Everolimus for Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Germ Cell Cancer

Overview

The purpose of this study is to determine whether the drug everolimus is effective in the treatment of patients with relapsed cancer of the testis. This is a phase II study where all patients will receive the study drug (everolimus 10 mg daily). The primary endpoint of the study is the rate of patients that have no progressive disease after 12 weeks of treatment. Twenty-five evaluable patients will be treated in this study.

Rationale Patients with metastatic germ cell cancer and relapse after two or more courses of cisplatin-based chemotherapy or after high-dose chemotherapy have a poor prognosis and few treatment options. Everolimus is a derivative of rapamycin and acts as a signal transduction inhibitor. Its target is mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), a key protein kinase regulating cell growth, proliferation and survival. The mTOR pathway activity is modulated by the PI3K1AKT pathway and is known to be deregulated in numerous human cancers, including germ cell tumors. Everolimus is being investigated as an anticancer agent based on its potential to act: * Directly on tumor cells by inhibiting tumor cell growth and proliferation * Indirectly by inhibiting angiogenesis leading to reduced tumor vascularity Study design An open-label, single arm, non-randomized, single stage phase II study. Screening phase: Baseline evaluations will be performed within 2 weeks before the first dose of study drug. Treatment phase: All patients will receive everolimus until disease progression (by RECIST or tumor markers) or unacceptable toxicity or study discontinuation for other reasons. A treatment cycle consists of 3 weeks. Dose reductions and dose interruptions (for up to 2 weeks) are allowed for intolerable toxicity. Follow-up phase: All patients will be followed for survival. Visit schedule Tumor Response and progression will be assessed using the RECIST criteria and assessments with tumor markers. Tumor measurements by a CT scan or MRI will be performed at screening within 2 weeks prior to the first dose of study drug. During the study period, the CT scan/MRI will be performed every 6 weeks (± one week), and at the time of discontinuation of study drug (within 2 weeks). The same type of scan (CT or MRI) used at screening must be used for all subsequent follow-up assessments. A partial or a complete response warrants a confirmation no sooner than 4 weeks and no later than 6 weeks after its observation. Tumor markers (AFP, HCG) will be assessed every 3 weeks. A tumor marker reduction \> 90% without an increase in tumor size is considered a partial response. A tumor marker increase \> 25% without an increase in tumor size is considered progressive disease when confirmed 3 weeks after its observation. Translational research The following retrospective pathological examinations of tumor samples will be performed in those patients that gave additional informed consent: * immunohistochemistry for the mismatch repair genes hMLH1, hMSH2, hMSH6, and PMS2, and the cell signalling effectors pMAPK, pAKT, pS6K and PTEN. * mutation analysis for PTEN, BRAF, p53, and examination of microsatellite instability This information will be correlated with treatment response (CR, PR, SO or PD) at week 12 in an exploratory analysis.

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Eligibility

Locations (8)

Outcomes