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Determine Safety & Recommended Phase 2 Dosing of Zeaxanthin Alone or in Combination w/Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Cancer

A Phase I Study to Determine the Safety and Recommended Phase 2 Dosing of Zeaxanthin Alone or in Combination With Pembrolizumab in Patients With Metastatic Solid Tumors

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05232409
Enrollment
72
Registered
2022-02-09
Start date
2022-04-17
Completion date
2026-03-31
Last updated
2023-04-20

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

Conditions

Cancer Metastatic, Metastatic Solid Tumor

Brief summary

The purpose of the research is to determine the highest dose of an oral compound called zeaxanthin that can be safely taken each day in patients with advanced cancer, the toxicity profile of zeaxanthin, and the dose of zeaxanthin to use in future cancer clinical trials.

Detailed description

The primary purpose of the study is to determine the safety and optimal dosing of zeaxanthin. Effects on tumor growth will also be looked at but as a secondary endpoint. This study will use a 3+3 design which means that 3 people will receive a certain dose of zeaxanthin and if well tolerated then the next group of people will receive a higher dose. This dose escalation will continue until the highest dose allowed by the study is reached, or a dose is found that is felt not to be safe. If at a given dose one of the three people develops a severe side effect, then three more people will be treated at that dose. If no additional severe side effects develop, then the dose escalation will continue. If two people at a given dose develop severe side effects, that dose will be considered dose limiting and escalation will stop. The doses of zeaxanthin will be based on weight starting with 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin per kilogram of body weight (mg/kg) followed by 4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and finally 8 mg/kg. If a dose level is found to be unsafe, then a new group of patients will be treated at the midpoint dose between the not tolerated dose and the last tolerated dose. Zeaxanthin is supplied as 50 milligram capsules and a person's dose will be rounded to the nearest 50 milligrams.

Interventions

BIOLOGICALZeaxanthin

The doses of zeaxanthin will be based on weight starting with 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin per kilogram of your body weight (mg/kg) followed by 4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and finally 8 mg/kg. If a dose level is found to be unsafe, then a new group of patients will be treated at the midpoint dose between the not tolerated dose and the last tolerated dose. Zeaxanthin is supplied as 50 milligram capsules and a person's dose will be rounded to the nearest 50 milligrams.

COMBINATION_PRODUCTZeaxanthin Plus Pembrolizumab

The doses of zeaxanthin will be based on weight starting with 2 milligrams of zeaxanthin per kilogram of your body weight (mg/kg) followed by 4 mg/kg, 6 mg/kg, and finally 8 mg/kg. If a dose level is found to be unsafe, then a new group of patients will be treated at the midpoint dose between the not tolerated dose and the last tolerated dose. Zeaxanthin is supplied as 50 milligram capsules and a person's dose will be rounded to the nearest 50 milligrams. The dose of pembrolizumab will be administered at a fixed dose of 400 milligrams intravenous every 6 weeks which is an FDA approved dosing schedule to treat cancer patients with pembrolizumab.

Sponsors

Valley Health System
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 99 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

for Dose escalation zeaxanthin monotherapy 1. Stage IV or unresectable stage 3 histologically confirmed solid tumor malignancy refractory to all standard therapies known to provide clinical benefit (unless the therapy is contraindicated or intolerable) in the opinion of the treating investigator for his/her tumor type. Subjects are not required to have received systemic therapies that have response rates under 20% with no associated survival benefit (for example DTIC chemotherapy and high dose Interleukin-2 in melanoma patients). 2. Age ≥ 18 years. 3. Performance status ECOG 0, 1 or 2 4. Adequate organ and marrow function as describe below: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcl * Total bilirubin \< 1.5 x the normal institutional limits excluding patients with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome * AST (SGOT)/ALT (SPGT) ≤ 3 x the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN) * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x the institutional upper limit of normal 5. Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 90 days following completion of therapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Recommended methods of birth control are: 1. The consistent use of an approved hormonal contraception (birth control pill/patches, rings), An intrauterine device (IUD), Contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera), Double barrier methods (Diaphragm with spermicidal gel or condoms with contraceptive foam), Sexual abstinence (no sexual intercourse) or Sterilization. 2. Men must agree to use a condom and not father a child or donate sperm for the duration of the study and for 90 days after completion of therapy A Female of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets at least one of the following criteria: 1. Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy 2. Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months). 6. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. 7. Measurable disease is not required but evaluable disease is required. 8. Life expectancy of at least 3 months

