ACTOplus Met XR in Treating Patients With Stage I-IV Oral Cavity or Oropharynx Cancer Undergoing Definitive Treatment

May 25, 2022 updated by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Phase IIB Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of ACTOplus Met® XR in Subjects With Stage I-IV Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Oral Cavity or Oropharynx Prior to Definitive Treatment

This randomized phase IIb trial studies how well ACTOplus met XR works in treating in patients with stage I-IV oral cavity or oropharynx cancer that are undergoing definitive treatment. Chemoprevention is the use of drugs to keep oral cavity or oropharynx cancer from forming or coming back. The use of ACTOplus met XR may slow disease progression in patients with oral cavity or oropharynx cancer.

Study Overview

Status

Terminated

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine whether 10-21 days of treatment with ACTOplus met XR will result in a decrease in proliferation index (Ki-67) expression in oral cavity/oropharyngeal tumor tissue as compared to placebo.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. Compare differences in proliferation index (Ki-67) expression from baseline to post-exposure in visually normal appearing oral cavity/oropharyngeal tissue.

II. Compare immunohistochemical differences in the apoptosis biomarker cleaved caspase 3 from baseline to post-exposure in oral cavity/oropharyngeal adjacent visually normal appearing tissue and tumor tissue samples.

III. Compare immunohistochemical differences from baseline to post-exposure in oral cavity/oropharyngeal tumor tissue samples with regard to cyclin D1, p21 and biguanide or PPAR gamma associated pathway biomarkers; prospective biomarkers on the panel will include phosphorylated (p)AKT, pAMPK, pS6 (metformin), and PPAR gamma.

IV. Compare immunohistochemical differences from baseline to post-exposure of oral cavity/oropharyngeal tumor tissue samples with regard to tumor infiltrating immune cells (effector CD8 [CD8+]), regulatory CD4 T regulatory (Treg) (CD4+Foxp3+), tumor associated myeloid cells (CD68), PD1 and PD-L1.

V. Compare and correlate pre- and post-ACTOplus met XR treatment human ribonucleic acid (RNA)-sequencing (seq) gene analysis on total RNA samples from oral cavity/oropharyngeal adjacent visually normal appearing tissue and tumor tissue pre-and post-study treatment.

VI. Determine human papillomavirus (HPV) status in pre-treatment tumor tissue using p16 immunohistochemistry.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES I. Compare pre- and post-study treatment fludeoxyglucose F-18 (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scans with regard to standardized uptake value (SUV) of FDG and tumor burden using Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) version (v) 1.1 in those participants with a preintervention standard of care staging FDG-PET/CT.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP I: Patients receive ACTOplus met XR orally (PO) once daily (QD) for 10-21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may continue ACTOplus met XR PO QD for a maximum of 25 days if end of treatment biopsy/surgical treatment is delayed beyond day 22.

GROUP II: Patients receive placebo PO QD daily for 10-21 days.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

13

Phase

  • Phase 2

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
    • Maryland
      • Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
        • Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center
    • Minnesota
      • Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455
        • University of Minnesota/Masonic Cancer Center
    • New York
      • Rochester, New York, United States, 14642
        • University of Rochester
    • Wisconsin
      • Madison, Wisconsin, United States, 53792
        • University of Wisconsin Hospital and 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:

  • Participant has a newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed, stage I-IV squamous cell carcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the oral cavity or oropharynx and will be undergoing definitive surgical, radiotherapy, or chemoradiation treatment; patients who are NOT candidates for localized treatment (surgery, radiation or chemoradiation) with curative intent (i.e.patients with distant metastasis or contra-indication to localized treatment) are not eligible OR
  • Participant has a lesion in the oral cavity or oropharynx that is not yet biopsied but is highly suspicious for cancer; (randomization will be placed on hold until the presence of cancer is histologically confirmed, and a treatment plan is established; if the presence of cancer is not confirmed, the participant will be considered a screen failure)

  • The participant's primary tumor is accessible for the collection of 4 mm samples of tumor and adjacent visually normal appearing tissue for biomarker analysis and the participant is willing to have these samples collected at baseline and at the end of study visit. (The protocol requires the collection of fresh tissue for biomarker analysis)

