Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) as a Blood-based Tumor Marker in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

January 6, 2017 updated by: University of Kansas Medical Center

A Multicenter Pilot Study Examining the Role of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) as a Blood-based Tumor Marker in Patients With Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC)

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not CTCs can be detected in blood samples taken from patients diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. The purpose is to compare CTC analysis to tumor samples to look for differences.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Detailed Description

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is characterized by early dissemination through the blood system with the majority of patients succumbing to their disease in 9-11 months. Despite evaluation of multiple new agents a platinum doublet has remained the standard of care for over 25 years. We believe that the lack of understanding of the biology of SCLC has contributed to our failure to advance treatment and prolong survival. Tumor and blood biomarkers have been shown to be a powerful tool for increasing our understanding of the complex biology of cancer and determining prognosis and response to therapies. Currently, there are no validated biomarkers for response or to follow disease activity in SCLC. Detection of Circulating Tumor Cells (CTCs) is a laboratory technique that became available in the last few decades. Newer, more sensitive technology for the isolation and characterization of CTCs using a rare event imaging system with automated fluorescence microscopy known as CellSearch has demonstrated value in several cancers. CTCs detection by this system is approved as a prognostic biomarker in metastatic breast cancer, and as a tool to monitor disease in metastatic colorectal cancer and castrate resistant prostate cancer.

To date, only one publication has reported on the presence of CTCs in SCLC. These investigators used RT-PCR to amplify CK19 cDNA. CTCs were detected in 27% of patients. In our preliminary study using the CellSearch system we have detected 1 or more CTCs in 11/13 (84%) patient samples in various stages of their disease. Thus CTCs may be a promising biomarker but we need more studies. Thus, our first goal is to determine if CTCs in SCLC can predict response to chemotherapy, predict early relapse or function as a as a prognostic marker.

In addition, we will explore the feasibility of extracting genetic material from CTCs for genomic profile that could immensely help us unravel the complex molecular pathways and gene expression in SCLC, which ultimately will lead to novel drug development. Other investigators have shown that gene expression profiles for CTCs may be used to distinguish normal donor from advanced cancer patients and differentiate among different types of cancers.

In summary, SCLC kills 45,000 Americans each year. The treatment of SCLC has not changed since the introduction of cisplatin and etoposide during 1970s. Research in cancer biology has identified several genetic alterations that could be of therapeutic importance. Novel agents that target these genetic alterations are currently in development. Patient selection will be key in order to determine the activity of these agents. Understanding the biology of this disease is the key to successful interventions and personalizing therapy.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
25

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Kansas
      • Kansas City, Kansas, United States, 66160
        • University of Kansas Medical Centner
    • Nebraska
      • Omaha, Nebraska, United States, 68105
        • University of Nebraska & Omaha VA

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

Eligible patients will be approached during their regularly scheduled Cancer Center appointments.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Histological proof of small cell lung cancer with extensive stage disease and have been untreated.
  • Must be willing to give and sign informed consent.
  • Must be 18 years of age

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Less than 18 years of age.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Blood Draw

Approximately 1 and one-half teaspoons of blood will be drawn at times specified.

  • one sample prior to treatment initiation
  • one sample after completion of treatment
  • one sample every 6 to 8 weeks during follow up visits
  • one sample at the time of Relapse

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Subject samples will be used to determine the correlation between CTCs in SCLC patients, detected by CellSearch, with treatment outcomes, including response to chemotherapy, relapse, and survival
Time Frame: average 2 years
average 2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Blood samples will be used to examine the genomic profiles of CTCs and compare them to the original tumor specimen.
Time Frame: average 2 years
average 2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Kansas Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
VA Office of Research and Development
University of Nebraska

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
July 1, 2010

Primary Completion (ACTUAL)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 1, 2012

Study Completion (ACTUAL)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
March 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 27, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 30, 2010

First Posted (ESTIMATE)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 2, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (ESTIMATE)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 10, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
January 6, 2017

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
January 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • 12216 (Other Identifier: Company Internal)

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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