Exclusion criteria

for Dose escalation zeoxanthin monotherapy 1. Patients who have had chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 21 days prior to initiating study treatment or those who have not recovered to grade 1 or less from adverse events due to agents administered more than 21 days earlier excluding alopecia, gd 2 fatigue, gd 2 hearing loss from platinum agent, and endocrinopathies on stable replacement therapy. (Patients may not be receiving any other investigational agents or concomitant chemotherapy or radiation therapy. Hormonal therapy is not exclusionary.) 2. Patients with active brain metastases requiring palliation with steroids and not stable for at least 4 weeks post radiation therapy or surgery. 3. Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis 4. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to zeaxanthin. 5. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, unstable cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. 6. Patients with another primary malignancy not in remission for at least 3 years. Exceptions include nonmelanoma skin cancer, curatively treated localized prostate cancer with normal prostate specific antigen, low risk prostate cancer followed expectantly, stage I colorectal cancer resected, resected stage 1 breast cancer cervical carcinoma in situ on biopsy, melanoma in situ resected, or squamous intraepithelial lesion on PAP smear. 7. Patients must not be pregnant or nursing due to the potential for congenital abnormalities and the potential of this regimen to harm nursing infants. Women of child bearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test prior to the first dose of study treatment 8. Inability to swallow pills. Inclusion Criteria for dose escalation zeoxanthin plus pembrolizumab 1. Stage IV or unresectable stage 3 histologically confirmed solid tumor malignancy for which pembrolizumab is FDA approved and progressed on prior PD-1 or PD-L1 therapy and if indicated for cancer type refractory to all standard therapies known to provide clinical benefit (unless the therapy is contraindicated or intolerable) in the opinion of the treating investigator for his/her tumor type. Subjects are not required to have received systemic therapies that have response rates under 20% with no associated survival benefit (for example DTIC chemotherapy and high dose Interleukin-2 in melanoma patients). 2. Patients must have had symptomatic or radiographic progression during or following treatment with a PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor. This is defined as imaging obtained subsequent to initiation of PD-1 or PD-L1 inhibitor demonstrating a new lesion that is consistent with metastasis or growth of a preexisting metastasis which the treating physician felt reflected tumor progression and therefore discontinued the immunotherapy. . Symptomatic progression refers to development of worsening bone pain related to bone metastasis that cannot be accurately measured on imaging and for which the treating physician had discontinued the immunotherapy. 3. Age ≥ 18 years. 4. Performance status ECOG 0, 1or 2. 5. Adequate organ and marrow function as describe below: * Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mcl * Total bilirubin) ≤ 1.5 x normal institutional limits excluding patients with confirmed Gilbert's syndrome * AST (SGOT)/ALT (SPGT) ≤ 3 x institutional upper limit of normal * Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x the institutional upper limit of normal 6. Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for 90 days following completion of therapy. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Recommended methods of birth control are: 1. The consistent use of an approved hormonal contraception (birth control pill/patches, rings), An intrauterine device (IUD), Contraceptive injection (Depo-Provera), Double barrier methods (Diaphragm with spermicidal gel or condoms with contraceptive foam), Sexual abstinence (no sexual intercourse) or Sterilization. 2. Men must agree to use a condom and not father a child or donate sperm for the duration of the study and for 90 days after completion of therapy A Female of child-bearing potential is any woman (regardless of sexual orientation, having undergone a tubal ligation, or remaining celibate by choice) who meets at least one of the following criteria: 1. Has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy 2. Has not been naturally postmenopausal for at least 12 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 12 consecutive months). 7. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. 8. Measurable disease is not required but evaluable disease is required 9. Life expectancy of at least 3 months

