Currently there is no known effective treatment for recurrent or resistant neuroblastoma. Fenretinide is an anticancer agent that may work differently than standard chemotherapy. It may cause the buildup of wax-like substances in cancer cells called ceramides. In laboratory studies, it was found that if too much ceramide builds up in the neuroblastoma cells, they die. Fenretinide has been given by mouth as a capsule to many people, including children. When Fenretinide is given in capsules, very little of the drug is absorbed through the intestines into the body. This means patients have to take many capsules of fenretinide by mouth several times a day. In this study, a new oral preparation of fenretinide (called 4-HPR/LXS oral powder) is being tested to see if more fenretinide can be absorbed into the body. 4-HPR/LXS oral powder has been tested previously in a limited number of both children and adult cancer patients. Ketoconazole, commonly used to treat fungus infections, can increase fenretinide levels in the body by interfering with the body's ability to break down fenretinide. Ketoconazole will be given at the same time as the fenretinide powder. There is preclinical data that shows that combining fenretinide and vincristine prolonged survival in animal models, therefore, it is hoped that giving the vincristine with fenretinide will work better against the neuroblastoma that either drug given alone. About 70 children with neuroblastoma have been treated with various versions of the fenretinide powder to date, including about a dozen children that also took the fenretinide powder with ketoconazole, and no toxicities have occurred that limited the dosage and no serious or unexpected side effects occurred. However, vincristine has never been given with fenretinide or fenretinide plus ketoconazole before. Vincristine has been been given before with ketoconazole to both children and adults with neuroblastomas and other cancers.
Fenretinide has been given by mouth as a capsule to many people, including children. When Fenretinide is given in capsules, very little of the drug is absorbed through the intestines into the body. This means patients have to take many capsules of fenretinide by mouth several times a day. In this study, a new oral preparation of fenretinide (called 4-HPR/LXS oral powder) is being tested to see if more fenretinide can be absorbed into the body. 4-HPR/LXS oral powder has been tested previously in a limited number of both children and adult cancer patients. Ketoconazole, commonly used to treat fungus infections, can increase fenretinide levels in the body by interfering with the body's ability to break down fenretinide. Ketoconazole will be given at the same time as the fenretinide powder. There is preclinical data that shows that combining fenretinide and vincristine prolonged survival in animal models, therefore, it is hoped that giving the vincristine with fenretinide will work better against the neuroblastoma that either drug given alone. About 70 children with neuroblastoma have been treated with various versions of the fenretinide powder to date, including about a dozen children that also took the fenretinide powder with ketoconazole, and no toxicities have occurred that limited the dosage and no serious or unexpected side effects occurred. However, vincristine has never been given with fenretinide or fenretinide plus ketoconazole before. Vincristine has been been given before with ketoconazole to both children and adults with neuroblastomas and other cancers.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
4
The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children's
Chicago, Illinois, United States
UT Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, Texas, United States
Cook Children's Hospital
Fort Worth, Texas, United States
Medical College of Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States
Maximum Tolerated Dose
To determine maximum dose of vincristine when given in combination with 4-HPR/LXS and ketoconazole. Subjects will be enrolled in a standard 3 + 3 design and will receive set doses of HPR/LXS and ketoconazole. Vincristine will be escalated with each dose level up to 1.5 mg/m2. If toxicity occurs due to vincristine, the dose level will be expanded or dose decreased to the previous level as appropriate. If toxicity occurs due to ketoconazole, the dose level will be expanded and the ketoconazole dose decreased to 3 mg/kg/day
Time frame: after each subject has completed 1 cycle of therapy (a cycle is 21 days)
Side effect profile of drug combination
The side effect profile of the combination therapy will be compared to known single agent side effects looking for new unique drug interactions.
Time frame: after each subject receives the drug combination (a cycle is expected to be 21 days)
Assess plasma pharmacokinetics of fenretinide
included analysis of metabolites (4-MPR and 4-oxo-HPR) and related plasma sphingolipids
Time frame: On day 1 (hour 0, 2, 4, 6), day 7 (hour 0, 2, 4, 6) and day 9 (after 3 pm) for course 1. For courses 2 and 6, day 1 (hour 0, 4 and 6), and day 7 (hour 0, 4, and 6)
Disease response
within limitations of a phase 1 study. Time frame may be longer if a subject receives more than 6 cycles of therapy.
Time frame: every 42 days while on therapy
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