1 Executive Summary:
This Investigational Board Approval (IRB) Submission is centered
on antiangiogenesis and antioxidant treatments diminishing tumor
growth and metastasis, specifically using tetrathiomolybdate, zinc,
ascorbic acid, N-acetylcysteine and vitamin B6. Copper bound to
ceruloplasmin increases angiogenic activity and correlates with
tumor incidence, burden and malignant progression.2
Copper has been found to behave as a molecular switch for activating
cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha
(TNF-a), and growth factors such as basic fibroblast growth factor
(bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).2
All four of the above signaling factors have been shown to be
angiogenic. Copper seems to act as an "obligatory cofactor" allowing
for the angiogenic activator to become functional.2 In
addition, copper was found to stimulate the directional migration of
endothelial cells where other trace metals were not.2 The
underlying hypothesis of antiangiogenesis using copper-reduction
therapy is that the level of copper required for angiogenesis is
higher than that required for essential copper-dependent cellular
functions.9 Having established that copper is intimately
involved in tumor growth via the angiogenic pathway, it is feasible
to propose a method of treatment, which will decrease the body's
concentration of copper. Drs. Brewer and Merajver from the
University of Michigan have used TM to reduce copper levels in
patients.12,14 TM has been shown to be essentially
nontoxic, fast acting, and copper specific.12 The goal of
these studies has been to reduce ceruloplasmin levels to 20% of the
patient's normal baseline.9,12 Ceruloplasmin (CP) levels
more accurately measure copper depletion than total copper
alone.9 As previously mentioned, zinc has been shown to
reduce copper absorption, although zinc is not a chelator. Zinc like
TM is nontoxic but has the disadvantage of having therapeutic
effectiveness much slower than TM.15 Zinc lowers copper
levels by inducing hepatic and intestinal metallothionein (MT)
synthesis which in turn binds copper, rendering it unavailable for
absorption into the bloodstream.16 Enterocytes lining the
small intestine are shed periodically into the lumen of the
intestine with the intracellular copper-MT complex and subsequently,
excreted.15
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is derived from the sulfur-containing
amino acid cysteine. It is found naturally in foods and serves as a
powerful antioxidant.19 Furthermore, NAC was shown to
prevent angiogenesis of endothelial cells, inhibiting invasion and
metastasis of malignant cells.38 The mechanism of this
action is believed to be due to the production of angiostatin by
NAC.2,44 NAC and ascorbic acid,when used together, have
an additive effect in inhibiting lung tumorigenicity.42
Ascorbic acid, like NAC, has been shown to enhance the activity of
cytotoxic drugs such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, dacarbazie, 5-FU, and
doxorubicin.31 Also, ascorbic acid may act as an
antiangiogenic agent by aiding in copper reduction. Ascorbic acid
decreases the intestinal absorption of copper and the oxidase
activity of serum ceruloplasmin.6,7,11 In summary we have
combined tetrathiomolybdate, ascorbic acid and N-acetylcysteine to
act synergistically in their respective functions to reduce copper
and act as antioxidants.
2 Table of Contents
1 |
PROTOCOL
SUMMARY |
2 |
TABLE OF
CONTENTS |
3 |
ABBREVIATIONS |
4 |
BACKGROUND
INFORMATION |
|
4.1 |
INTRODUCTION,
SCIENTIFIC BACKGROUND AND PROTOCOL |
|
4.1.1 |
Copper Metabolism |
|
4.1.2 |
Copper's Role in Angiogenesis
and Cancer |
5 |
TRIAL
OBJECTIVES |
|
5.1 |
PRIMARY
OBJECTIVE |
|
5.2 |
SECONDARY
OBJECTIVES |
6 |
TRIAL
ENDPOINTS |
|
6.1 |
PRIMARY
ENDPOINT |
|
6.2 |
SECONDARY
ENDPOINTS |
7 |
