RATIONALE: Pioglitazone may slow the growth of tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for pancreatic cancer. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying how well pioglitazone works as second-line therapy in treating patients with metastatic pancreatic cancer that progressed after treatment with gemcitabine.
OBJECTIVES: Primary * To describe changes in markers of insulin resistance, including serum adiponectin levels, standard glucose tolerance testing, and fasting serum glucose and insulin levels, in patients with previously treated metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas treated with pioglitazone hydrochloride as second-line therapy. * To describe changes in weight in these patients. * To describe changes in ECOG performance status in these patients. * To describe changes in symptoms and quality of life of these patients using the validated FACT-Hep scale version 4 questionnaire. Secondary * To determine the tumor response as measured by RECIST criteria in these patients. * To determine the time to disease progression in these patients. OUTLINE: Patients receive oral pioglitazone hydrochloride once daily on days 1-28. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients complete a quality-of-life questionnaire at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, and then at the completion of therapy. Patients undergo blood sample collection at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, and then at the completion of therapy for laboratory biomarker studies. Samples are analyzed for levels of insulin resistance markers (adiponectin, glucose, and insulin). After completion of study therapy, patients are followed monthly for 6 months and then every 3 months for 2 years.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
6
Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas
Dallas, Texas, United States
Insulin resistance markers as measured by standard glucose tolerance testing and serum adiponectin levels at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, and then at the completion of therapy
Fasting serum glucose and insulin levels as measured at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, and then at the completion of therapy
Changes in weight as measured at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, at the completion of therapy, and then monthly for 6 months and every 3 months for 2 years
Changes in ECOG performance status as measured at baseline, weekly during the first course of therapy, every 4 weeks during the rest of therapy, at the completion of therapy, and then monthly for 6 months and every 3 months for 2 years
Changes in symptoms and quality of life as measured by the validated FACT-Hep scale version 4 questionnaire at baseline, every 4 weeks during therapy, and then at the completion of therapy
Objective response (confirmed complete or partial response) as measured by RECIST criteria
Time to disease progression
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