysterectomy scheduled * Platelets \>= 100,000/mm\^3 * NOTE: Platelet transfusions are not permitted within 14 days of platelet assessment unless cytopenia is secondary to disease involvement * Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 X upper limit of normal (ULN) * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) =\< 1.5 x ULN * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 1.5 x ULN * Creatinine clearance of \>= 60 mL/min per 24 hour urine test or the Cockcroft-Gault formula * Women of childbearing potential: negative urine or serum pregnancy test in premenopausal women. Postmenopausal women do not need to undergo a pregnancy test. If the urine test is positive or cannot be confirmed as negative, a serum pregnancy test will be required

Exclusion criteria

* Pterostilbene supplements within 30 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy * Any of the following phytochemical-based supplements within 30 days prior to day 1 of protocol therapy: resveratrol, genistein, and quercetin * Chemotherapy for EC * Allergic reaction/hypersensitivity to similar agents, excipients * Unstable cardiac disease as defined by one of the following: * Cardiac events such as myocardial infarction (MI) within the past 6 months * NYHA (New York Heart Association) heart failure class III-IV * Uncontrolled atrial fibrillation or hypertensive emergency/urgency (defined as systolic blood pressure \>= 180 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \>= 120 mmHg) * Active or history of recent thromboembolism or stroke, within the past 6 months * Cushing's syndrome * Acute infection requiring systemic (intravenous) treatment * Known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection * Known active hepatitis B or C infection * Inability to swallow tablets/capsules * Any other condition that would, in the investigator's judgment, contraindicate the patient's participation in the clinical study due to safety concerns or compliance with clinical study procedures, e.g., infection/inflammation, intestinal obstruction, unable to swallow medication, social/ psychological issues, etc * Prospective participants who, in the opinion of the investigator, may not be able to comply with all study procedures (including compliance issues related to feasibility/logistics)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Tumor Ki-67 Proliferation IndexPre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeksKi-67 represents a specific nuclear marker for cell proliferation that is measured by staining with specific antibodies by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The Ki-67 proliferation index is defined as percent tumor cells staining positive, and measured on a continuous scale of 0-100%, with higher values indicating higher proliferation. Ki-67 hotspot values were assessed at two time-points during this study, prior to treatment with megace +/- pterostilbene (pre-treatment), and following completion of treatment (post-treatment). Descriptive statistics were used to compare treatment-associated percent change in Ki-67 proliferation index between the 2 study arms, using a 1-sided test with significance at p \< 0.05.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Histologic Response of Gland CellularityUp to 6 weeksThese histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). Gland cellularity will be assessed by counting the number of cells in one quarter of a high-power field (HPF) (average of 3 fields). The number of patients with an improvement in gland cellularity were compared between study arms.
Histologic Response of Mitotic IndexUp to 6 weeksThese histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The mitotic index will be calculated as the number of mitoses per HPF (average of 3 fields). The number of patients with an improvement in mitotic index were compared between study arms.
Histologic Response of MetaplasiaUp to 6 weeksThese histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The percentages of tumor that display squamous or mucinous metaplasia will be estimated as percentages, with \< 10% considered negative and \>= 10% as positive. The number of patients with an improvement in metaplasia were compared between study arms.
Histologic Response of Eosinophilic MetaplasiaUp to 6 weeksThese histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The number of patients with an improvement in eosinophilic metaplasia were compared between study arms.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Bcl-2 to Assess Tumor Growth and ApoptosisPre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeksImmunohistochemistry stains with antibodies directed against Bcl-2 will be performed on pre- and post-treatment endometrial samples. Samples will be scored on a continuous scale (0-100%) using the product of the intensity of cytoplasmic staining, and the proportion of cells staining based on the distribution of staining. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the percent change in scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment between the 2 study arms.
Immunohistochemical Expression of Casp3 to Assess Tumor Growth and ApoptosisPre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeksImmunohistochemistry stains with antibodies directed against Casp3 to assess apoptosis will be performed on pre- and post-treatment endometrial samples. Samples will be scored by counting the number of positive staining nuclei per HPF. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the percent change in scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment between the 2 study arms.

Countries

United States

Contacts

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORThanh H Dellinger

City of Hope Medical Center

Participant flow

Recruitment details

A total of 44 patients were accrued. Seven patients were not evaluable for various reasons: received \<10 days of study treatment (n = 5), disenrolled (n = 1), did not receive hysterectomy (n = 1). Consequently, 37 patients were randomized to treatment.

