This study is a phase Ib, open label, multi-centre trial designed to estimate the Maximum Tolerated Dose (MTD) of lithium when combined with a standard chemotherapy regimen of oxaliplatin and capecitabine in patients with advanced, unresectable, oesophago-gastric or colorectal cancer who have received no previous treatment for advanced disease (previous adjuvant or neo-adjuvant treatment is acceptable if completed at least 6 months prior to registration). The study follows a modified Fibonacci, 3+3, dose escalation design. Patients are enrolled in cohorts of 3. All three patients in each cohort must complete at least two cycles of treatment to be evaluable for toxicity. If a patient cannot complete 2 cycles, another patient will be enrolled.
This study is a Phase Ib, open label, multi-centre, dose escalation trial to assess the dose of lithium that can be safely combined with standard treatment oxaliplatin and capecitabine chemotherapy. Registered patients will be treated with lithium combined with a standard chemotherapy regimen of oxaliplatin and capecitabine until a maximum of 6 x 21 day cycles (18 weeks), tumour progression, unacceptable toxicity, pregnancy, withdrawal of consent or withdrawal at the discretion of the investigator, whichever occurs first. After discontinuation of study treatment, all patients will be followed for safety for at least 30 days. Patients who discontinue treatment for reasons other than disease progression will continue to be followed every 9 weeks in accordance with standard of care for efficacy (i.e. tumour assessment) until disease progression, death, withdrawal of consent, loss to follow up or until the start of a new anti-neoplastic treatment, whichever occurs first. Once the patient has documented disease progression, they will be followed up every three months (±1 month) for survival status. The trial will be a traditional 3+3 design: cohorts of 3 patients will be treated with lithium combined with standard treatment oxaliplatin and capecitabine chemotherapy. The doses of oxaliplatin and capecitabine have been established in prior phase II and III studies and will not be escalated. Lithium target serum concentrations are assigned at registration according to a defined dose escalation scheme. Study lithium dose escalation will follow a modified Fibonacci 3+3 sequence. A -1 dose level (0.4mmol/L) is included in case dose de-escalation is needed. The levels of lithium achieved in each patient will be established by regular assessment of steady state serum concentrations. Lithium will start at a low level and dose escalations will be performed in cohorts of 3 patients according to a standard 3+3 algorithm. Dose escalation and determination of MTD will be based on the occurrence of Dose Limiting Toxicities (DLT) as defined below. The first cohort of 3 patients will commence at dose level 1. All patients in each cohort will be observed for two cycles on the specified dose: * If none of 3 patients at a given dose level experiences a DLT, accrual will continue to the next dose level according to the protocol. * If 1 of 3 patients experiences a DLT at a given dose level, 3 additional patients will be treated at the same dose. If no additional patient has a DLT in this cohort, accrual will continue to the next dose level according to the protocol. * If 2 or more patients in 3 or 6 patients treated at a given dose experience a DLT, the next lowest dose level will define the MTD. A Dose Limiting Toxicity (DLT) is defined as any of the following adverse events occurring during the two first cycles (within 42 days from first dose) of treatment and possibly, probably or definitely related to the combination of lithium, oxaliplatin and capecitabine: A. Grade 3 or 4 non-haematological toxicity other than nausea, vomiting or fatigue. B. Grade 3 or 4 thrombocytopenia: grade 4 thrombocytopenia (platelet count \< 25 x 109/L) or grade 3/4 thrombocytopenia (grade 3 platelet count: 25 x 109/L to \< 50 x 109/L) associated with bleeding. C. Complicated grade 4 neutropenia (\< 0.5 x 109/L): fever, sepsis \> 5 days of duration. D. Any significant\* grade 2 and higher toxicity other than nausea, vomiting, rash, alopecia or anaemia that persists longer than 35 days after the start of cycle 1. \*"Significant" defined as affecting quality of life or patient safety as determined by investigator. Clinical and laboratory parameters will be assessed to evaluate disease response and toxicity of study therapy. Safety assessments will be performed every 3 weeks for the 18 weeks. Efficacy assessments (Radiological examination) will be performed on all patients every 9 weeks (+/- 1 week). An End of Treatment visit will be performed for patients within 30 days (+/- 1 week) post last dose or disease progression.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
2
Dose escalation of Lithium to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)
Dose as used in standard of care - 130 mg/m2.
Dose as used in standard of care - 800 - 1000 mg/m2
Cork University Hospital
Cork, Ireland
St James's Hospital
Dublin, Ireland
Incidence of dose limiting toxicity (DLT) within the two first cycles at each dose level.
The MTD will be based on the incidence of DLT within the two first cycles of lithium in combination with standard chemotherapy of oxaliplatin and capecitabine at each dose level.
Time frame: 26 months
Progression Free Survival (PFS) as defined by RECIST Criteria Version 1.1.
PFS will be defined as the time from the start of treatment until disease progression or death as a result of any cause.
Time frame: 3 years
Objective Response Rate (ORR) as defined by RECIST Criteria Version 1.1.
ORR is defined as the proportion of patients who receive a Complete Response or a Partial Response (CR + PR).
Time frame: 3 years
Incidence of adverse events reported as per the NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) Version 4.0. (Safety and Tolerability).
Safety will be assessed by standard clinical and laboratory tests.
Time frame: 3 years
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