Cytochlor and Tetrahydrouridine as Radiosensitizers and Cisplatin Combined With Radiation Therapy in Treating Patients With Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity (Mouth) or Oropharynx (Throat)

Head and Neck Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Translational Phase I Trial of Escalating Doses of 5-Chloro-2'-Deoxycytidine (CldC) With a Fixed Dose of Tetrahydrouridine Combined With a Fixed Dose of Cisplatin Concomitant With Definitive Radiation in Patients With Advanced Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity and Oropharynx

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Radiosensitizing drugs, such as cytochlor and tetrahydrouridine, may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Combining radiosensitizers with chemotherapy and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells.

PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of cytochlor when given together with tetrahydrouridine, cisplatin and radiation therapy in treating patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity (mouth) or oropharynx (throat).

Clinical Trial Description

OBJECTIVES:

Primary

• Determine the dose range of cytochlor to be used in phase II trials, based on safety, toxicity, and tissue selectivity, in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity or oropharynx.

• Determine the safety and toxicity profile of cytochlor, tetrahydrouridine, and concurrent radiotherapy followed by radiotherapy alone in these patients.

• Determine the percentage of cancer cells vs normal cells that incorporate cytochlor in the DNA of patients treated with this regimen.

• Determine the percentage replacement of thymine by 5-chlorouracil in tumors vs normal tissue of patients treated with this regimen.

Secondary

• Determine the tissue selectivity of this regimen in these patients.

• Determine the level of cytochlor and its metabolites within the serum and urine of these patients during combination treatment and before radiotherapy alone is initiated.

• Determine the pharmacokinetics of this regimen in these patients.

OUTLINE: This is an open-label, dose-escalation study of cytochlor.

Patients receive tetrahydrouridine IV over 5 minutes followed by cytochlor IV for 3 days on week 1 and 5 days a week on weeks 2-4 and cisplatin IV over 30-60 minutes once in weeks 2 and 5. Patients also undergo radiotherapy 5 days a week during weeks 2-7. Treatment continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of cytochlor until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose at which 1 of 3 or 3 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

Patients are followed at 1 month, monthly for 3 months, every 3 months for up to 1 year, every 4 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 1 year, and then annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 3-18 patients will be accrued for this study within 2 years. ;

Study Design

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

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Carcinoma
• Carcinoma, Squamous Cell
• Head and Neck Cancer
• Head and Neck Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00077051
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: University of Miami
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1
• Start date: April 2004
• Completion date: July 2007