Participants by arm

ArmCount
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)
Patients receive 100mg pterostilbene BID and 80mg megestrol acetate PO BID for 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unaccepted toxicity. Megestrol Acetate: Given PO Pterostilbene: Given PO
19
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)
Patients receive megestrol acetate PO BID for 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unaccepted toxicity. Megestrol Acetate: Given PO
18
Total37

Baseline characteristics

CharacteristicArm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)TotalArm II (Megestrol Acetate)
Age, Continuous61.3 years61.9 years63.9 years
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
8 Participants16 Participants8 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
11 Participants21 Participants10 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 Participants4 Participants4 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants2 Participants2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants0 Participants0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants1 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants3 Participants1 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
17 Participants27 Participants10 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
19 participants37 participants18 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
19 Participants37 Participants18 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 / 190 / 18
other
Total, other adverse events
16 / 1915 / 18
serious
Total, serious adverse events
0 / 190 / 18

Outcome results

Primary

Tumor Ki-67 Proliferation Index

Ki-67 represents a specific nuclear marker for cell proliferation that is measured by staining with specific antibodies by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining. The Ki-67 proliferation index is defined as percent tumor cells staining positive, and measured on a continuous scale of 0-100%, with higher values indicating higher proliferation. Ki-67 hotspot values were assessed at two time-points during this study, prior to treatment with megace +/- pterostilbene (pre-treatment), and following completion of treatment (post-treatment). Descriptive statistics were used to compare treatment-associated percent change in Ki-67 proliferation index between the 2 study arms, using a 1-sided test with significance at p \< 0.05.

Time frame: Pre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeks

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Tumor Ki-67 Proliferation Index-26.7 percent changeStandard Deviation 34.1
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Tumor Ki-67 Proliferation Index-25.7 percent changeStandard Deviation 36.3
p-value: 0.9t-test, 1 sided
Secondary

Histologic Response of Eosinophilic Metaplasia

These histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The number of patients with an improvement in eosinophilic metaplasia were compared between study arms.

Time frame: Up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 36 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Eosinophilic Metaplasia9 Participants
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Eosinophilic Metaplasia5 Participants
Secondary

Histologic Response of Gland Cellularity

These histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). Gland cellularity will be assessed by counting the number of cells in one quarter of a high-power field (HPF) (average of 3 fields). The number of patients with an improvement in gland cellularity were compared between study arms.

Time frame: Up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 36 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Gland Cellularity13 Participants
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Gland Cellularity14 Participants
Secondary

Histologic Response of Metaplasia

These histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The percentages of tumor that display squamous or mucinous metaplasia will be estimated as percentages, with \< 10% considered negative and \>= 10% as positive. The number of patients with an improvement in metaplasia were compared between study arms.

Time frame: Up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 36 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Metaplasia8 Participants
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Metaplasia11 Participants
Secondary

Histologic Response of Mitotic Index

These histologic changes represent measures of growth and apoptosis, and will be separately scored in the pretreatment endometrial sample and the section of tumor from the hysterectomy (post-treatment sample). The mitotic index will be calculated as the number of mitoses per HPF (average of 3 fields). The number of patients with an improvement in mitotic index were compared between study arms.

Time frame: Up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 36 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Mitotic Index14 Participants
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Histologic Response of Mitotic Index14 Participants
Secondary

Immunohistochemical Expression of Bcl-2 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis

Immunohistochemistry stains with antibodies directed against Bcl-2 will be performed on pre- and post-treatment endometrial samples. Samples will be scored on a continuous scale (0-100%) using the product of the intensity of cytoplasmic staining, and the proportion of cells staining based on the distribution of staining. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the percent change in scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment between the 2 study arms.

Time frame: Pre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 33 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Immunohistochemical Expression of Bcl-2 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis2.1 percent changeStandard Deviation 5.2
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Immunohistochemical Expression of Bcl-2 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis1.2 percent changeStandard Deviation 4.4
p-value: 0.6t-test, 1 sided
Secondary

Immunohistochemical Expression of Casp3 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis

Immunohistochemistry stains with antibodies directed against Casp3 to assess apoptosis will be performed on pre- and post-treatment endometrial samples. Samples will be scored by counting the number of positive staining nuclei per HPF. Descriptive statistics were used to compare the percent change in scores from pre-treatment to post-treatment between the 2 study arms.

Time frame: Pre- and post-treatment up to 6 weeks

Population: Only 25 patients had data for this endpoint.

ArmMeasureValue (MEAN)Dispersion
Arm I (Pterostilbene, Megestrol Acetate)Immunohistochemical Expression of Casp3 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis-46.4 percent changeStandard Deviation 48.7
Arm II (Megestrol Acetate)Immunohistochemical Expression of Casp3 to Assess Tumor Growth and Apoptosis-8.8 percent changeStandard Deviation 79.7
p-value: 0.2t-test, 1 sided

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