Study of Curcumin, Vorinostat, and Sorafenib



Status:Not yet recruiting
Conditions:Cancer, Cancer
Therapuetic Areas:Oncology
Healthy:No
Age Range:Any
Updated:9/23/2012
Start Date:November 2012
Contact:David S. Hong, MD
Phone:713-563-1930

Use our guide to learn which trials are right for you!

Pilot Study of Curcumin, Vorinostat, and Sorafenib in Patients With Advanced Solid Tumors


The goal of this clinical research study is to learn the highest tolerable dose of the
combination of curcumin, vorinostat, and sorafenib that can be given to patients with
advanced solid cancer. The safety of this drug combination will also be studied.


The Study Drugs:

Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice, turmeric. It is a natural anti-inflammatory
compound and has shown anti-tumor activity in the laboratory and in clinical trials.

Vorinostat is designed to cause chemical changes in different kinds of proteins that are
attached to DNA (the genetic material of cells), which may slow the growth of cancer cells
or cause the cancer cells to die.

Sorafenib is designed to block the ability of important proteins to activate in cancer
cells. These proteins, when active, are in part responsible for the abnormal growth and
behavior of cancer cells. Blocking their activity may slow the growth of the cancer cells
or cause the cancer cells to die.

Study Groups:

If you are found to be eligible to take part in this study, you will be assigned to a dose
level of the study drug combination (curcumin, vorinostat, and sorafenib) based on when you
joined this study. Up to 9 dose levels of the study drug combination will be tested.

Three (3) to 6 participants will be enrolled at each dose level of the study drug
combination. The first group of participants will receive the lowest dose level of the
study drug combination. Each new group will receive a higher dose of the study drug
combination than the group before it, if no intolerable side effects were seen. This will
continue until the highest tolerable dose of the study drug combination is found.

The dose of the study drug combination that you receive may be lowered if you experience any
intolerable side effects. You will not receive any doses of the study drug combination
higher than the dose level that you are first assigned.

Study Drug Administration:

For the purposes of this study, a study drug "cycle" is 28 days long.

Starting on Day 1 of Cycle 1, you will begin taking curcumin 1 time daily.

Starting on Day 3 of Cycle 1, you will being taking vorinostat 1 time daily.

Starting on Day 5 of Cycle 1, you will begin taking sorafenib 1-2 times daily depending on
the dose level you are assigned to. From this day forward, you will continue to take the
study drug combination every day of each cycle.

Curcumin is a powder that comes in a paper packet, and you will take it by mouth with a full
glass of water (8 oz.). Vorinostat and sorafenib are capsules that you will take by mouth.
Vorinostat should be taken with food. Sorafenib should be taken without food. The capsules
should be swallowed whole. You should not break, chew, or open the capsules.

Baseline Tests:

The following tests and procedures will be performed within 7 days before the first dose of
the study drug combination (Day 1 of Cycle 1):

- You will have a physical exam, including measurement of your height, weight, and vital
signs (blood pressure, breathing rate, heart rate, and temperature).

- You will be asked how well you are able to perform the normal activities of daily
living (a performance status).

- Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

- Urine will be collected for routine tests.

- You will have an echocardiogram (ECHO) to check your heart function.

- Women who are able to become pregnant must have a negative blood (about 1 teaspoon)
pregnancy test. In order to continue your participation in this study, the pregnancy
test must be negative.

Study Visits:

Every week while you are receiving the study drug combination, blood (about 2 teaspoons)
will be drawn for routine tests.

Before you begin each cycle, the following tests and procedures will be performed:

- You will have a physical exam, including measurement of your weight and vital signs.

- Your performance status will be recorded.

- Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

- You will have an ECG.

- Urine will be collected for routine tests.

- You will be asked about any side effects you may be experiencing.

At the end of every 2 cycles (Cycles 2, 4, 6, and so on):

- You will have a chest x-ray, CT, MRI, and/or PET scan to check the status of the
disease. If the study doctor thinks it is more appropriate for you, additional types
of scans not listed in this consent form may need to be performed. The study doctor
will discuss these scans with you, and you may be asked to sign a separate consent form
that will explain the details and risks of those scans.

- If the study doctor thinks it is needed, blood (about 1 teaspoon) will be drawn to
measure tumor markers.

Length of Study:

You may remain on study for as long as the study doctor thinks you are benefitting from the
study drugs. You will be taken off study early if the disease gets worse, you experience
intolerable side effects, or the study doctor thinks it is in your best interest.

End-of-Study Visit:

Within 30 days after your last dose of the study drug combination, you will come back to the
hospital for an end-of-study visit and the following tests and procedures performed:

- You will have a physical exam, including measurement of your weight and vital signs.

- Your performance status will be recorded.

