A Pilot Study to Evaluate the Safety of a 3 Weeks Sitagliptin Treatment in HCC Patients Undergoing Liver Resection (HCC-DPPIV)

Boosting of tumor cell killing by cytotoxic lymphocytes may be a promising means to enhance anti-tumor immunity. Prior studies demonstrated that tumor infiltration by cytotoxic lymphocytes correlates with control of tumor growth and is associated with an improved prognosis in cancer patients. Trafficking of activated lymphocytes is a tightly regulated mechanism and the specific nature of the chemokine milieu is a crucial determinant for permitting T cell entry into the tumor microenvironment. CXCL10 is an interferon-inducible chemokine particularly important for the recruitment of activated T, and it has been shown to enhance anti-tumor responses through its action on cytotoxic T cells (e.g., glioblastoma, colorectal adenocarcinoma and lung carcinoma). Additionally, roles for CXCL10 as an anti-tumor effector include its ability to chemo-attract NK cells into sites of inflammation, and its ability to inhibit development of new vasculature and induce the regression of newly formed vessels. Adding a layer of complexity, the function of CXCL10 can be regulated by dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPPIV), leading to the formation of a dominant negative, antagonist form of the chemokine. This was initially demonstrated in vitro, and recent work has provided convincing in vivo evidence that antagonist forms of CXCL10 regulate lymphocyte trafficking. The main goal of this protocol is to evaluate the tolerance of sitagliptin treatment in HCC patients, and secondary DPPIV inhibitors as a strategy for protecting CXCL10 chemokine agonist activity as a means to enhance tumor regression.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Hepato Carcinoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Sitagliptin

Detailed Description

The study will be conducted in 15 patients. Patient selection will be made based on medical records during a weekly staff meeting. After collection of informed consent, the patients will undergo a biopsy of the tumor and of the not-tumoral liver and 2-4 weeks later HCC resection.

The study will include a phase of 3 weeks [± 7 days] administration of sitagliptin as monotherapy (taken orally) after liver biopsy and before HCC resection. The window of ± 7 days is deliberately wide to take in account the variable arrangements made for surgical resection. Nevertheless we will make our efforts to focus on a three weeks regimen. Three doses of sitagliptin will be used: 1) 100mg/day (dose recommended in the SmCP), 2) 200mg/day and 3) 600mg/day; with 5 patients in each group. Arrangements will be made for surgical resection upon standard care. Blood samples will be obtained for immunology studies at each visit. The study will end one week after surgery (or less if the state of health of the patient does not require to stay longer in the hospital). Patients will continue their treatment for HCC as prescribed by the clinician.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 14
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Paris, France, 75013
    • Pitie-Salpêtrière Hospital

Participation Criteria

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:

• Patients with 18 years old the day of inclusion.
• For women, a negative blood pregnancy test before inclusion is necessary. Note: this test will be done only to women of childbearing age and non menopausal.
• HCC based on medical imaging with indication of liver resection and without contra-indication of preoperative liver biopsy.
• Minor resection not exceeding 2 liver segments
• No cirrhosis or cirrhosis with a Child-Pugh Score Class A. Note: this score is used worldwide to assess liver function in cirrhosis.
• Informed consent must be obtained for all subjects prior to study entry.
• Patients affiliated to health policy insurance.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Presence of HIV Infection.
• Presence of renal impairment (CrCl <60 ml / min).
• Liver function compromised (Child Pugh B, MELD score > 9)
• Indirect sign of portal hypertension (Oesophagal Varices, splenomegaly, platelet count less than 100.000)
• A need for major hepatic resection (more than 2 segments)
• Taking digoxin (digitalis) within 6 months of starting treatment.
• History of severe hypersensitivity reaction (such as anaphylactic shock or angioedema) to sitagliptin.
• Patients with diabetes.
• Pregnant or absence of an effective contraception for women.
• A person deprived of liberty by judicial or administrative decision, person subject to a legal protection measure.
• Living conditions suggesting an inability to track all scheduled visits by the protocol.
• Life expectancy less than 3 months.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Intervention / Treatment

Experimental: DPPIV Inhibition; The study will include 3 weeks administration (± 7 days) of sitagliptin as monotherapy (taken orally). The study will use 3 doses: the first five patients will receive 100 mg/day, the next five 200 mg/day and the last five patients 600 mg/day. During this time, arrangements will be made for surgical resection, as per the standard of care treatment of patients. Blood samples will be obtained for immunology studies. The study will end one week after surgery. Patients will continue their treatment for HCC as prescribed by the clinician.

Drug: Sitagliptin; 100mg or 200mg or 600mg, daily for 3 weeks ± 7 days; Other Names: Januvia

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Time Frame
Safety (Number of adverse events. Toxicity grade > 3)	After Day 0 until the end of the trial, i.e. a duration of 3 weeks +/- 7 days for each patient

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
DPPIV Activity	Plasma concentration and activity of DPPIV (measured using an ELISA and a luciferase bioassay, respectively).	Baseline; week 1, 3 of sitagliptin therapy , 3 days after end of sitagliptin therapy
CXCL10 truncation	Monitoring the short and the long form of IP-10 as compared to the total plasma concentration (three distinct ELISA assays).	Baseline; week 1, 3 of sitgaliptin therapy, 3 days after end of sitagliptin therapy
Immune cells trafficking	Frequency of CXCR3+ cells in circulation (monitored by FACS).	Baseline; week 1, 3 of sitagliptin therapy, 3 days after end of sitagliptin therapy
Infiltration of leucocytes in tumor tissue	Histochemical method with a panel of Ab.	Baseline, week 3 of sitagliptin therapy

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Olivier SCATTON, Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital, Paris, France

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 1, 2016
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 1, 2018
• Study Completion (Actual): September 1, 2018

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: December 22, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: January 6, 2016
• First Posted (Estimate): January 8, 2016

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): October 18, 2018
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 17, 2018
• Last Verified: October 1, 2018

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Digestive System Diseases; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms; Neoplasms by Site; Adenocarcinoma; Carcinoma; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Digestive System Neoplasms; Liver Diseases; Liver Neoplasms; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular; Hypoglycemic Agents; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Hormones; Hormones, Hormone Substitutes, and Hormone Antagonists; Protease Inhibitors; Incretins; Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Inhibitors; Sitagliptin Phosphate
• Other Study ID Numbers: C15-41; 2015-002968-17 (EudraCT Number)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

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