TRIAL DESIGN AND
RATIONALE |
|
7.1 |
Protocol for
Treatment |
|
7.1.1 |
Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) |
|
7.1.2 |
Zinc |
|
7.1.3 |
Antioxidant Treatment-
N-acetylcysteine and Ascorbic Acid |
|
7.2 |
Methods |
|
7.2.1 |
Protocol for Copper
reduction |
|
7.3 |
TM Blood Test
Schedule |
8 |
SELECTION OF
SUBJECTS |
|
8.1 |
SUBJECT INCLUSION
CRITERIA |
|
8.2 |
SUBJECT EXCLUSION
CRITERIA |
9 |
Study Drugs |
|
9.1 |
Tetrathiomolybdate |
|
9.1.1 |
Description |
|
9.1.2 |
Drug Administration |
|
9.1.3 |
Storage and Stability |
|
9.1.4 |
Source of Drug |
|
9.1.5 |
Toxicity |
|
9.2 |
N-acetylcysteine
(NAC)-Rx Mucomyst or generic equivalent |
|
9.2.1 |
Description |
|
9.2.2 |
Drug Administration |
|
9.2.3 |
Storage and Stability |
|
9.2.4 |
Source of Drug |
|
9.2.5 |
Toxicity |
|
9.3 |
Ascorbic Acid
tablets |
|
9.3.1 |
Description |
|
9.3.2 |
Drug Administration |
|
9.3.3 |
Storage and Stability |
|
9.3.4 |
Source of Drug |
|
9.3.5 |
Toxicity |
|
9.4 |
Zinc Sulfate |
|
9.4.1 |
Description |
|
9.4.2 |
Drug Administration |
|
9.4.3 |
Storage and Stability |
|
9.4.4 |
Source of Drug |
|
9.4.5 |
Toxicity |
10 |
Clinical Efficacy
Assessments: Objective Tumor Response |
|
10.1 |
Methods of
Assessments |
|
10.2 |
Definitions of
Objective Tumor Response and Progression |
|
10.2.1 |
Target Lesions |
|
10.2.2 |
Non-Target Lesions |
|
10.2.3 |
Evaluation of Overall
Objective Tumor Response |
|
10.3 |
Methods and
Assessment- Tumor Markers |
11 |
Clinical Safety
Assessments |
|
11.1 |
Definition of an
Adverse Event |
|
11.2 |
Serious Adverse
Events |
|
11.3 |
Unexpected Adverse
Events |
|
11.4 |
Adverse Events
Reporting Period |
|
11.5 |
Eliciting Adverse
Event Information |
|
11.6 |
Reporting
Requirements |
|
11.7 |
Recording Adverse
Events in the CRF's Procedures |
|
11.8 |
Exposure In
Utero |
12 |
Statistical
Considerations |
|
12.1 |
Survival |
|
12.2 |
Objective Tumor
Response Rate |
|
12.3 |
Time to Objective
Tumor Response |
|
12.4 |
Duration of
Objective Tumor Response |
|
12.5 |
Time to Objective
Tumor Progression |
|
12.6 |
Time to Treatment
Failure |
|
12.7 |
Clinical
Benefit |
|
12.8 |
Treatment
Administration |
|
12.9 |
Study
Population |
13 |
QUALITY CONTROL AND
QUALITY ASSURANCE |
14 |
Ethical Conduct of
the Trial |
15 |
Institutional Review
Board/ Independent Ethics Committee |
16 |
Patient Informed
Consent |
|
16.1 |
General
Information |
|
16.2 |
US- Specific IRB/IEC
Requirements |
17 |
REFERENCES |
3 AbbreviationsARC: AIDS Related
Complex BFGF: basic Fibroblast Growth Factor CA 19-9: CBC:
Complete Blood Count COX-2: cyclooxygenase CR: Complete
Response CRF: DOX: doxorubican ECOG: 5-FU:
5-flurouracil GCP: GMCFS: HIV: Human Immunodeficiency
Virus IEC: IFN: interferon IL-1: interleukin-1 IRB:
Institutional Review Board MT: metallothionein NAC:
N-acetylcysteine NE: not evaluable for response PD:
Progressive Disease PR: Partial Response P & U: Pharmacia and
Upjohn RECIST: Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid
Tumors ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species SAER-S: SD: Stable
Disease TM: Tetrathiomolybdate TNF-a: Tumor Necrosis
Factor-alpha VEGF: Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor
4 Background Information
4.1 Introduction, Scientific
Background and Protocol
For a tumor to grow and metastasize it must have a blood supply.
Angiogenesis is the process by which new blood vessels called
capillaries develop. Angiogenesis occurs naturally in reproduction,
the healing process of wounds, and in the development of the
embryo.1 Angiogenesis occurs also in several unnatural,
pathological conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, diabetic
retinopathy, and cancer.1 In the case of cancer, a tumor
will not grow larger than a pea size unless it obtains a blood
supply through the angiogenic process.