    • Patients who have not yet had a diagnostic biopsy:

      • The tissue samples for biomarker analysis may be collected in conjunction with the patient's standard of care diagnostic biopsy but not until after the patient has signed informed consent and it has been determined that they meet all of the eligibility criteria for this protocol with the exception of normal organ and marrow function as defined by the clinical laboratory test results listed for that criterion. In this situation, because the patient would be having a biopsy regardless of whether or not they were participating in this study, it is not required to obtain these results prior to conducting the biopsy. It is however, required to confirm normal organ and marrow function prior to randomization.

      • Patients who are scheduled for a direct operative laryngoscopy with biopsy (DL biopsy) for diagnostic purposes may be candidates for this study provided the following criteria are met:

        • The lesion to be biopsied is within the anatomic confines of the oropharynx (i.e. above the epiglottis).
        • Tissue samples for biomarker analysis of the required 4 mm size are able to be obtained from both the lesion and an area of visually normal appearing tissue adjacent to but 1 cm distant from the lesion.

In this situation, randomization will be placed on hold until the following criteria are met:

  • Normal organ and marrow function is confirmed.
  • There is histologic confirmation of squamous cell carcinoma.
  • It has been determined that surgical excision will be the first line standard of care treatment and the end of study tissue samples will be obtained in conjunction with that surgery.

Because these patient's lesions are not accessible to end of study tissue sample collection in the outpatient clinic setting, the only way to obtain those samples is in conjunction with standard of care surgical excision of the lesion. If the first line of treatment will be non-surgical, the patient will be considered a screen failure. Under no circumstances will DL biopsy be used for the sole purpose of collecting tissue samples for biomarker analysis.

  • Patients who have already had a diagnostic biopsy:

    • The baseline tissue samples for biomarker analysis will be collected in the outpatient clinic setting as a "for research purposes only" procedure. The samples may not be collected until it has been determined that the participant meets all eligibility criteria for this protocol.

  • End of study tissue sample collection:

    • If surgical excision will be the patient's first line treatment, the end of study tissue samples for biomarker analysis will be collected in conjunction with that surgery. If, for any reason, the patient's surgery is delayed beyond Day 26, the end of study tissue samples may be collected in the outpatient clinic setting.

    • If the patient's first line of treatment will not be surgical excision, the end of study tissue samples for biomarker analysis will be collected in the outpatient clinic setting prior to initiation of the non-surgical treatment.

      • Participant is able to complete a minimum of 10 days of study agent dosing prior to initiation of definitive treatment for their cancer
      • Participant is scheduled for an end of study biopsy within 22 days of starting study agent and within 52 days of their study screening visit; (if the participant is scheduled for surgical excision of the tumor and the surgery is delayed for any reason after the participant has started taking the study agent, study agent dosing may be extended up to a maximum of 25 days without compromising the evaluability of the end of study biomarkers)
      • Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status = 0 or 1
      • Life expectancy is > 6 months
      • Body mass index (BMI) is >= 18.5
      • Hemoglobin >= 10 g/dl
      • White blood cells >= 3,000/microliter
      • Platelets >= 100,000/microliter
      • Total bilirubin =< 1.2 x institutional upper limit of normal

  • With the exception of candidates with a diagnosis of Gilbert's disease in which case the total bilirubin may extend up to 1.5 x institutional upper limit of normal

    • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT]) =< 1.2 x institutional upper limit of normal
    • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase [SGPT]) =< 1.2 x institutional upper limit of normal
    • Glucose, serum < 200 mg/dL
    • Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) > 45 mL/min (if eGFR is not included on the clinical lab report, the chronic kidney disease epidemiology [CKD-EPI] creatinine calculator may be used)
    • Participant is able to swallow a tablet whole
    • Participant is willing and able to participate for the duration of the study
    • Participant of childbearing potential agrees to use adequate contraception (a hormonal method that has been in continual use for a minimum of 3 months prior to the study screening visit, a barrier method, or abstinence) for the duration of their study participation. (Therapy with pioglitazone may result in ovulation in some premenopausal anovulatory women. In addition, the effects of ACTOplus Met XR on the developing human fetus at the recommended therapeutic dose are unknown. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she should inform her study physician immediately.)

