RATIONALE: Erlotinib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well erlotinib works in treating patients with stage III or stage IV pancreatic cancer.
OBJECTIVES: Primary * Determine the progression-free survival (PFS) of patients with stage III or IV adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with erlotinib hydrochloride as first- or second-line therapy. Secondary * Determine the proportion of patients with a radiological response to this drug. * Determine the overall survival of these patients. * Determine the effect of this drug on quality of life in these patients. * Correlate expression of EGFR, E-cadherin, P-cadherin, vimentin, cytokeratin, fibronectin, and ki67 in baseline tumor blocks and presence of K-ras mutations in baseline tumor biopsy specimens with response to this drug. * Correlate smoking status with PFS in patients treated with this drug. * Collect serum samples before, during, and after therapy for future serum proteomic studies and for development of profiles of responders to this drug. OUTLINE: Patients receive oral erlotinib hydrochloride once daily on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 21 days for up to 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients complete a questionnaire about their smoking status at baseline. Patients also complete questionnaires about their quality of life every three weeks during study therapy and after completion of study therapy. Blood samples are collected from patients at baseline and periodically during study for future serum proteomic research and for development of profiles of responders to erlotinib hydrochloride therapy. Paraffin-embedded tumor tissue from diagnostic tumor biopsies is assessed at baseline for expression of EGFR, E-cadherin, P-cadherin, vimentin, cytokeratin, fibronectin, and ki67 by immunohistochemical analysis. Tissue from surgical specimens in patients with prior resection is assessed for K-ras mutations by K-ras analysis. After completion of study therapy, patients are followed for at least 6 months. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 34 patients will be accrued for this study.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
18
Oral
Correlative Study
Correlative Study
Roswell Park Cancer Institute
Buffalo, New York, United States
Progression-free Survival
Progression is defined using Response Evaluation Criteria In Solid Tumors Criteria (RECIST v1.0), as a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, or a measurable increase in a non-target lesion, or the appearance of new lesion
Time frame: Every cycle for up to 52 weeks
Clinical Response (Complete and Partial Response) as Measured by RECIST Criteria
Time frame: After every cycle
Median Overall Survival
Time frame: After every cycle
Change in Quality of Life (QOL) as Measured by EORTC PAN26 Every 3 Weeks During Study Therapy and After Completion of Study Therapy
Time frame: Every 3 weeks
Correlation of Smoking Status With Overall Survival
Time frame: Every 3 weeks
Correlation of Response, QOL, and Survival With EGFR, E-cadherin, P-cadherin, Vimentin, Cytokeratin, ki67, and Fibronectin and With Other Prognostic Variables, Such as Age and Tumor Grade
Time frame: At Baseline
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