The purpose of this research study is to learn if adding hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) to erlotinib helps treat non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Another goal of this research study is to learn more about NSCLC and how it may respond to study treatment. Erlotinib (Tarceva) is a type of drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs block a protein called the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR may control tumor growth and tumor cell survival. However, although TKI drugs can work for some lung cancer patients for a period of time, eventually the tumor finds a way to resist or counteract the TKI treatment and it begins to grow again. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a drug approved by the FDA for treating malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and several other diseases. Laboratory research suggests that when HCQ is given with a TKI, it may help delay or prevent TKI resistance from developing.
* Because no one knows which of the study options are best, participants will be randomized into of the study groups: Group A (erlotinib) or Group B (erlotinib and HCQ). Study treatment will be divided into time periods called cycles. Each study treatment cycle is 28 days. * Erlotinib (Group A and Group B) will be taken orally once a day. Hydroxychloroquine (Group B) will be taken orally once a day after taking erlotinib. * The following tests and procedures will be performed day 1 of each cycle: physical examination, performance status assessment, questions about any symptoms or side effects, blood for routine tests. The following procedures will be performed at certain study visits: Research blood tests (cycle 1, cycle 2, then every other even cycle); eye exam (cycle 4, cycle 7, and then every 3 months); assessment of the tumor with CT or MRI scan (done at the end of even cycles.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
76
150 mg taken orally once daily
1000 mg taken orally once daily after erlotinib
Stanford Cancer Institute
Stanford, California, United States
Yale Cancer Center
New Haven, Connecticut, United States
University of Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Median Progression Free Survival
A measure of progression-free survival in patients with advanced non small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and EGFR mutations treated with erlotinib as compared with patients treated with erlotinib plus hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). Disease progression is defined as at least a 20% increase in the sum of the longest diameter of target lesions, as seen on CT scan, or the appearance of one or more new lesions on CT scan.
Time frame: From start of treatment until report of disease progression, assessed up to 10 years.
Nine-month Progression-free Survival Rate
This trial can detect a difference in proportions alive without progression at 9 months from 50% in the erlotinib arm to 77% in the erlotinib plus hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) arm, using an alpha of 0.15 and power of 85%, using the two-sided Likelihood Ratio test. Progression is defined as at least a 20% increase in the size of existing lesions or the appearance of one or more new lesions.
Time frame: Nine months
Treatment Related Toxicity, > 10% Frequency, Any Grade
To evaluate the safety of treatment with erlotinib with and without hydroxychloroquine (HCQ). All participants receiving study treatment were evaluated for safety. Parameters included laboratory tests, hematological abnormalities, physical exam findings and spontaneous reports of adverse events reported by participants. Toxicities were evaluated and graded according to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 3.0. Grade 1 = mild, Grade 2 = moderate, Grade 3 = severe, Grade 4 = life-threatening, Grade 5 = fatal.
Time frame: 2 years
Objective Tumor Response Rate Following Treatment With Erlotinib and With Erlotinib/HCQ.
Response is assessed via spiral CT scan, done at baseline and after every 2 cycles of study treatment. Standard RECIST (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors) was used. Complete Response (CR) = disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR) = at least a 30% decrease in the size of target lesions, as compared to baseline; Progressive Disease (PD) = at least at 20% increase in the size of target lesions, or the appearance of one or more new lesions; Stable Disease (SD) = neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for partial response nor sufficient increase to qualify for progressive disease. Response rate = CR + PR. Disease control rate = CR + PR + SD
Time frame: 2 years
Overall Survival of Patients Treated With Erlotinib and With Erlotinib/HCQ
Time frame: Until death
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