  • Note: Due to the risks associated with hormonal methods of birth control, participants should not start hormonal therapy for the purpose of meeting the eligibility criteria for this protocol.

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

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Participant has received or will receive some form of treatment for their cancer prior to completing a minimum of 10 days of study agent dosing; (a biopsy is not considered a form of treatment)
  • Participant has a concurrent diagnosis of type I or type II diabetes that is being treated with insulin or an oral antidiabetic agent; (participants whose type II diabetes is controlled with diet and/or exercise alone are eligible provided they meet all other eligibility criteria)

  • Participant has taken any of the following medications within the past 3 months:

    • A thiazolidinedione (e.g. pioglitazone [Actos] or rosiglitazone [Avandia]),
    • A biguanide (e.g. metformin [Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet, Riomet] or proguanil [Paludrine])
    • A combination drug containing one of the agents above (brand names include: ACTOplus Met, Avandamet, Avandaryl, Duetact, Glucovance, Invokamet, Janumet, Jentadueto, Komboglyze, Metaglip, PrandiMet, Synjardy, Xigudo)
  • Participant is currently taking a strong CYP2C8 inhibitor (e.g. gemfibrozil [Lopid])
  • Participant is currently taking an enzyme inducer of CYP2C8 (carbamazepine [Carbatrol, Epitol, Equetro, Tegretol] cortisol [Hydrocortisone]; dexamethasone [Decadron]; phenobarbital [Luminal Sodium]; phenytoin [Dilantin, Phenytek, Novaplus Phenytoin Sodium]; primidone [Mysoline]; rifampin [Rifadin, Rimactane]; rifapentine [Priftin]; secobarbital [Seconal])
  • Participant is currently taking topiramate (Topamax) commonly used in epilepsy or to prevent migraines or other carbonic anhydrase inhibitors (e.g. zonisamide [Zonegran]; acetazolamide [Diamox Sequels]; or dichlorphenamide [Keveyis, Daranide])
  • Participant is currently taking a cationic drug or multidrug and toxin extrusion [MATE] inhibitor (e.g. amiloride [Midamor]; cimetidine [Tagamet]; digoxin [Lanoxin, Digitek, Digox]; dolutegravir [Tivicay]; morphine [Roxanol, Duramorph, Kadian, MS Contin]; procainamide [Pronestyl, Procanbid]; quinidine [Quinidex, Cardioquin, Quin-G, Quinora]; quinine [Qualaquin, Quinamm, Quiphile]; ranitidine [Zantac, Deprizine, Gabitidine]; ranolazine [Ranexa]; triamterene [Dyrenium)] trimethoprim [Proloprim, Trimpex, Primsol]; vancomycin [Vancocin, Vancoled]; or vandetanib [Calpresa])
  • Participants is taking another investigational agent
  • Participant has a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ACTOplus Met XR
  • Participant has a contraindication to biopsy
  • Participants with a history of congestive heart failure or New York Heart Association (NYHA) class III or IV functional status are excluded
  • Participant has a history of liver disease
  • Participant has > Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) grade 1 limb edema (5 - 10% inter-limb discrepancy in volume or circumference at point of greatest visible difference; swelling or obscuration of anatomic architecture on close inspection)
  • Participant has a history of hypoglycemia

  • Participant is an active alcoholic or consumes excessive amounts of alcohol per the following definitions:

    • Female: More than 3 drinks on any day or a total of more than seven drinks in a week

    • Male: More than 4 drinks on any day or a total of more than 14 drinks in a week

      • 1 drink =

        • Beer: 12 oz. (1 standard size can or bottle)
        • Wine: 5 oz. (one standard glass)
        • Spirits: 6 oz. (one mixed drink or one 1.5 fluid oz. shot)
  • Participant has a history of macular edema
  • Participant has a history of bladder cancer (including in situ bladder cancer)
  • Participant has a history of invasive cancer (other than non-melanoma skin cancer or cervical cancer in situ) active within 18 months prior to the baseline study visit; (participants who have a history of cancer that was curatively treated without evidence of recurrence in the 18 months prior to the baseline study visit are considered eligible)
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements

