A Research Trial of High Dose Vitamin C and Chemotherapy for Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

April 19, 2017 updated by: Joseph J. Cullen

A Phase I Trial of Ascorbic Acid and Gemcitabine for the Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This study is designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of vitamin C when given with a standard chemotherapy for people who have metastatic pancreatic cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This is a phase I, dose-escalating study of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose of vitamin C or, if well tolerated, the dose required to obtain a desired ascorbic acid plasma concentration.

Because this is a phase I study, prospective subjects should have advanced disease (i.e., metastasis) and have failed other curative therapies (or, are unable to receive curative therapies due to comorbidities or stage of disease).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

15

Phase

  • Phase 1

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
    • Iowa
      • Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
        • The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

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

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Normal G6PD status
  • Histologically or cytologically diagnosed pancreatic adenocarcinoma.
  • Disease extent documented by CT scan (radiologically measurable disease is not required)
  • Ambulatory patient without evidence of spinal cord compression
  • No prior chemotherapy for metastatic disease
  • Failed curative therapy or patient ineligible for definitive curative therapy
  • Completed adjuvant therapy at least 4 weeks prior and recovered from any/all toxicities related to that treatment.
  • If post-therapy, must have disease progression since that treatment
  • If treated with prior radiation therapy, disease must be outside of the radiation fields
  • No currently active second malignancies unless it is a non-melanoma skin cancer
  • Women must be non-pregnant and non-lactating
  • ECOG performance of 0, 1, or 2
  • Granulocytes at least 1,500 / ul
  • Platelets at least 100,000 / ul
  • Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL or clearance of at least 60 mL / min
  • Total bilirubin less than 2 times the upper limit of normal
  • AST and ALT less than 3 times the upper limit of normal if liver metastases are not present. If liver metastases are present, AST and ALT less than 5 times the upper limit of normal
  • PT INR less than 1.5 (unless the patient is on full dose warfarin)
  • Patient must be at least 18 years of age
  • Patient must be able to understand consent process, the research study, and be able to sign the consent document

Exclusion Criteria:

  • A psychiatric disorder by history or examination that would prevent completion of the study
  • ECOG performance of 3 or 4
  • Co-morbid conditions that affect survival: end stage congestive heart failure, unstable angina, myocardial infarction (within the past 6 weeks), uncontrolled blood sugars of greater than 300 mg/dL, known chronic active hepatitis or cirrhosis.
  • Consumption of excess alcohol (more than 4 drinks per day) or use of illicit drugs
  • Continued sse of over-the-counter antioxidants (supplements like vitamin C and grape seeds)

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

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Ascorbate
Drug: Gemcitabine with escalating ascorbic acid

Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) weekly for three weeks and then one week off. Ascorbic acid, given twice weekly, escalating doses weekly. Week 1: 15 grams ascorbic acid per infusion Week 2: 25 grams ascorbic acid per infusion Week 3: 50 grams ascorbic acid per infusion Week 4: 75 grams ascorbic acid per infusion Week 5: 100 grams ascorbic acid per infusion

Ascorbic acid infusion dose is maintained at the level that provides a serum level of 350-400 mg/dL.

Other Names:
  • Gemzar
  • Ascor L 500

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Blood cell counts (neutropenia, thrombocytopenia) and serum chemistries (liver function tests, creatinine)
Time Frame: weekly
weekly

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Time Frame
Survival
Time Frame: Ongoing
Ongoing
Plasma ascorbate level (targeted to 350 to 400 mg/dL)
Time Frame: Weekly
Weekly

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Joseph J. Cullen

Collaborators

University of Iowa
Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Joseph J Cullen, M.D., University of Iowa

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

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

December 1, 2009

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 1, 2013

Study Completion (Actual)

March 1, 2013

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

January 14, 2010

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

January 14, 2010

First Posted (Estimate)

January 15, 2010

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 21, 2017

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 19, 2017

Last Verified

April 1, 2017

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 200804753

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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