Systemic Therapy of Open-label Prophylactic Pravastatin or Pentoxifylline/Tocopherol Prevention of Lymphedema Advancing to Eventual Fibrosis: an Interventional Registry-embedded Bayesian Randomized Trial for Radiation Sequelae (STOP4-LATE-FIBROSE)

To learn if pentoxifylline and vitamin E or pravastatin can reduce radiation-induced lymphedema/fibrosis.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Fibrosis; Lymphedema
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Pravastatin; Drug: Pentoxifylline; Drug: Tocopherol

Detailed Description

• Primary Objectives Determine the relative utility of pentoxifylline/tocopherol or pravastatin to reduce clinician-rated radiation lymphedema/fibrosis.
• Secondary Objectives Determine the relative effect size observed of pentoxifylline/tocopherol or pravastatin to reduce objective imaging-derived measures of radiation lymphedema/fibrosis-related sequalae.

Determine the relative effect size observed of pentoxifylline/tocopherol or pravastatin to reduce patient-reported measures of toxicity associated with lymphedema/fibrosis-related sequalae.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 295
• Phase: Phase 2

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Clifton Fuller, MD,PHD; Phone Number: (832) 817-8568; Email: cdfuller@mdanderson.org

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • Recruiting
      • MD Anderson Cancer Center
      • Contact: Clifton Fuller, MD,PHD; Phone Number: 832-817-8568; Email: cdfuller@mdanderson.org
      • Principal Investigator: Clifton Fuller, MD,PHD

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Untreated T0-T4N0-3M0 oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma.

1. Dispositioned to radiotherapy with prescribed dose to unilateral or bilateral neck(s).
2. Creatinine clearance >30mL/min
3. Age ≥18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of pentoxifylline/pravastatin in participants <18 years of age, children are excluded from this study
4. ECOG performance status ≤2 (Karnofsky ≥60%,)

5. Participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below

   • absolute neutrophil count ≥1,000/mcL
   • platelets ≥100,000/mcL
   • total bilirubin ≤ institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
   • AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤3 x institutional ULN
   • creatinine ≤1.5 x institutional ULN

6. The effects of pentoxifylline/pravastatin on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason, women of child-bearing potential must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. (Refer to Pregnancy Assessment Policy MD Anderson Institutional Policy # CLN1114). This includes all female participants, between the onset of menses (as early as 8 years of age) and 55 years unless the patient presents with an applicable exclusionary factor which may be one of the following.

   • Postmenopausal (no menses in greater than or equal to 12 consecutive months).
   • History of hysterectomy or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy.
   • Ovarian failure (Follicle Stimulating Hormone and Estradiol in menopausal range, who have received Whole Pelvic Radiation Therapy).
   • History of bilateral tubal ligation or another surgical sterilization procedure.
   • Approved methods of birth control are as follows: Hormonal contraception (i.e. birth control pills, injection, implant, transdermal patch, vaginal ring), Intrauterine device (IUD), Tubal Ligation or hysterectomy, Subject/Partner post vasectomy, Implantable or injectable contraceptives, and condoms plus spermicide. Not engaging in sexual activity for the total duration of the trial and the drug washout period is an acceptable practice; however periodic abstinence, the rhythm method, and the withdrawal method are not acceptable methods of birth control. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while she or her partner is participating in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately.
7. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Active liver disease (Child-Pugh class B-C), cirrhosis, nor active alcoholism.
2. History of myopathy/rhabdomyolysis.
3. History of acute myocardial infarction or severe coronary disease.
4. Pregnant/post-menopausal, or male.
5. History of diabetes mellitus.
6. Allergy/hypersensitivity to Hydroxymethylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG Co-A) reductase inhibitor and/or xanthine derivatives, e.g., caffeine, theophylline, theobromine.
7. Contraindications for MRI
8. Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents.
9. History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to statins, hemorheologic agents or other agents used in study
10. Participants with psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Supportive Care
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Group 1; Beginning at 6 months after radiation therapy, participants will take 40 mg pravastatin by mouth 1 time a day for about 12 months.	Drug: Pravastatin; Given by PO
Experimental: Group 2; Beginning at 6 months after radiation therapy, participants will take pentoxifylline and vitamin E by mouth 3 times a day for about 12 months.	Drug: Pentoxifylline; Given by PO; Drug: Tocopherol; Given by PO; Other Names: Vitamin E
No Intervention: Group 3; Participants will not be given any of the study drugs, as this is the control group.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Safety and adverse events (AEs)	Incidence of Adverse Events, Graded According to National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE) Version (v) 5.0	Through study completion; an average of 1 year.

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Clifton Fuller, MD,PHD, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center

Publications and helpful links

Helpful Links

• MD Anderson Cancer Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 13, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): May 1, 2029
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 1, 2031

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 2, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 2, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): February 13, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: February 11, 2026
• Last Verified: February 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Lymphatic Diseases; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Hemic and Lymphatic Diseases; Lymphedema; Fibrosis; Organic Chemicals; Heterocyclic Compounds, 1-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds; Heterocyclic Compounds, 2-Ring; Heterocyclic Compounds, Fused-Ring; Pyrans; Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Cyclic; Naphthalenes; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; Polycyclic Compounds; Purinones; Purines; Benzopyrans; Xanthines; Theobromine; Vitamin E; Tocopherols; Pentoxifylline; Pravastatin
• Other Study ID Numbers: 2022-0968; NCI-2024-05763 (Other Identifier: NCI-CTRP Clinical Registry)

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.: No