Phase 2 Study to Assess the Efficacy & Safety of Gemcitabine + Nab Paclitaxel With or Without Dociparstat in Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer Patients (PGPC1)

A Randomized Phase II Open Label Study to Assess the Efficacy & Safety of Gemcitabine + Abraxane® With or Without ODSH (2-0, 3-0 Desulfated Heparin) as First Line Treatment of Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer

This randomized, Phase 2, open label study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine + nab paclitaxel with or without dociparstat (ODSH) as first line treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer. This study consists of 2 periods: a Run-in Period and a Randomized Period.

Study Overview

• Status: Terminated
• Conditions: Metastatic Pancreatic Cancer
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Nab paclitaxel; Drug: Gemcitabine; Drug: Dociparstat

Detailed Description

Dociparstat (ODSH) has demonstrated in vitro and in vivo inhibitory activity on mechanisms that are believed to play important roles in pancreatic cancer invasion, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapy and radiation. Pancreatic cancer appears to have a dependence on autophagy, a regulated catabolic pathway to degrade and recycle cellular organelles and macromolecules. Autophagy appears to be largely driven by the binding of high mobility group box-1 protein (HMGB1) to the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), which is strongly inhibited by dociparstat. Autophagy appears to not only assist pancreatic cancer cells to survive in a hypoxic, relatively avascular environment, but also appears to play an important role in chemotherapy resistance. Other important biological activities promoting pancreatic cancer invasion and metastasis affected by dociparstat include the inhibition of heparanase and the binding of tumor cells to endothelium and platelets mediated by the selectins. It is believed that these biological activities such as the inhibition of RAGE, heparanase, and selectin-mediated metastasis, can be inhibited by dociparstat at dose levels that can safely be administered without clinically significant anticoagulation.

The standard of care of pancreatic cancer is evolving. It appears that 2 combination regimens, the "FOLFIRINOX" regimen (a combination of 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan and oxaliplatin) and the combination of gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel, could have more activity than the previous standard treatment of gemcitabine alone.

Patients with advanced metastatic pancreatic cancer who have not received chemotherapy, surgical or radiation treatments and have a good performance status are eligible to participate in this study. This study consists of 2 periods: a Run-in Period and a Randomized Period. In total, 10 patients are planned to be enrolled in a Run-in Period to receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel + dociparstat. Pharmacokinetic sampling and safety assessments are to be conducted to decide on the continuation to the Randomized Period of the study where 50 patients are planned to be randomized at a 1:1 ratio to either of the 2 study arms:

• Arm A: Patients will receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel + dociparstat
• Arm B: Patients will receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel

The primary endpoint of this study is mean progression free survival. The secondary endpoints of this study are to consist of tumor response by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria, overall survival at the end of the study, and changes from baseline for carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 marker, weight, and plasma albumin.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 60
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Arizona
    • Scottsdale, Arizona, United States, 85259
      • Mayo Clinic Arizona
  • California
    • Burbank, California, United States, 91505
      • Disney Family Cancer Center
    • Greenbrae, California, United States, 94904
      • Marin Cancer Care
    • La Jolla, California, United States, 92037
      • Scripps Clinic Torrey Pines ( Green Hospital)
  • Florida
    • Weston, Florida, United States, 33331
      • Cleveland Clinic Florida
  • Illinois
    • Maywood, Illinois, United States, 60153
      • Loyola University Medical Center/Cardinal Bernardin Cancer Center
  • Indiana
    • Goshen, Indiana, United States, 46526
      • Indiana University Health, Goshen Center for Cancer Care
  • Louisiana
    • Shreveport, Louisiana, United States, 71130
      • Fesit-Weiller Cancer Center
  • Michigan
    • Grand Rapids, Michigan, United States, 49503
      • Saint Mary's Health Care
  • Ohio
    • Akron, Ohio, United States, 44304
      • Summa Health System - Cooper Cancer Center
  • Pennsylvania
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19111
      • Fox Chase Cancer Center
    • Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19107
      • Thomas Jefferson University [Kimmel Cancer Center]
    • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
      • UPMC Cancer Center
  • South Carolina
    • Charleston, South Carolina, United States, 29425
      • Medical University of South Carolina Hollings Cancer Center
  • Texas
    • Galveston, Texas, United States, 77555
      • University of Texas Medical Branch
    • San Antonio, Texas, United States, 78229
      • South Texas Oncology & Hematology

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 16 years to 73 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients must meet all the following criteria to be eligible for this study:

1. Has histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma of the pancreas that is metastatic and for which potential curative measures, such as resection of an isolated metastasis, are not available. Patients with islet cell neoplasms will be excluded.
2. Has ≥ 1 metastatic tumors measurable by computerized tomography (CT) scan AND a serum carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 measurement >2 times the upper limit of normal. Patients must have measurable disease, defined as at least 1 lesion that could be accurately measured in at least 1 dimension (longest diameter to be recorded for non-nodal lesions and short axis for nodal lesions) as >20 mm with conventional techniques or as >10 mm with spiral CT scan.
3. Is male or non-pregnant and non-lactating female and ≥ 18 to ≤ 75 years of age. If a female patient is of child-bearing potential, she must have a negative serum pregnancy test documented within 72 hours prior to the first administration of study drug and on Day 1 of each cycle thereafter. If sexually active, the patient must agree to use contraception prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.
4. Must have received no prior radiotherapy or chemotherapy for metastatic disease. Patients who have received radiotherapy or chemotherapy as adjuvant or neo-adjuvant therapy for locally advanced disease 6 months or more prior to enrollment into this study are eligible.
5. Has adequate biological parameters as demonstrated by the following blood counts at Screening (obtained ≤14 days prior to randomization) and at Baseline-Day 0: Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1.5 × 109/L; Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 (100 × 109/L); Hemoglobin (Hgb) ≥ 9 g/dL.

6. Has the following blood chemistry levels at Screening (obtained ≤14 days prior to randomization) and at Baseline-Day 0:

   • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST; SGOT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT; SGPT) ≤ 2.5 × upper limit of normal range (ULN), unless liver metastases are present, then ≤5 × ULN is allowed. Total bilirubin ≤1.5 × ULN.
   • Serum creatinine (Cr) within normal limits or calculated clearance ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine (Cr) levels above or below the institutional normal value. If using Cr clearance, actual body weight should be used for calculating Cr clearance (e.g., using the Cockcroft-Gault formula).
7. Has acceptable coagulation studies at Screening (obtained ≤14 days prior to randomization) as demonstrated by prothrombin time (PT) and partial thromboplastin time (PTT) within normal limits (±15%).
8. Has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status score of ≤1.
9. Has been informed about the nature of the study, and agrees to participate in the study, and signed the Informed Consent Form (ICF) prior to participation in any study-related activities.

Exclusion Criteria:

If a patient meets any of the following criteria, they are not eligible to participate in this study:

1. Has brain metastases.
2. Has only locally advanced disease.
3. Has experienced an increase of ECOG score to >1 between Screening and Randomization.
4. Requires continuous treatment with coumadin or other oral or parenteral anticoagulation (heparin, low molecular weight heparin [LMWH], heparinoids) to prevent or treat thromboembolic disease. The use of prophylactic antiplatelet drugs such as clopidogrel and aspirin are allowed before and during the study.
5. Has active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection(s) requiring systemic therapy.
6. Has undergone major surgery, other than diagnostic surgery (i.e., surgery done to obtain a biopsy for diagnosis without removal of an organ), within 4 weeks prior to Randomization in this study.
7. Has a history of allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs, their pharmaceutical class, or any of their excipients.
8. Has a concomitant serious medical or psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of the Investigator, could compromise the patient's safety or the study data integrity.
9. Is enrolled in any other clinical protocol or investigational trial that involves administration of anti-neoplastic compounds for the treatment of metastatic pancreatic cancer.
10. Is unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures.
11. Nab-paclitaxel is metabolized by cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 and CYP3A4. Co-administration of substrates, inhibitors of CYP2C8 and/or CYP3A4 with nab-paclitaxel is not allowed. The following medications and substances are not allowed during the study: ritonavir, saquinavir, indinavir, nelfinavir, rifampicin, carbamazepine, phenytoin, efavirenz, or nevirapine, grapefruit (juice or seeds) or some herbals like St. John's wort.
12. Has risk factors for or a history of Torsades des Pointes (TdP), or a significant QT prolongation that, in the opinion of the Investigator, may place the patient at risk.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Run-in; During the Run-In Period, patients will receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel + dociparstat to assess the compatibility of the combination. • Nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine + dociparstat: Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes followed by the administration of gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes. Nab paclitaxel + gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).; Dociparstat IV bolus at 4 mg/kg will be administered in 5 minutes immediately following the completion of gemcitabine administration.; Dociparstat 48-hour IV continuous infusion at 0.375 mg/kg/hr will be administered immediately following the dociparstat IV bolus administration.	Drug: Nab paclitaxel; Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered IV over 30 minutes. Nab-paclitaxel will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).; Other Names: Abraxane; Drug: Gemcitabine; Following the completion of nab-paclitaxel administration, gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 will be administered over 30 minutes. Gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-cycle).; Drug: Dociparstat; Following the completion of gemcitabine administration, dociparstat IV bolus at 4 mg/kg will be administered in 5 minutes immediately after completion of gemcitabine administration. Immediately following the dociparstat IV bolus administration, dociparstat 48-hour IV continuous infusion at 0.375 mg/kg/hr will be administered.; Other Names: ODSH; 2-O, 3-O Desulfated Heparin; Dociparstat sodium
Experimental: Arm A; Patients randomized to Arm A will receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel + dociparstat. • Nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine + dociparstat: Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered IV over 30 minutes followed by the administration of gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes. Nab paclitaxel + gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).; Dociparstat IV bolus at 4 mg/kg will be administered in 5 minutes immediately following the completion of gemcitabine administration.; Dociparstat 48-hour IV continuous infusion at 0.375 mg/kg/hr will be administered immediately following the dociparstat IV bolus administration.	Drug: Nab paclitaxel; Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered IV over 30 minutes. Nab-paclitaxel will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).; Other Names: Abraxane; Drug: Gemcitabine; Following the completion of nab-paclitaxel administration, gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 will be administered over 30 minutes. Gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-cycle).; Drug: Dociparstat; Following the completion of gemcitabine administration, dociparstat IV bolus at 4 mg/kg will be administered in 5 minutes immediately after completion of gemcitabine administration. Immediately following the dociparstat IV bolus administration, dociparstat 48-hour IV continuous infusion at 0.375 mg/kg/hr will be administered.; Other Names: ODSH; 2-O, 3-O Desulfated Heparin; Dociparstat sodium
Active Comparator: Arm B; Patients randomized to Arm B will receive gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel. • Nab-paclitaxel + gemcitabine: o Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered IV over 30 minutes followed by the administration of gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 over 30 minutes. Nab paclitaxel + gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).	Drug: Nab paclitaxel; Nab-paclitaxel 125 mg/m2 will be administered IV over 30 minutes. Nab-paclitaxel will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-day cycle).; Other Names: Abraxane; Drug: Gemcitabine; Following the completion of nab-paclitaxel administration, gemcitabine IV infusion at 1000 mg/m2 will be administered over 30 minutes. Gemcitabine will be administered weekly for 3 weeks followed by 1 week of rest (28-cycle).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of Patients who Achieved Progression-Free Survival	The primary objective of this study is to evaluate progression-free survival (PFS) according to Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors (RECIST) Guidelines Version 1.1. This will be assessed from Baseline to disease progression or death (whichever occurred first), for up to 9 months.	9 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Proportion of Patients who Achieved Overall Survival	A secondary objective of this study is to evaluate overall survival at the End of the Study.	9 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Chimerix
• Collaborators: Translational Drug Development
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Mitesh J Borad, MD, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic , Scottsdale Arizona; Study Director: Stephen Marcus, MD, ParinGenix Inc, Weston FL

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Von Hoff DD, Ramanathan RK, Borad MJ, Laheru DA, Smith LS, Wood TE, Korn RL, Desai N, Trieu V, Iglesias JL, Zhang H, Soon-Shiong P, Shi T, Rajeshkumar NV, Maitra A, Hidalgo M. Gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel is an active regimen in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a phase I/II trial. J Clin Oncol. 2011 Dec 1;29(34):4548-54. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2011.36.5742. Epub 2011 Oct 3.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: November 1, 2011
• Primary Completion (Actual): December 1, 2012
• Study Completion (Actual): June 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 13, 2011
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 26, 2011
• First Posted (Estimate): October 28, 2011

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 6, 2022
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 2, 2022
• Last Verified: June 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Pancreatic Cancer
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Endocrine System Diseases; Digestive System Neoplasms; Endocrine Gland Neoplasms; Pancreatic Diseases; Pancreatic Neoplasms; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Anti-Infective Agents; Antiviral Agents; Enzyme Inhibitors; Fibrinolytic Agents; Fibrin Modulating Agents; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites; Antineoplastic Agents; Immunosuppressive Agents; Immunologic Factors; Tubulin Modulators; Antimitotic Agents; Mitosis Modulators; Antineoplastic Agents, Phytogenic; Anticoagulants; Gemcitabine; Paclitaxel; Heparin
• Other Study ID Numbers: PGX-ODSH-2011-PC1