HOME  | CONTACT  | PATIENT LOGIN  | CLINIC LOGIN  | FAQ
  • PATIENTS &
    HEALTHY VOLUNTEERS
  • INVESTIGATORS
  • CROS / SPONSORS
  • CAREERS
  • TRIAL ALERTS

TRIALS SEARCH
      
  • HEALTH NEWS

  • RSS FEEDS

  • ABOUT TRIALS

  • LINK TO US


View Clinical Trial (Medical Research Study)


A Phase I/II Study of Radiation Therapy, Paclitaxel Poliglumex and Cetuximab in Advanced Head and Neck Cancer

Signup
Browse Studies

City:   Syracuse
State:   New York
Zip Code:   13210
Conditions:   Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
Purpose:   This study involves two phases. Phase I of this study is designed to find out the maximum dose of paclitaxel poliglumex which can be safely given to subjects when combined with cetuximab and radiotherapy in head and neck cancer. Once the maximum safe dose of paclitaxel poliglumex is found, Phase II of the study will continue to find out whether the addition of paclitaxel poliglumex increases tumor response and survival compared to treatment with cetuximab and radiotherapy alone.
Study Summary:   Patients with locally advanced (stage III and IV) head and neck cancer are often managed by radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy because most of them have unresectable tumor, require too extensive surgery, or are medically unfit to go through radical surgery. However, the treatment results from conventionally fractionated radiotherapy for locally advanced head and neck cancers are poor in terms of local control and survival. Therefore, combinations of radiation and chemotherapy have been studied to improve treatment results. Sequential radiation-chemotherapy (most given in neo-adjuvant setting) has been studied extensively in prospective pilot and large randomized trials. So far, a survival advantage over standard radiotherapy has not been demonstrated, but organ preservation has been achieved in many patients. Response rates to chemotherapy are high, and decrease in distant metastases has been demonstrated in some trials. Despite a high response rate in trials comparing neoadjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy to radiotherapy alone, improved locoregional control (LRC) has not been shown. Concurrent radiation and cisplatin-based chemotherapy has shown survival advantage over radiotherapy alone in meta-analysis. However, the administration of cisplatin-based chemotherapy is associated with significantly increased local and systemic toxic effects, which may preclude many patients from proceeding with combined therapy. Therefore, there is a great interest in defining an active regimen that does not contain cisplatin. An alternative approach to concurrent chemotherapy and radiotherapy has emerged with the development of molecular targeted agents. A recently reported randomized phase III study demonstrated improved duration of control of locoregional disease and overall survival with the addition of the antibody against the epidermal growth factor receptor, cetuximab, to definitive radiotherapy in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck. Importantly, cetuximab administration did not increase radiation-related toxicity. The most commonly used chemotherapy other than cisplatin chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced head and neck cancer is paclitaxel. There are many studies showing improvement of tumor control when paclitaxel was added to the radiotherapy. Paclitaxel poliglumex (PPX, CT-2103, Xyotax) is a macromolecule that consists of a biodegradable, water-soluble polymer of glutamic acid, a naturally-occurring amino acid, linked to paclitaxel. Preclinical studies suggest increased tumor uptake of PPX compared with paclitaxel, resulting in enhanced tumor cell kill. PPX may potentiate tumor radiocurability without affecting acute normal tissue injury. Moreover, a synergistic increase in tumor cell death was observed when paclitaxel poliglumex was administered with cetuximab in a preclinical tumor model. The proposed study will assess the rational combination of PPX with radiotherapy and cetuximab. This regimen is of great interest and has the potential to improve the therapeutic ratio compared with an approach of either cisplatin-based chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy and cetuximab. There is also an optional tissue submission component of this study, in which subjects who require surgery following their treatment can give permission for a block of tumor tissue removed at the time of their surgery to be sent to Cell Therapeutics, Inc. (the manufacturer of PPX) for evaluation of PPX accumulation, level of cathepsin B, and estrogen receptor expression. This information will be used to correlate the tumor response and survival of patients in the future.
Criteria:   Inclusion Criteria: - Patients with histological proof (from the primary lesion and/or cervical lymph node) of squamous carcinoma of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx, or unknown primary. - Patients should have stage III or IV disease - Patients must have ECOG Performance Status of 0-1 - Patients must be >/= 18 years of age - Patients must have measurable disease - Patients should have adequate bone marrow function defined as an absolute peripheral granulocyte count (AGC) of >/= 1500 cells/mm3, platelet count of >/= 100,000 cells/ mm3; adequate hepatic function with bilirubin </= 1.5mg/dl, AST and ALT </= 2x the upper limit of normal; serum creatinine </= 1.5mg/dl, creatinine clearance >/= 50 ml/min and INR 0.8 - 1.2 - Patients must sign a study specific informed consent form prior to study entry Exclusion Criteria: - Histology other than squamous cell carcinoma - Evidence of metastases (below the clavicle or distant) by clinical or radiographic examinations for phase II study subjects - History of malignancy other than non-melanoma skin cancer - Prior chemotherapy or anticancer biologic therapy for any type of cancer, or prior radiotherapy to the head and neck region except for radioactive iodine therapy - Prior history of allergy or hypersensitivity to cetuximab or paclitaxel - Weight loss > 10% in the past three months - Patients with uncontrolled intercurrent disease - Patients with currently active malignancy - Pregnant or lactating women - Female patients of childbearing potential who are unwilling to practice adequate contraception during study treatment and for two months after the last administration of study drug
NCT ID:   NCT00660218
Primary Contact:   Principal Investigator
Seung Shin Hahn, MD
State University of New York - Upstate Medical University

Dena R Martin, CRA
Phone: 315-464-5262
Email: martind@upstate.edu
Backup Contact:   N/A
Location Contact:   Syracuse, New York 13210
United States



There is no listed contact information for this specific location.

Site Status: Recruiting

Data Source:   ClinicalTrials.gov
Date Processed:   May 25, 2013
Modifications to this listing:   Only selected fields are shown, please use the link below to view all information about this clinical trial.
Click to view Full Listing


If you would like to be contacted by the clinical trial representative please enter your contact information, then click "I Am Interested In This Study"
First Name:  
Last Name:  
Email Address:  
Confirm Email:    
Daytime Phone (eg. 555-555-5555):  
City:  
State:
Zip Code:    
Best Time to Call:  
Questions/Comments:  
  • NEARBY STUDIES

Within 25 Miles

Within 50 Miles

Within 100 Miles

Pediatric Depression - Rochester NY

Arthritis - Endicott NY

Arthritis - Johnson City NY

Asthma (Ages 18-65) - Endicott NY

Asthma (Ages 18-65) - Corning NY

Anti-Depressant Induced Sexual Dysfunction - Rochester NY

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - Rochester NY

Brain Tumor (Glioblastoma) - Rochester NY

Low Back Pain and Constipation - Rochester NY

 
Clinical Connections Home | Investigators | CROs / Sponsors | Clinical Trials Notification | Search Clinical Trials | About Clinical Trials | Links | Terms And Conditions | Sitemap | Suggestions / Feedback
© 1998-2013 | All trademarks are property of their legal owners. | All Rights Reserved

ClinicalConnection.com is a resource that provides individuals with information regarding clinical trials that are being conducted worldwide.

ClinicalConnection.com does not conduct these clinical trials nor endorse them. Please consult your doctor or physician before participating.