  • Participant is pregnant, breast feeding or planning to become pregnant; (all participants of childbearing potential regardless of method of birth control must have a negative pregnancy test at baseline; a woman is considered not to be of childbearing potential if she has had a hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or if she is > 55 years of age with >= 2 years of amenorrhea)

    • Breastfeeding should be discontinued if the mother is treated with ACTOplus met XR

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: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group I (ACTOplus met XR)
Patients receive ACTOplus met XR PO QD for 10-21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients may continue ACTOplus met XR PO QD for a maximum of 25 days if end of treatment biopsy/surgical treatment is delayed beyond day 22.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
Other: Pharmacological Study
Correlative studies
Drug: Metformide Hydrochloride/Pioglitazone Hydrochloride Extended-Release Tablet
Given PO
Other Names:
  • ACTOplus Met XR
  • Metformide HCl/Pioglitazone HCl ER Tablet
Placebo Comparator: Group II (placebo)
Patients receive placebo PO QD daily for 10-21 days.
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
Other: Placebo
Given PO
Other Names:
  • placebo therapy
  • PLCB
  • sham therapy
Other: Pharmacological Study
Correlative studies

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Absolute change in proliferation index (Ki-67) expression, assessed in tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Baseline, post-exposure, absolute change in Ki-67, and difference in absolute change between the ACTOplus met XR and placebo subjects will all be summarized with descriptive statistics. Will compare the difference in absolute change in Ki-67 between the ACTOplus met XR and placebo arms using a two sided two-sample Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test, as appropriate, at a significance level of 0.05.
Baseline to days 11-22

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Ki-67 expression in visually normal appearing tissue, assessed by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Will be summarized for baseline, post-exposure, and absolute change by treatment arm using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and will be evaluated with Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Baseline to days 11-22
Change in cleaved caspase 3 expression in visually normal appearing tissue and tumor tissue samples, assessed by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Will be summarized for baseline, post-exposure, and absolute change by treatment arm using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and will be evaluated with Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Baseline to days 11-22
Change in cyclin D1, p21 and biguanide or phosphorylated AKT, phosphorylated AMPK, phosphorylated S6 (metformin), and PPAR gamma expression, assessed by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Will be summarized for baseline, post-exposure, and absolute change by treatment arm using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and will be evaluated with Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Baseline to days 11-22
Change in regulatory T cell, T4, T8, tumor-associated macrophage-CD68 positive, PD1, PD-L1 expression, assessed in tumor tissue by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Will be summarized for baseline, post-exposure, and absolute change by treatment arm using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and will be evaluated with Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Baseline to days 11-22
Change in whole transcriptome gene analysis on total ribonucleic acid samples from visually normal appearing tissue and tumor tissue
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Will be summarized for baseline, post-exposure, and absolute change by treatment arm using the appropriate descriptive statistics, and will be evaluated with Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
Baseline to days 11-22
Human papillomavirus status assessed in tumor tissue by p16 by immunohistochemistry
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Human papillomavirus status will be assessed in tumor tissue by p16 by immunohistochemistry.
Baseline to days 11-22

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in tumor fluorodeoxyglucose uptake/metabolism assess by treatment positron emission tomography/computed tomography
Time Frame: Baseline to days 11-22
Tumor fluorodeoxyglucose uptake/metabolism assess by treatment positron emission tomography/computed tomography.
Baseline to days 11-22

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Frank G Ondrey, University of Wisconsin, Madison

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 (Actual)

August 14, 2017

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 28, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

August 28, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 27, 2016

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 27, 2016

First Posted (Estimate)

September 28, 2016

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 3, 2022

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 25, 2022

Last Verified

May 1, 2022

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NCI-2016-01407 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • P30CA014520 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • N01-CN-2012-00033
  • N01CN00033 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • UW16110
  • UWI2016-07-01 (Other Identifier: DCP)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

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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