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Zeaxanthin monotherapyUp to 20 weeks for each dosing cohortRecommended maximum tolerated dose Highest dose of zeaxanthin that does not cause dose limiting toxicity in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin
Zeaxanthin monotherapy (continued)Toxicities experienced within 28 days of zeoxanthin initiationRate of Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) Based on CTEP Active Version (version 5.0) of the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0) in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin
Zeaxanthin plus PembrolizumabUp to 20 weeks for each dosing cohortRecommended maximum tolerated dose Highest dose of zeoxanthin that does not cause dose limiting toxicity in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab
Zeaxanthin plus Pembrolizumab (continued)Toxicities experienced within 42 days of zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab initiationRate of Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) Based on CTEP Active Version (version 5.0) of the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE v5.0) in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Area under the curve (AUC) of zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumabPharmacokinetic (PK) sampling will be performed on Day 1, 2, 8, 15,22, 28, 56, 84Pharmacokinetics of zeaxanthin as measured by AUC
The disease control rate (DCR) in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus zeaxanthinWeek 8 and Week 24Percentage of patients with complete response, partial response, or stable disease according to RECIST v1.1 measured at 2 months and 6 months after initiation of zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab treatment
The progression free survival (PFS) for zeaxanthin in in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumorsUp to 24 monthsThe PFS rate for zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors as measured by RECIST v1.1
The progression free survival (PFS) for zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab in in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumorsUp to 24 monthsThe PFS rate for zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors as measured by RECIST v1.1
The maximal plasma concentration of zeaxanthin in patients treated with zeoxanthinPharmacokinetic (PK) sampling will be performed on Day 1, 2, 8, 15,22, 28, 56, 84To evaluate the effect of multiple doses of zeaxanthin on the steady state pharmacokinetics of zeoxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin
The maximal plasma concentration of zeoxanthin in patients treated with zeoxanthin plus pembrolizumabPharmacokinetic (PK) sampling will be performed on Day 1, 2, 8, 15,22, 43, 64To evaluate the effect of multiple doses of zeoxanthin on the steady state pharmacokinetics of zeoxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab
Area under the curve (AUC) of zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthinPharmacokinetic (PK) sampling will be performed on Day 1, 2, 8, 15,22, 28, 56, 84Pharmacokinetics of zeaxanthin as measured by AUC
The response rate (ORR) of zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors36 monthsThe ORR by RECIST v1.1 of zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors Duration of response: duration from date of initial attainment of CR or PR to date of progression, censoring at death or lost to follow-up Disease Control rate: percent of patients who develop CR, PR, or stable disease as best response as determined by RECIST v1.1 measured at 2 months and 6 months after initiation of study treatment Progression Free Survival: duration of time in months from the initiation of study treatment to date of progression, censoring at death or lost to follow-up.
The response rate of zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors36 monthsThe ORR by RECIST v1.1 of zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors
The duration of response (DR) in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin36 monthsThe DR by RECIST v1.1 of zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors
The duration of response in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab36 monthsThe DR by RECIST v1.1 of zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumab in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors
The disease control rate (DCR) in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthinWeek 8 and Week 24Percentage of patients with complete response, partial response, or stable disease according to RECIST v1.1 measured at 2 months and 6 months after initiation of zeaxanthin treatment

Other

MeasureTime frameDescription
On treatment biopsy for evidence of increased immune cell infiltration and vascularization to zeoxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumabUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in immune cell populations and CD31 vascularization between baseline and on treatment tumor biopsy specimens
On treatment percentage changes in immune cell composition in peripheral blood in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthinUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in the percentage of different immune cell populations between baseline and on treatment blood specimens
On treatment percentage changes in immune cell composition in peripheral blood in in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus pembrolizumabUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in percentage of different immune cell populations between baseline and on treatment blood specimens
Changes in blood transcriptome in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthinUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in PBMC samples obtained at baseline and on treatment with PBMCs subjected to bulk RNA sequencing
Changes in blood transcriptome in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthin plus zeaxanthinUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in PBMC samples obtained at baseline and on treatment with PBMCs subjected to bulk RNA sequencing
On treatment biopsy for evidence of increased immune cell infiltration and vascularization to zeaxanthin in patients with unresectable advanced solid tumors treated with zeaxanthinUp to 36 monthsMeasured by changes in immune cell populations and CD31 vascularization between baseline and on treatment tumor biopsy specimens

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactKathleen Sayles
ksayles@valleyhealth.com201-634-5792
Backup ContactRobyn Puso
rpuso@valleyhealth.com201-634-5792

Outcome results

None listed

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