Endothelial cells line blood vessels. The tumor produces
angiogenic substances to initiate endothelial cell growth with
subsequent capillary growth. These signals may be growth factors,
proteases, trace elements, oncogenes, signal transduction enzymes,
cytokines, and endogenous modulators.2 Some antiangiogenic agents
have been found over the past few years inhibiting some of these
signals. This Investigational Board Approval (IRB) Submission is
centered on antiangiogenesis and antioxidant treatments diminishing
the impact of tumor growth and metastasis, specifically using
tetrathiomolybdate, zinc, ascorbic acid, N-acetylcysteine and
vitamin B6.
4.1.1 Copper Metabolism
Copper is found in whole grains, shellfish, legumes, liver, and
nuts while poor sources of copper seem to be dairy
products.4 Copper is rapidly absorbed from the stomach
and small intestine and mainly stored in the liver.4 Most
of the copper in the body is bound to proteins (Table 1) leaving a
small amount unbound.4
Table 1 Proteins Bound to
Copper4
Transport proteins |
Storage proteins |
Cu-containing Enzymes |
Enzyme function |
Ceruloplasmin Copper-albumin |
Metallothioneins |
Cytochrome C oxidase Superoxide
dismutase Lysyl oxidase Tyrosinase Dopamine
hyroxylase Clotting factor V Ceruloplasmin |
Energy
production Antioxidant Connective
tissue Melanin Catecholamine Blood clotting
Antioxidant iron metabolism |
However, antagonists of copper absorption may be present and
therefore impede copper absorption. Zinc and vitamin C have been
shown to be strong antagonists of copper absorption.4
Zinc supplements have been shown to decrease copper status in adult
males.5 Furthermore, ceruloplasmin activity, which is one
of the main copper binding proteins and is directly proportional to
bound copper concentration, has been shown to decrease when
supplements of vitamin C were taken for 64 days.6 Also, a
study done on laboratory rats reflected that ascorbic acid induced a
decrease in the intestinal absorption of copper.7
Drs. Brewer and Prasad have worked extensively on Wilson's
disease, a genetic disease in which there is excessive accumulation
of copper in the liver. Dr. Brewer and his team treated patients
with 50mg of zinc three times a day while on a low copper
diet.8 This protocol has been used successfully for the
past 15 years.
In addition to zinc and vitamin C, sulfur and molybdate have been
shown to be antagonists of the absorption of the trace element. A
complex of sulfur and molybdate known as tetrathiomolybdate (TM) has
proven to be extremely safe for copper reduction9 and has
been shown to occur naturally in ruminant animals for copper
removal.3 TM's activity lies in that it is a potent
chelator for copper. If taken at mealtime, it prevents the body form
absorbing copper in food and copper found in gastric and salivary
secretions.10 Taken between meals, TM in the blood would
bind copper to a blood protein forming a TM-copper-protein
complex.10 Therefore, ascorbic acid, zinc, and TM may act
indirectly as inhibitors of angiogenesis by inhibiting copper
absorption.
4.1.2 Copper's Role in
Angiogenesis and Cancer
Copper levels are usually elevated in cancer.2,4,9
Plasma levels of copper have, however, proven to be somewhat
misleading. Ruminants form thiomolybdates which complex with copper
and inhibit absorption of the trace mineral. There is an initial
increase of copper plasma levels due to copper release from the
liver.3 Likewise, patients on TM therapy actually have
increased blood copper levels.9 Ascorbic acid does not
affect copper absorption, retention, total serum copper or the serum
level of ceruloplasmin.11 However, the oxidase activity
of ceruloplasmin was decreased significantly.11 The most
reliable biomarker for monitoring copper reduction is
ceruloplasmin.9
Ceruloplasmin synthesis by the liver is controlled by the amount
of copper available to the liver; therefore, as copper is reduced,
serum ceruloplasmin is reduced.12 This copper-binding
molecule is non-angiogenic when not bound to copper but upon
binding, becomes angiongenic.2 Ceruloplasmin has been
investigated as a diagnostic marker of cancer showing significant
elevations in advanced stages of solid malignant
tumors.13 It has also been shown to be a good marker for
lymphoma.9 This principal transport protein of copper has
been shown to increase four to eight-fold during malignant
progression.2 Thus, increased copper bound to
ceruloplasmin increases angiogenic activity correlating with tumor
incidence and burden and malignant progression.2
Copper has been found to behave as a molecular switch for
activating cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1) and tumor necrosis
factor-alpha (TNF-a), and growth factors such as basic fibroblast
growth factor (bFGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor
(VEGF).2 All four of the above signaling factors have
been shown to be angiogenic. Copper seems to act as an "obligatory
cofactor" allowing for the angiogenic activator to become
functional.2 In addition, copper was found to stimulate
the directional migration of endothelial cells where other trace
metals were not.2 The level of copper required for
angiogenesis is higher than required for essential cellular
functions which are copper-dependent.9
In conclusion, all four of the above angiogenic pathways could be
inhibited by simply reducing the copper levels significantly while
maintaining a baseline of copper for essential enzymatic pathways.
