A Phase I Trial of Cetuximab (C225) and Pemetrexed With Concurrent Radiation in Head and Neck Cancer
The purpose of this Phase I study is to determine the safety and effectiveness of two
chemotherapies drugs, Cetuximab and Pemetrexed (Alimta), when given in combination with
radiation therapy. Currently Pemetrexed is approved by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) for two other types of cancer, mesothelioma and lung cancer, but it is considered
investigational and is not approved by the FDA for head and neck cancer. Cetuximab is
approved by the FDA for the treatment of colorectal cancer; however, it is not yet approved
for head and neck cancer.
Pemetrexed is a drug that kills tumor cells by stopping cells from functioning normally. It
has been studied in thousands of subjects and has been shown to be effective at killing
tumor cells in many cancers, including head and neck cancer. In preclinical studies,
Pemetrexed showed such promising activity against a wide range of tumor types including
those mentioned above as well as breast, colon, and bladder cancers.
Cetuximab (also known as "C225" and "Erbitux") can increase the effectiveness of our
standard treatment with chemotherapy and radiation. Cetuximab is a type of drug known as a
monoclonal antibody. Monoclonal antibodies are used to try to destroy some types of cancer
cells while causing little harm to normal cells. They are designed to recognize specific
molecules that are on the surface of particular cancer cells. The monoclonal antibody
recognizes the protein and locks onto it. This may trigger the body's immune system to
attack the cancer cells and can sometimes make the cells destroy themselves. Cetuximab
targets the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), an important molecule for the growth of
cancer cells. The use of radiation therapy and Cetuximab has also been studied with good
results. We will find what effects (good and bad) Cetuximab has on you and your head and
neck cancer.
Both Cetuximab and Pemetrexed have been studied intensively to determine their
effectiveness.
In this study, we will find what effects (good and bad) Cetuximab and Pemetrexed, with
radiation; have on you and on your head and neck cancer. We will find out if the
combination of Cetuximab, Pemetrexed and radiation has better results than what we
ordinarily expect with radiation and chemotherapy. We will also find out if the side
effects are worse than those we usually see. In addition, we will test both blood and tumor
tissue and determine what effects Cetuximab has on these specimens. Finally, we will look
for "markers," or cancer identifiers, in your tumor cells and blood that may help to predict
what the best treatment is for head and neck cancer patients in the future.
Interventional
Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Safety/Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
To evaluate the maximum tolerated doses and dose-limiting toxicities of Pemetrexed and Cetuximab when given concurrently with radiation in poor prognosis subjects with head and neck cancer.
10 years
Yes
Julie E Bauman, MD
Principal Investigator
University of Pittsburgh
United States: Food and Drug Administration
05-005
NCT00291707
March 2006
January 2009
Name | Location |
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University of Pittsburgh | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261 |