Docetaxel, Thalidomide, Prednisone, and Bevacizumab to Treat Metastatic Prostate Cancer

A Phase II Trial of Docetaxel, Thalidomide, Prednisone and Bevacizumab in Patients With Androgen-Independent Prostate Cancer

This is a Phase II study of docetaxel, bevacizumab, prednisone and thalidomide in patients with androgen independent metastatic prostate cancer who are previously untreated with chemotherapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine if the combination of docetaxel, thalidomide and bevacizumab is able to be associated with a sufficiently high proportion of patients with a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) response to be worthy of further investigation in metastatic prostate cancer. We will also be looking at multiple secondary endpoints. These will include possible pharmacokinetic interactions among the study agents, potential correlation between patient genotype and efficacy of treatment. We will also be looking for circulating tumor cells in blood before and after treatment. Additionally we will be monitoring the tolerability of the regimen and survival duration as endpoints as well. We hope to use this trial to build on the promising results seen in our thalidomide/docetaxel protocol where there was a significant PSA decline and a trend toward survival benefit.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Prostatic Neoplasms
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Docetaxel; Drug: Thalidomide; Drug: Prednisone; Biological: bevacizumab; Genetic: polymorphism analysis; Other: immunoenzyme technique; Other: laboratory biomarker analysis; Other: pharmacological study

Detailed Description

This is a Phase II study of docetaxel, bevacizumab, prednisone and thalidomide in patients with androgen independent metastatic prostate cancer who are previously untreated with chemotherapy. The primary objective of this study is to determine if the combination of docetaxel, thalidomide and bevacizumab is able to be associated with a sufficiently high proportion of patients with a PSA response to be worthy of further investigation in metastatic prostate cancer. We will also be looking at multiple secondary endpoints. These will include possible pharmacokinetic interactions among the study agents, potential correlation between patient genotype and efficacy of treatment. We will also be looking for circulating endothelial cells in blood before and after treatment. Additionally we will be monitoring the tolerability of the regimen, time to disease progression, and survival duration as endpoints as well. We hope to use this trial to build on the promising results seen in our thalidomide/docetaxel protocol where there was a significant PSA decline and a trend toward survival benefit.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 73
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Maryland
    • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
      • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: Male

Description

• INCLUSION CRITERIA:

Androgen-independent metastatic adenocarcinoma of the prostate defined as progressive metastatic disease while on gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or post surgical castration

Histopathological documentation of prostate cancer confirmed in the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Laboratory of Pathology at the National Institutes of Health, the Pathology Department at Walter Reed Medical Center or the Pathology Department at National Naval Medical Center, prior to starting this study. In addition, patients whose slides are lost or unavailable will be eligible for the study if they provide documentation of prostate cancer and if they meet criteria of clinically progressive prostate cancer as outlined in section 3.1.1.3.

Clinically progressive prostate cancer documented prior to entry. Progression must be documented by at least one of the following parameters:

• Two consecutively rising prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. The first rising PSA must be a minimum of one week from a reference value. It is recognized that PSA fluctuations are such that the confirmatory PSA value might be less than the previous one. In these cases, that patient would still be eligible provided the next PSA was greater than the first rising PSA value. Patients must have PSA greater than or equal to 5.0.
• At least one new lesion on bone scan.
• Progressive measurable disease.

Patients must have undergone bilateral surgical castration or must continue on GNRH agonist.

Those patients receiving an anti-androgen agent and are entering the trial due to a rise in PSA must demonstrate a continued rise in PSA 4 weeks after stopping flutamide and 6 weeks after stopping bicalutamide or nilutamide.

Patients may not have received any chemotherapy for metastatic prostate cancer

Age greater than or equal to 18 years

Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status less than or equal to 2

Life expectancy of greater than 3 months

Patients must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below:

Leukocytes- greater than or equal to 3,000/microliter

Absolute neutrophil count- greater than or equal to 1,500/microliter

Platelets- greater than or equal to 100,000/microliter

Hemoglobin- greater than or equal to 8.0g/L - transfusions acceptable

Total bilirubin- less than or equal to 1.5 times the institutional upper limits of normal

Aspartate aminotransferase (AST)serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase(SGOT) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT)serum glutamic pyruvic transaminase(SGPT) - less than or equal to 2.5 times the institutional upper limits of normal

Creatinine or Creatinine clearance- less than or equal to 1.5 times the institutional upper limits of normal or greater than or equal to 40 mL/min/1.73 m^2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal.

Recovered from any toxicity from surgery or radiotherapy

Must be willing to travel from their home to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for follow-up visits

Able and willing to follow instructions and conform to protocol.