Ongoing clinical trials are now testing a complex of sulfur and
molybdate known as tetrathiomolybdate (TM), and the lack of toxicity
in TM indicates that it may be extremely safe for copper
reduction.9
5 Trial Objectives
5.1 Primary Objective
Reduce tumor load by antiangiogenic treatments
5.2 Secondary Objective
Utilize tumor markers in the assessmemt of residual tumor
6 Trial Endpoints
6.1 Primary Endpoints
Image reduction of tumor mass
6.2 Secondary Endpoints
The reversal of tumor marker levels to normal values
7 Trial Design and Rationale
7.1 Protocol for Treatment
7.1.1 Tetrathiomolybdate
(TM)
Having established that copper is intimately involved in tumor
growth via the angiogenic pathway, it is feasible to propose a
method of treatment, which will decrease the body's concentration of
copper. Drs. Brewer and Merajver from the University of Michigan
have used TM to reduce copper levels in patients.12,14 TM
has been shown to be essentially nontoxic, fast acting, and copper
specific.12 The goal of these studies has been to reduce
ceruloplasmin levels to 20% of the patient's normal
baseline.9,12 Ceruloplasmin levels more accurately
measure copper depletion than total copper alone.9 By
reducing to such a level, the body's normal important copper-based
reactions could carry on normally. It has been reported that mammary
cancer in transgenic mice has been prevented using
tetrathiomolybdate (TM).2 TM binds with copper making a
stable compound, which is cleared by the body.12
By giving patients 20mg of TM three times daily with meals and
dose level of 20mg three times between meals, a reduction of
ceruloplasmin to 20% normal was achieved in 60-90 days.12
This 20% normal is referred to by Brewer and Merajver as a "window"
in which the copper levels are low enough to initiate
antiangiogenesis activity but high enough for normal metabolic
functions of copper.10 Iron levels should be monitored
and an iron supplement may be warranted because one of the first
signs of copper deficiency is that of anemia.9 This is
due to copper's importance in the synthesis of heme, a protein
imperative for red blood cell formation. The hematocrit should be
monitored in copper-reduction therapy. Brewer and Merajver set
ceruloplasmin reduction to 20% of baseline while only reducing the
hematocrit to 80% of baseline.12 Thus, TM has been shown
to be an effective chelator of copper with few side effects.
Therefore, for antiangiogenic copper-reduction therapy, TM may prove
to be the safest and most potent cancer therapy.15
7.1.2 Zinc
As previously mentioned, zinc has been shown to reduce copper
absorption, although zinc is not a chelator. Zinc like TM is
nontoxic but has the disadvantage of having therapeutic
effectiveness much slower than TM.15 Zinc lowers copper
levels by inducing hepatic and intestinal metallothionein (MT)
synthesis which in turn binds copper, rendering it unavailable for
absorption into the bloodstream.16 Enterocytes lining the
small intestine are shed periodically into the lumen of the
intestine with the intracellular copper-MT complex and subsequently,
excreted.15
Drs. Brewer and Prasad used 150mg of elemental zinc in 50mg doses
given three times daily one hour before or after a meal in the
treatment of Wilson's disease, a genetic disease in which there is
excessive accumulation of copper in the liver.9,17 This
dose of zinc is approximately ten times the RDA of 15mg/day,
however, zinc toxicity occurs very rarely in humans. Doses of
greater than 2 grams daily (13 times Dr. Brewer's recommended dose)
will lead to gastrointestinal irritations such as nausea, stomach
upset and vomiting.18 With zinc having such a low
potential for toxicity, Brewer and Prasad successfully treated
Wilson's disease with zinc and found it to be as effective as
treatment with TM, although significantly slower.9 With
TM, ceruloplasmin levels reach the target range within one and a
half to two months whereas, zinc may take up to six months or more
to reach the therapeutic levels of copper reduction.9
In order to lower the copper to a therapeutic level in a timely
manner, a combination of TM and zinc may be used. This can be
accomplished by a patient taking 20mg of TM at mealtime three times
per day and a combination of 20mg of TM and 50mg zinc 3 times daily
at one hour or more before or after a meal. The supplementation with
zinc would only be used if the patient did not reduced their copper
levels to the therapeutic 20% of baseline within 60 days.
