GEM+Nab-Paclitaxel Plus Losartan Followed by Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer — OVERPASS  

Pancreatic Cancer Clinical Trial

Official title: Phase II Study of Gemcitabine Plus Nab-Paclitaxel in Combination With Losartan Followed by Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer: OVERPASS Trial

Status Recruiting

Clinical Trial Summary

Single-arm, prospective, phase II study to evaluate safety and activity of an induction therapy with Gemcitabine (GEM) and nab-paclitaxel plus Losartan followed by Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SBRT) in patients affected by Locally Advanced Pancreatic Cancer (LAPC).

Clinical Trial Description

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant disease presenting high mortality rates, with a 5-year survival of about 11%, partly because of its known resistance to Chemotherapy (CHT) and Radiotherapy (RT). Radiation therapy in locally advanced and borderline resectable pancreatic cancer improves only local control as demonstrated by 5 studies published from 1980 to 2011 and confirmed by the more recent LAP-07 trial, which investigated conventional RT after induction CHT with the same results.

Losartan was administered because it indirectly affects tumor microenvironment mechanisms of chemo- and radioresistance. PC cells, through transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and Angiotensin II activating signaling pathways lead to tumor microenvironment (TME) cells activation, like pancreatic stellate cells, which play a key role in chemoresistance. Angiotensin system and TGF-β increase and maintain the extracellular matrix, which acts as a barrier against drugs. Murphy et al. showed that Losartan administration during chemotherapy resulted in an effective decrease in plasma levels of TGF-β. Their unexpected successful results suggest that targeting not only tumor but also TME might be a novel treatment paradigm.

The purpose of this study is to prospectively evaluate the safety and activity, in terms of resectability rate, of GEM-nab-paclitaxel chemotherapy with concurrent Losartan followed by SBRT in patients with LAPC.

Secondary endpoints are margin-negative resection rate (R0), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), blood biomarkers response, safety and quality of life. A Carbohydrate antigen-19.9 (CA19.9) reduction ≥15% from baseline to the end of induction therapy and Carcinoma embryonic antigen (CEA) are tested as a reliable prognostic factor. ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Pancreatic Cancer
• Pancreatic Neoplasms

• NCT number: NCT05861336
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la cura dei Tumori
• Contact: Oriana Nanni
• Phone: +390543739266
• Email: oriana.nanni@irst.emr.it
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: Phase 2
• Start date: June 14, 2023
• Completion date: August 2029