Surgery Plus Chemotherapy (Doxorubicin, Vincristine and Etoposide), Mitotane, and Tariquidar to Treat Adrenocortical Cancer

Completed · Phase 2

Conditions studied: Adrenal Cortex Neoplasms

In brief

This study will examine the safety and effectiveness of treating adrenocortical cancer with combination chemotherapy using doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide in addition to the drugs mitotane and tariquidar and, when possible, surgery. Adrenocortical cancer cells have a large amount of a protein called P-glycoprotein that "pumps" anti-cancer drugs out of the cells, decreasing their effectiveness. Continuous infusions of doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide may improve chemotherapy results by blocking the P-glycoprotein pump, as may use of tariquidar, an experimental drug that is known to block the P-glycoprotein pump. Patients 18 years of age and older with adrenocortical cancer that has recurred, spread, or cannot be treated surgically may be eligible for this study. Candidates will be screened with a medical history and physical examination; review of pathology slides; blood tests; electrocardiogram (EKG); imaging tests, including computed tomography (CT) of the chest, abdomen and pelvis; chest x-ray; and possibly a bone scan or other imaging tests needed to evaluate the cancer, urine studies, and an echocardiogram. Also, a biopsy (removal of a small sample of tumor tissue) may be required if a specimen is not available to confirm the cancer. Participants will undergo the following tests and procedures: * Tumor biopsy. Before starting chemotherapy, a small piece of tumor is removed to study the P-glycoprotein pump and to determine the tumor genetics. * Blood draw. Blood is drawn before treatment begins to establish baseline levels for future blood tests. * Central venous catheter placement. A specially trained physician places a plastic tube into a major vein in the chest. The tube is used to give the study drugs and other medications and to withdraw blood samples. It can stay in the body for months or be removed after each treatment is completed. The tube placement is done under a local anesthetic in the radiology department or operating room. * Chemotherapy. Treatment cycles are 21 days. Doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide are given through the central venous catheter by an infusion pump continuously over 96 hours starting day 1 of each cycle. The dose of these drugs may be increased or decreased from cycle to cycle, based on side effects. Mitotane is given in pill form starting day 1 of cycle 1 and is taken every day throughout the entire study. The mitotane dose is gradually increased as long as the side effects are tolerable. Tariquidar is given through the central venous catheter as a 30-minute infusion on days 1 and 3 of every cycle. The tariquidar dose remains the same throughout the study. Treatment will continue for two cycles after all the cancer is gone, or until surgery is done to remove some or all of the remaining cancer, or, if surgery is not an option, until the cancer has grown to where it is defined as progressive disease. * Nuclear scans. A nuclear scan is done before treatment begins and again on day 1 or day 3 of the first treatment cycle after administration of tariquidar to evaluate the P glycoprotein response to treatment. * Computed tomography (CT) scans. These scans are done every two treatment cycles to follow disease progress. * Surgery. Surgery to remove areas of cancer may be considered at any point during the study (including before beginning treatment), if it is deemed beneficial. Treatment with the study drugs will begin or resume after surgery. The length of treatment will depend on the response to treatment before the surgery and on whether there is any cancer remaining after the surgery.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT00071058
Run by: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
People needed: 50
Starts: 2003-10-01
Expected to finish: 2009-11-01
Last updated by the study team: 2012-09-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may not qualify if…

Patients with adrenocortical tumors potentially curable by surgical excision alone as determined by the Principal Investigator in discussions with the surgical consultants.
Uncontrolled illness including, but not limited to symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, seizure disorder, or psychiatric illness that may limit compliance with study requirements. These illnesses may be exacerbated by chemotherapy.
Untreated brain metastases (or local treatment of brain metastases within the last 6 months) due to the poor prognosis of these patients and difficulty ascertaining the cause of neurologic toxicities.
Pregnancy due to the possible adverse effects on the developing fetus.
Lactating women who are breast-feeding due to the possibility of transmitting chemotherapy to the child.
The presence of a second malignancy, other than squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ cervical cancer because it will complicate the primary objective of the study. Cancer survivors who have been free of disease for at least two years can be enrolled in this study.
Currently receiving treatment (which cannot be discontinued) with the following agents: diltiazem, nicardipine, phenothiazines, phenytoin, or verapamil because these are Pgp inhibitors and will interfere with the primary objective of the study.
Ejection fraction less than 40% as determined by multi-gated acquisition scan (MUGA), echocardiogram (Echo), or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with a clinical history suggestive of systolic dysfunction.

Where it is running

National Cancer Institute (NCI) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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