Combining Erlotinib Plus Bevacizumab and Gemcitabine Plus Capecitabine to Treat Advanced Pancreatic Cancer — TARGET  

Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: A Phase I-II Dose Finding and Early Efficacy Study of Combination Therapy With Erlotinib (Tarceva), Gemcitabine, Bevacizumab (Avastin), and Capecitabine in Advanced Pancreatic Cancer

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

Pancreatic cancer is an aggressive, largely chemo-resistant disease with a poor prognosis. EGFR and VEGF are both overexpressed in pancreatic cancers and thought to contribute to tumour development and progression. The combination of gemcitabine and capecitabine has recently been shown to be effective in advanced pancreatic cancer. The combination of gemcitabine plus erlotinib has also been shown to be effective in advanced pancreatic cancer. The aim of this study is to assess whether combining a chemotherapy doublet (gemcitabine plus capecitabine) and a biologic doublet (erlotinib plus bevacizumab) is a safe and effective way to treat advanced pancreatic cancer by targeting multiple tumour stimulating mechanisms simultaneously.

Clinical Trial Description

To establish the safety and efficacy of a combination of four drugs (capecitabine, gemcitabine, erlotinib and bevacizumab) in the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer. The study will be divided into two parts:

Part A (Phase I ): Is to establish the optimal dose of capecitabine for combination with gemcitabine, bevacizumab and erlotinib. This part of the study is necessary in order to characterise any increased side effects that may occur as a result of this combination of drugs. The dose of capecitabine will be increased in cohorts containing 3 to 6 patients(according to standard dose escalation study design) whilst side effects are closely monitored. The doses of the other three drugs will remain fixed during this period:

• Gemcitabine: 1000 mg/m2 Days 1, 8, 15

• Bevacizumab: 5 mg/kg every two weeks iv

• Erlotinib: 100 mg/day orally

Maximum tolerated dose is the dose at which 2 out of a cohort of three to six patients experience dose-limiting toxicity within the first cycle (28 days) of treatment. The recommended dose for further evaluation will be one dose level below this.

Part B (Phase II): Once a recommended dose of capecitabine has been chosen, this will be used for the remainder of the trial to further characterise the efficacy and safety of the drug combination in this group of patients. ;

Study Design

Allocation: Non-Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Single Group Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Pancreatic Cancer
• Pancreatic Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT00260364
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 1/Phase 2
• Start date: November 2005
• Completion date: August 2011