Patients may have had no other active malignancy within the past 2 years with the exception of non-melanoma skin cancer and superficial bladder carcinoma

No history of myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, uncontrolled congestive heart failure (CHF) or uncontrolled angina pectoris

Patients must agree to use adequate contraception (abstinence; hormonal or barrier method of birth control) for the study and at least 2 months after completion.

Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Present clinical signs or symptoms of brain and/or leptomeningeal metastases confirmed by computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scan.

Uncontrolled, intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure (American Heart Association (AHA) Class II or worse), unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

Persistent systolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 170 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure greater than or equal to 100 mmHg.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-positive patients receiving combination anti-retroviral therapy are excluded from the study because of possible pharmacokinetic interactions with docetaxel, bevacizumab, and/or the combination.

Proteinuria, as demonstrated by a urine, protein, creatinine (UPC) ratio greater than or equal to 1.0 at screening, required to be assessed if urine dipstick is greater than or equal to 1+.

Urine protein should be screened by urine analysis for Urine Protein Creatinine (UPC) ratio. For UPC ratio > 0.5, 24-hour urine protein should be obtained and the level should be < 1000 mg for patient enrollment. Note: UPC ratio of spot urine is an estimation of the 24 urine protein excretion - a UPC ratio of 1 is roughly equivalent to a 24-hour urine protein of 1 gm. UPC ratio is calculated using one of the following formula:

• [urine protein]/[urine creatinine] - if both protein and creatinine are reported in mg/dL
• [(urine protein) x 0.088]/[urine creatinine] - if urine creatinine is reported in mmol/L

Therapeutic anticoagulation with coumadin, heparins, or heparinoids.

Greater than Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy at baseline.

History of transient ischemic attacks (TIA) or cerebrovascular accident (CVA) within the past 2 years.

History of allergic reaction to docetaxel, prednisone, thalidomide and/or bevacizumab or related products.

Patients who are on concurrent investigational agent(s)

Patients who are unable to ingest oral medication.

INCLUSION OF WOMEN AND MINORITIES

Men of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial. Every effort will be made to recruit minorities in this study. Women are ineligible for this study.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Main cohort - Prostate Cancer; Docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 intravenously over 60 minutes on cycle 1 day 1 repeated every 21 days. Thalidomide 200 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle. Prednisone 10 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle. Bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously on cycle 1 day 1 every 21 days.	Drug: Docetaxel; Docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 intravenously over 60 minutes on cycle 1 day 1 repeated every 21 days.; Other Names: Taxotere; Drug: Thalidomide; Thalidomide 200 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle.; Other Names: Thalomid; Drug: Prednisone; Prednisone 10 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle.; Other Names: Deltasone; Biological: bevacizumab; Bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously on cycle 1 day 1 every 21 days.; Other Names: Avastin; Genetic: polymorphism analysis; Two buffy coat tubes (two 7mL blue tiger top tubes) will be obtained and wrapped in foil when the patient enters onto the study. DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) will be isolated only for the purpose of genotype analysis of enzymes with putative relevance for docetaxel or thalidomide disposition.; Other: immunoenzyme technique; The PBMC (peripheral blood mononuclear cells) of patients will be analyzed pre-treatment and post cycle 2 for any changes in the function of regulatory T cells. The following analysis will be performed: flow cytometry analysis, CD4 CD25 T cell enrichment, and immunosuppression assay.; Other: laboratory biomarker analysis; Serum and urine samples will be collected at baseline and monthly to measure VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) levels.; Other: pharmacological study; Plasma concentrations of docetaxel and thalidomide will be determined to assess interactions between docetaxel (and thalidomide) and the concomitant therapy.The analysis will be performed using a validated method based on liquid chromotography with mass-spectrometric detection.
Experimental: Expansion cohort - Prostate Cancer; Docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 intravenously over 60 minutes and Bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously was given for 2 cycles. After two cycles Prednisone 10 mg by mouth daily and Thalidomide 200 mg by mouth daily was added.	Drug: Docetaxel; Docetaxel 75 mg/m^2 intravenously over 60 minutes on cycle 1 day 1 repeated every 21 days.; Other Names: Taxotere; Drug: Thalidomide; Thalidomide 200 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle.; Other Names: Thalomid; Drug: Prednisone; Prednisone 10 mg by mouth daily throughout the cycle.; Other Names: Deltasone; Biological: bevacizumab; Bevacizumab 15 mg/kg intravenously on cycle 1 day 1 every 21 days.; Other Names: Avastin