7.1.3 Antioxidant Treatment -
N-acetylcysteine and Ascorbic Acid
Antioxidants neutralize free radicals, which are produced by
normal metabolic activity. Free radicals such as superoxide
radicals, hydroxyl radicals, peroxyl radicals, and alkoxyl radicals
when left unchecked wreak havoc on cells causing damage to membranes
and DNA. Since these free radicals have the potential for such
devastating damage, they have been considered by scientists to be a
major factor in the cancer and aging processes.
N-acetylcysteine (NAC) is derived from the sulfur-containing
amino acid cysteine. It is found naturally in foods and serves as a
powerful antioxidant.19 NAC is a precursor of
intracellular glutathione which behaves as an antioxidant as well,
functioning to remove toxic peroxides.20 NAC is readily
absorbed, quickly converted to L-cysteine and then intracellular
glutathione, thus, replenishing and maintaining healthy levels of
glutathione.20 In a study done by De Flora et al., NAC
induced an increase in oxidized glutathione reductase activity in
rats.21 NAC and glutathione are very important antioxidant,
detoxifying agents of the body.
Furthermore, NAC was shown to prevent angiogenesis of endothelial
cells, inhibiting invasion and metastasis of malignant
cells.38 The mechanism of this action is believed to be
due to the production of angiostatin by NAC. 2,44
Both NAC and glutathione are sulfur-containing compounds.
Sulfhydryl groups react with heavy metals such as mercury, lead,
boron, cadmium, and chromium.20 In addition, NAC and
glutathione have been found to conjugate with metabolites of
valproic acid in rats and humans, ridding the body of these
compounds which may contribute to hepatotoxicity.22
Furthermore, orally administered NAC seems to have a protective
effect against gastric damage induced from ethanol.23 In
addition, NAC is used to prevent damage to the liver caused by
acetaminophen overdose.20,24-26
NAC affects the immune system by increasing intracellular
glutathione. Reduced intracellular glutathione levels are present in
the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), which is reversed when NAC
is administered and thereby blocking the AIDS virus production in
vitro.19 Furthermore, NAC enhances T cell colony
formation in vitro of AIDS and ARC (AIDS related complex)
patients.27 Not only does NAC work to enhance the immune
system, it protects the immune cells from free radical damage via
its antioxidant activity.
In addition to the antioxidant and detoxifying roles of NAC, this
compound has been found to be effective as a mucolytic agent
breaking up mucus in patients with pulmonary disorders such as
chronic fibrosis, asthma, chronic bronchitis, and
pneumonia.19 NAC functions to reduce the viscosity of the
mucus allowing for easier expectoration.20
Cancer research has shown NAC to be an important protective agent
due to its antioxidant and detoxifying abilities. NAC has been shown
to protect against carcinogens found in air which lead to
respiratory complications due to their DNA-damaging
effects.28 NAC was shown to protect rat liver and lung
mitochondrial DNA from damage caused by toxic carcinogens such as
cigarette smoke.29 NAC could protect from interferon
(IFN)-induced reduction of cytochrome P450 which is vital to drug
metabolism in the liver.30 This is significant because
cancer patients who may be undergoing IFN treatment should take NAC
because of its antioxidant potential. IFN increases a liver enzyme,
xanthine oxidase, which is known to produce reactive oxygen species
which attack harm the cytochrome P450 system and other cellular
components.30
In addition to interferon, the cytotoxic effects of
antineoplastic agents are affected by reactive oxygen species (ROS),
implying that for the most effective response to chemotherapy,
antioxidants should be used.31 Antineoplastic drugs
depend on rapid proliferation of cells for optimal
activity.31 Oxidative stress, ROS production leads to
lipid peroxidation which adversely affects cell
proliferation.31 If cells aren't proliferating rapidly,
antineoplastic drugs are not as effective. Cancer cells have
mechanisms, which have allowed them to prevent lipid peroxidation,
allowing for rapid proliferation. If excessive oxidative stress
occurs in cancer cells, the proliferation will diminish, and
therefore, the cancer is less responsive to
chemotherapy.31 However, antioxidant supplements during
chemotherapy may optimize the activity of the antineoplastic agent.
