Hydroxychloroquine With or Without Erlotinib in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)

Stopped early · Phase 1

Conditions studied: Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

In brief

Erlotinib is a type of drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs block a protein called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR may control tumor growth and tumor cell survival. EGFR is found on the surface of many types of cancer cells, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of NSCLC. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a drug approved by the FDA for treatment of malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and several other diseases but is not currently thought of as a cancer treatment. Previous laboratory studies suggests that HCQ may have an anti-cancer effect by itself in some situations, particularly when EGFR TKI drugs have been useful in the past against the tumor. The two drugs together may be able to fight lung cancer in cases where erlotinib is no longer effective by itself. The purpose of this research study is to determine the highest dose of HCQ that can be given safely in combination with erlotinib. We will also begin to look at whether HCQ plus erlotinib helps treat cancer that have become resistant to TKI treatment after initially responding.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01026844

Run by

Massachusetts General Hospital

People needed

27

Starts

2007-07-01

Expected to finish

2012-11-01

Last updated by the study team

2017-01-30

Who can join

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

You may qualify if…

• Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer
• Stage IIIB with pleural effusion or Stage IV disease by the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) 6th edition staging criteria.
• At least 12 weeks of prior treatment with erlotinib, gefitinib, or another EGFR small molecule TKI agent.
• Age equal to or greater than 18 years
• Measurable disease, defined according to RECIST criteria
• Performance status of 0, 1 or 2
• At least 2 weeks since prior radiation treatment
• At least 2 weeks since any prior chemotherapy or targeted therapy
• Adequate organ function as outlined in the protocol
• Approval for HCQ treatment by an eye doctor, based on a screening eye exam. Examples of disqualifying baseline conditions include macular degeneration and other retinal disease.
• Willingness to comply with protocol procedures including the blood-sampling schedule for PK analyses and periodic eye examination

You may not qualify if…

• Current use of hydroxychloroquine for any reason
• Known hypersensitivity to chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, or any other closely related drug
• Known hypersensitivity to erlotinib, gefitinib, or any closely related drug
• Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, as HCQ may cause hemolytic anemia in patients with G6PD deficiency
• Cataracts that would interfere with required funduscopic examinations, or severe baseline visual impairment including macular degeneration, retinopathy or visual field changes, or having only one functional eye. All patients must undergo a screening eye exam prior to enrollment
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Female subjects of childbearing age and male subjects must practice acceptable method of birth control
• Symptomatic CNS metastases or newly diagnosed CNS metastases that have not yet been definitively treated with radiation and/or surgery
• Prior radiation therapy inclusive of all identified target lesions
• Any evidence of clinically active interstitial lung disease
• Malignancies within the past 3 years except for adequately treated carcinoma of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin
• Although not an absolute exclusion criteria, caution should be exercised in patients with a diagnosis of porphyria or non-light sensitive psoriasis, as HCQ can significantly exacerbate both of those conditions
• Evidence of any other significant clinical disorder or laboratory finding that makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study
• Use of any non-FDA approved or investigational agent within 2 weeks of enrolling onto the trial, or failure to recover from the side effects of any of these agents
• Penicillamine use for Wilson's disease or any other indication, as concomitant use with HCQ can increase toxicity to penicillamine

Where it is running

• Massachusetts General Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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