- Blood (about 2 teaspoons) will be drawn for routine tests.

- Urine will be collected for routine tests.

- You will be asked about any side effects you may be experiencing.

- If the study doctor thinks it is needed, you will have a chest x-ray, CT, MRI, and/or
PET scan to check the status of the disease. If the study doctor thinks it is more
appropriate for you, additional types of scans not listed in this consent form may need
to be performed. The study doctor will discuss these scans with you, and you may be
asked to sign a separate consent form that will explain the details and risks of those
scans.

- If the study doctor thinks it is needed, blood (about 1 teaspoon) will be drawn to
measure tumor markers.

This is an investigational study. Curcumin is a commercially available substance, which is
commonly used as a food additive. Curcumin is not FDA approved for the treatment of
advanced solid cancer. At this time, curcumin is only being used in research. Vorinostat
is FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of T-cell lymphoma. Sorafenib
is FDA approved and commercially available for the treatment of liver and renal cancer. At
this time, the combination of curcumin, vorinostat, and sorafenib is only being used in
research.

Up to 96 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Patients must have an advanced solid tumor that has either failed one or more prior
therapies or where there is no established standard of care therapy.

2. Patients must have Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 2 or
better (0-2).

3. Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: Absolute
neutrophil count (ANC) > 1,500/uL; Platelets > 100,000/uL; Total bilirubin within
normal limits (patients with Gilbert's syndrome must have total bilirubin < 3.0
mg/dL) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 2.5 x
the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN); Creatinine >/= 9.0 gm/dL; prothrombin time (PT)/ partial thromboplastin time (PTT) within normal
limits

4. Patients must be able to understand and be willing to sign an IRB-approved written
informed consent document.

5. Women of child-bearing potential (women who are not postmenopausal for at least one
year or are not surgically sterile) and men must agree to use adequate contraception
(e.g. barrier method) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation,
and for 30 days after the last dose.

6. Patients must be 18 years of age or older since the safety and dosages of these study
drugs has not been demonstrated in the pediatric population. However, patients who
are 13 years old or older and have more than 50 kg of body weight will be eligible
after consultation with their pediatric attending.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active
infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure (New York Heart Association (NYHA)
Class III or IV), unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic cardiac arrhythmia, active
bleeding, active thrombosis, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would
limit compliance with study requirements.

2. Inadequately controlled hypertension (defined as systolic blood pressure > 140 and/or
diastolic blood pressure > 90 mmHg on antihypertensive medications), any prior
history of hypertensive crisis or hypertensive encephalopathy, and history of
myocardial infarction or unstable angina within 6 months prior to study enrollment.

3. History of stroke or transient ischemic attack within 6 months prior to study
enrollment and significant vascular disease (e.g., aortic aneurysm, aortic
dissection) and symptomatic peripheral vascular disease.

4. Major surgical procedure, open biopsy, or significant traumatic injury within 28 days
prior to study enrollment or anticipation of need for major surgical procedure during
the course of the study. Minor surgical procedure, excluding placement of a vascular
access device, within 7 days prior to study enrollment.

5. History of abdominal fistula, gastrointestinal perforation, intra-abdominal abscess,
or GI bleeding within 6 months prior to study enrollment; or serious, non-healing
wound, ulcer, or bone fracture. Patients who have had a history of acute
diverticulitis, GI obstruction, abdominal carcinomatosis, or peptic ulcer disease
(known risks for bowel perforation) confirmed by endoscopy within the past 6 months,
will also be excluded.

6. Patients on therapeutic warfarin with history of deep vein thrombosis and/or
pulmonary embolism.

7. History of allergic reactions to the study drugs or their analogs.

8. Patients that have had any treatment specific for tumor control within 3 weeks of
study drug treatment or: a. within 2 weeks if cytotoxic agents were given weekly b.
within 6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C c. within 4 half-lives for targeted
agents with half lives and pharmacodynamic effects lasting less than 5 days (that
includes, but is not limited to, erlotinib, sorafenib, sunitinib, bortezomib, and
other similar agents) d. failed to recover from toxic effects of any therapy prior to
study entry

9. Urine for proteinuria >/= 2+ (patients discovered to have >/= 2+ proteinuria on
urinalysis at baseline should undergo a 24 hour urine collection and must demonstrate

10. Patients with insulin dependent diabetes or poorly controlled type 2 diabetes.

11. Inability to swallow oral medication.

12. Pregnant or breastfeeding women.

13. Concurrent enrollment on another research study.
We found this trial at
1
site
1515 Holcombe Blvd
Houston, Texas 77030
 713-792-2121
University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center The mission of The University of Texas MD...
?
mi
from
Houston, TX
Click here to add this to my saved trials