Doxorubicin (DOX) is a cytotoxic drug shown to have a synergistic
effect against metastasis in mice when combined with
N-acetylcysteine.32 NAC was shown to also prevent
DOX-induced myelogenotxicity and alopecia while inhibiting tumor
cell metastasis and invasion.33 The activity of
cyclophosphamide and ifosfamide was not impaired when taken with
NAC.31 Furthermore, supplementation with NAC during
chemotherapy treatment may also reduce chemotherapy-induced side
effects. NAC reduces cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity and also
protects against bleomycin-induced genotoxicity.31
Free radicals induce expression of cyclooxygenase (COX-2) which
has been shown to play a role in colorectal cancer.34,35
COX-2 acts as an angiogenic agent.36,37 NAC was shown to
decrease COX-2 expression in a human colorectal cancer cell line and
therefore, may act as an antiangiongenic factor.35
Furthermore, NAC was shown to prevent angiogenesis of endothelial
cells, inhibiting invasion and metastasis of malignant
cells.38 Also, NAC was found to suppress development of
tumors or preneoplastic lesions in rodents39 and to
induce apoptosis in transformed cell lines by increasing p53
expression, a tumor suppressor gene.40
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) has been known for years to be a
powerful antioxidant but also may act as a pro-oxidant producing
radicals when combined with transition metals as in metal-overload
states.41 With this in mind, D'Agostini et al. (2000),
investigated the combined effects of NAC and ascorbic acid and found
that when used together were shown to have an additive effect in
inhibiting lung tumorigenicity of urethane in mice while also
inhibiting mutagenicity of chromium(VI).42 Ascorbic acid,
like NAC, has been shown to enhance the activity of cytotoxic drugs
such as cisplatin, paclitaxel, dacarbazie, 5-FU, and
doxorubicin.31 Also, ascorbic acid may act as an
antiangiogenic agent by aiding in copper reduction. Ascorbic acid
decreases the intestinal absorption of copper and the oxidase
activity of serum ceruloplasmin.6,7,11
7.2 Methods
7.2.1 Protocol for Copper
Reduction
(one capsule per meal and one between meals for a total of six
per day)
Listed below is the protocol for treating cancer patients by a
copper-reduction regiment based on the information above.
· 20 mg of TM should be taken with meals six
times per day.
Serum ceruloplasmin levels must be monitored weekly from the
beginning to establish baseline so that 20% baseline is
determined.12 In addition, it is important to monitor
iron levels and hemocrit.
This regiment should be taken for 60-90 days - EVERY day until
copper ceruloplasmin levels are within 20% of baseline.9
To maintain the 20% level, a maintenance level dosage is utilized by
taking 20 mg TM 3-4 times per day. About two weeks into treatment,
antioxidant capsules consisting of 300mg N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and
300mg of ascorbic acid should be taken six times per day. Because
copper has been shown to react with NAC and ascorbic acid to cause
DNA damage,43 the antioxidant treatment should start
after copper reduction begins.
7.3 TM Blood Test Schedule
You must find a lab that will give you a turn-around time of no
more than 48 hours on ceruloplasmin.
