Phase I-II Study to Evaluate Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic Interactions Between Capecitabine (XELODA) and Exisulind (APTOSYN) in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer


Phase 1/Phase 2
N/A
N/A
Not Enrolling
Both
Breast Neoplasms, Metastases, Neoplasm

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Trial Information

Phase I-II Study to Evaluate Safety, Efficacy and Pharmacokinetic Interactions Between Capecitabine (XELODA) and Exisulind (APTOSYN) in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer


Rationale for this study:

Capecitabine is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as 2nd or 3rd line
chemotherapy for patients with metastatic breast cancer who previously have failed both
anthracycline and taxane chemotherapy. Capecitabine produces objective tumor response of
around 20% with a median duration of response of 32 weeks in these patients (1). These
results indicate that improvements in the treatment of anthracycline and taxane resistant
breast cancer are needed. Exisulind (sulindac sulfone, FGN-1, APTOSYNTM) is a sulfone
metabolite of sulindac, a widely used nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) drug. Sulindac
sulfone lacks inhibitory activity on the two isoforms of cyclooxygenase, COX 1 and COX 2,
and is devoid of gastrointestinal and renal toxicity that is associated with NSAIDs.
Exisulind selectively stimulates programmed cell death in a variety of neoplastic cells
including colon, prostate, and mammary epithelial cells without affecting normal cells
(2,3). Exisulind inhibits the growth of breast cancer cell lines in vitro and also inhibits
chemically-induced mammary carcinogenesis in rats (4,5). The drug is also synergistic with a
diverse group of cytotoxic compounds including cisplatin, taxanes and retinoids (6).
Exisulind exerts its effects by inhibiting a novel phosphodiesterase that belongs to the
PDE5 family which specifically degrades cGMP (7). Inhibition of this enzyme results in a
rise in intracellular cGMP levels and leads to apoptosis through yet unknown mechanism.
Exisulind also inhibits transcription factor NF-kB (8). The NF-kB pathway is activated by
cellular stress including exposure to inflammatory cytokines, cytotoxic agents and oxidative
stress (9). It is believed that activation of NF-kB protects from cell death, therefore,
inhibition of this transcription factor may contribute to the proapoptotic, chemotherapy
potentiating effect of exisulind.

Exisulind selectively promotes apoptosis in neoplastic cells whereas chemotherapeutic drugs
induce programmed cell death in a non-selective manner. We hypothesize that combination of
the 2 drugs will increase response rates by selectively augmenting the cytotoxic activity of
chemotherapy. Furthermore, continuous maintenance treatment, between chemotherapy doses,
with a minimally toxic drug that selectively induces apoptosis of cancer cells may improve
response duration and ultimately may translate into improved survival and better quality of
life. Each drug alone has an established maximum tolerated dose in humans. However, the
combination of exisulind and capecitabine has not been tested. This phase I-II study is
proposed to test safety and efficacy of this combination in patients with metastatic breast
cancer.

Inclusion Criteria


Inclusion Criteria

Each patient must meet all these criteria in order to be considered for enrollment in the
Phase I study:

- Histologically confirmed breast cancer and either clinical, radiological or
laboratory evidence of metastatic disease.

- Patients must have received both anthracycline-containing and taxane chemotherapy
either as adjuvant treatment or therapy for metastatic breast cancer.

- There is no limit on prior chemotherapy regimens or hormonal therapies received.

- Concomitant bisphosphonate treatment is allowed for patients with bone metastases.

- Patients must have recovered from acute toxic effects of any prior therapy including
surgery and radiation.

- Zubrod performance status < 2. (See Appendix A)

- Adequate bone marrow function: platelets > 100,000/mm3, ANC > 1500 cells/mm3,
hemoglobin > 8g/dl.

- Normal renal function: creatinine < 2.0 mg/dl.

- Adequate liver function: Bilirubin < 1.5 mg/dL. Transaminases (SGOT) or LDH, and
alkaline phosphatase must be <1.5 x of the upper limit of normal in the absence of
bone or liver metastasis, or <2.5 x of the upper limit of normal in the presence of
radiologically apparent liver metastasis or bone metastasis, respectively.

- Female patients must be of non-childbearing potential or non-lactating and using
adequate contraception. Beta-HCG will be checked in premenopausal patients if
clinically indicated.

- Patients with brain metastases whose disease remained stable for more than 6 months
after completing therapy to the brain are eligible.

- Written informed consent.

In addition to the above, patients participating in the Phase II portion of this study:

Must have bidimensionally measurable or evaluable disease. Lytic lesions seen on plain
radiographs will be considered evaluable in conjunction with bone scan abnormalities.
Bone scan abnormalities alone, pure blastic bone metastases or irradiated lesions are not
considered measurable or evaluable and will not be accepted. Also, pleural or peritoneal
effusions will not be considered evaluable disease.

Exclusion Criteria

A patient must not be enrolled if any of the following criteria applies:

- Known hypersensitivity to sulindac (CLINORIL).

- Known hypersensitivity or contraindications to capecitabine (XELODAR) including prior
therapy with capecitabine.

- Clinical or laboratory evidence of significant liver disease.

- Concomitant treatment with cytotoxic agents other than capecitabine or participation
in any other investigational study.

- Uncontrolled psychiatric, or social (addictive) disorders that would preclude
obtaining informed consent or patient participation in the study.

Type of Study:

Interventional

Study Design:

Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Outcome Measure:

Response Rate

Outcome Time Frame:

Blood tests done every week for first 6 weeks.

Safety Issue:

No

Principal Investigator

Lajos Pusztai, MD, DPHIL

Investigator Role:

Study Chair

Investigator Affiliation:

UT MD Anderson Cancer Center

Authority:

United States: Food and Drug Administration

Study ID:

ID00-049

NCT ID:

NCT00037609

Start Date:

January 2001

Completion Date:

February 2003

Related Keywords:

  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Metastases, Neoplasm
  • Metastatic breast cancer
  • Breast Neoplasms
  • Neoplasms
  • Neoplasm Metastasis

Name

Location
University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center Houston, Texas  77030