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants Who Had a Prostate-specific Antigen (PSA) Response	PSA response was assessed by the PSA Consensus Criteria. PSA decline is defined as a decline in PSA of at least 50% with no other evidence of disease progression.	21.6 months
Immune Response	Cellular immune response and cytokines were evaluated after two cycles of therapy in the expansion cohort. Those cycles included treatment with bevacizumab and docetaxel as a pre-medication.	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Participants With Adverse Events	Here is the number of participants with adverse events. For a detailed list of adverse events see the adverse event module.	37 months
Time to Progression Using Bubley Criteria	Time to disease progression was based on the Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) Working Group 1 Criteria (Bubley Criteria) and standard Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) for measurable disease. Per the criteria, investigators report at a minimum a PSA decline of at least 50% and this must be confirmed by a second PSA value 4 or more weeks later. Patients may not demonstrate clinical or radiographic evidence of disease progression during this time period.	up to 40 months
Disease Progression by Clinical and Radiographic Criteria Without the Use of Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA)	Clinical and radiographic response was measured by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) Criteria. Complete response (CR) is disappearance of all target lesions. Partial response (PR) is at least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter (LD) of target lesions. taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded since the treatment started or the appearance of one or more new lesions. Stable disease (SD) is neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD, taking s reference the smallest sum LD since the treatment started. Progressive disease (PD) is at least a 20% increase in the sum of the LD of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded or the appearance of one or more new lesions.	up to 34 months
Number of Participants Who Died After a Follow Up of 34 Months Following Treatment	From on study date to date of death at 34 months.	34 months
Plasma Concentrations of Docetaxel and Thalidomide and Clinical Activity or Toxicity	The analysis will be performed using a validated method based on liquid chromatography with mass-spectrometric detection.	Pre-dose on C1D1, 5 minutes before the end of infusion, and 15, and 30 minutes, and 1, 2,4,8, and 24 hours after the end of infusion
Number of Participants With a Significant Increase in Circulating Apoptotic Endothelial Cell (CAEC) Level	The assay utilized has no standard curve. Categorizing patients with ≥ 75% PSA decline in one group and < PSA decline in another group, every patient is their own control with comparison of CAEC at baseline vs. 6 weeks (after two cycles of treatment). Blood is drawn from the patient and a million viable mononuclear cells are counted and then it is determined how many CAECs are in the specimen. The cell count is then compared from baseline to post 2 cycles of treatment. Thus, "significant increase" is dependent upon this comparison and varies between patients.	Baseline and at 6 weeks (after two cycles of treatment)
Analyze the Patients Genotype With Regard to Cytochrome P450 2C19 Polymorphism and Correlate That With Pharmacokinetics and Efficacy	Single nucleotide polymorphisms in genes that play an important role in eliminations pathways for docetaxel (in the CYP3A4 and CYP3A5 genes) and thalidomide (CYP2C19) will be evaluated.	Patient entry onto the study
Usefulness of Dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) to Monitor the Progression of Bony and Soft Tissue Disease in Metastatic Prostate Cancer	Target lesions in the bone or soft tissues will be identified from the participant computed tomography (CT) scan. Dynamic MRI will be performed after the intravenous administration of 0.1 mmol/kg of Gadolinium chelate. Progression is defined by the RECIST criteria and is at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter (LD) of target lesions, taking as reference the smallest sum LD recorded since the treatment starts or the appearance of new lesions.	Baseline and at 3 month intervals until progression
Changes in the Molecular Markers of Angiogenesis (Including, But Not Limited to Serum and Urine Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF)) Before and After Administration of Docetaxel, Prednisone, Thalidomide and Bevacizumab		Baseline and monthly

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Ravi Madan, M.D., National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Horwitz SB. Taxol (paclitaxel): mechanisms of action. Ann Oncol. 1994;5 Suppl 6:S3-6.
• McDonnell TJ, Troncoso P, Brisbay SM, Logothetis C, Chung LW, Hsieh JT, Tu SM, Campbell ML. Expression of the protooncogene bcl-2 in the prostate and its association with emergence of androgen-independent prostate cancer. Cancer Res. 1992 Dec 15;52(24):6940-4.
• Berchem GJ, Bosseler M, Sugars LY, Voeller HJ, Zeitlin S, Gelmann EP. Androgens induce resistance to bcl-2-mediated apoptosis in LNCaP prostate cancer cells. Cancer Res. 1995 Feb 15;55(4):735-8.

Helpful Links

• NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 19, 2005
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 31, 2011
• Study Completion (Actual): January 9, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: August 6, 2004
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: August 6, 2004
• First Posted (Estimate): August 9, 2004

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 20, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: March 22, 2018
• Last Verified: March 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Prostate Cancer; Angiogenesis; Tumor; Hormones; Markers
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Neoplasms; Urogenital Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Genital Neoplasms, Male; Prostatic Diseases; Prostatic Neoplasms; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Glucocorticoids; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Angiogenesis Inhibitors; Angiogenesis Modulating Agents; Growth Substances; Growth Inhibitors; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Leprostatic Agents; Docetaxel; Thalidomide; Bevacizumab; Prednisone
• Other Study ID Numbers: 040257; 04-C-0257

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: No

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: Yes