Before starting the Copper Reduction/Antioxidant Protocol,
establish baselines: Copper
Zinc Ceruloplasmin
CBC
End of 4th week: Ceruloplasmin and
CBC
End of 6th week: Ceruloplasmin and
CBC
End of 8th week: Copper
Zinc Ceruloplasmin
CBC
Once Ceruloplasmin is in the teens:
Ceruloplasmin and CBC every week Copper and
Zinc once per month
NOTE: The zinc to copper ratio should be
3:1 Target ceruloplasmin is 20% of baseline
reading
8 |
Selection of Subjects |
|
8.1 |
Subject Inclusion Criteria |
|
Patients must meet all of the
following inclusion criteria: |
|
1. |
Patient must have histologically cancer. |
|
2. |
Patient must be greater than or
18-years-old. |
|
3. |
3. Patients must have an Eastern Cooperative
Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0, 1, or 2. |
|
4. |
Measurable disease is required. |
|
5. |
All acute toxic effects of any prior
radiotherapy or 5-FU given as a radiation sensitizer must have
resolved to National Cancer Institute Common Toxicity Criteria
(Version 2.0) grade < or equal to 1. |
|
6. |
Required initial laboratory data for patients
include:
CBC Absolute neutrophil
count Creatinine Bilirubin Alkaline
phosphatase Serum glutamate-oxaloacetate
transaminase Lactate dehydrogenase Serum pregnancy test
for females of childbearing potential Tumor markers
depending on the tumor
type Albumin Ceruloplasmin Copper Zinc Iron
|
|
7. |
Patients must sign an informed consent that
they are aware of the neoplastic nature of their disease and
must willingly provide written consent after being informed of
the procedures to be followed, the experimental nature of the
therapy, alternatives, potential benefits, side-effects,
risks, and discomforts. Patients must be willing and able to
comply with scheduled visits, treatment plan, and laboratory
tests. |
|
8.2 |
Subject Exclusion |
The presence of any of the following will
exclude a patient:
- Current enrollment in another clinical trial.
- Pregnant or breast feeding women. With the exception of
post-menopausal or infertile women, a negative blood test
for pregnancy is mandatory before entry on study. Fertile
persons refusing to use contraceptives may not participate.
- Known human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positivity or
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)- related illness.
- Currently active second malignancy, other than
non-melanoma skin cancers. Patients with other malignancies
must have been disease free for 5 or more years.
- Mental incapacitation or psychiatric illness that would
prevent the patient from giving informed consent.
- Other severe concurrent disease which, in the judgement
of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate
for entry into this study.
|
9 |
Study Drugs |
|
9.1 |
Tetrathiomolybdate |
|
9.1.1 DESCRIPTION 20 mg of TM
9.1.2
DRUG ADMINISTRATION Oral gel capsule
9.1.3 STORAGE
AND STABILITY Se manufacturers recommendation. All TM,
whether powder or capsule form, is stored under argon. Orders
are prepared fresh from argon storage with a three month shelf
life.
9.1.4 SOURCE OF DRUG - Physician
prescription
9.1.5 TOXICITY - Anemia |
|
9.2 |
N-acetylcysteine (NAC)-Rx Mucomyst or
generic equivalent |
|
9.2.1 DESCRIPTION Mucomyst or generic
equivalent (20% solution)
9.2.2 DRUG
ADMINISTRATION Oral solution made by diluting 10 mL with 50
mL of cola
9.2.3 STORAGE AND STABILITY Store diluted
solution in the refrigerator. Discard diluted solution
after 96 hrs.
9.2.4 SOURCE OF DRUG Physician
prescription
9.2.5 TOXICITY Stomatitis, nausea,
vomiting, fever, drowsiness, chest tightness, and
cronchoconstriction |
|
9.3 |
Ascorbic Acid Tablets - OTC |
|
9.3.1 DESCRIPTION Vitamin C 500mg per
tablet
9.3.2 DRUG ADMINISTRATION Oral
tablet
9.3.3 STORAGE AND STABILITY See
manufacturer's recommendations
9.3.4 SOURCE OF
DRUG Over the counter
9.3.5 TOXICITY nausea,
vomiting, gout precipitation, rebound scurvy, increased iron
adsorption, diarrhea, and renal oxalate
stones. |
|
9.4 |
Zinc Sulfate (or Zinc Acetate) |
|
9.4.1 DESCRIPTION 220 mg of sulfate or 50 mg
as zinc
9.4.2 DRUG ADMINISTRATION Oral
capsule
9.4.3 STORAGE AND STABILITY See
manufacturer's recommendations
9.4.4 SOURCE OF
DRUG Over the counter
9.4.5 TOXICITY Nausea,
vomiting, gout precipitation, rebound scurvy, increased iron
adsorption, diarrhea, renal oxalate stones |
10 |
Clinical Efficacy Assessments: Objective
Tumor Response |
|
10.1 |
Methods of Assessment |
The principle evaluation of antitumor activity will be
based on serial objective determination of changes in
measurable lesion size. The newly developed World Heath
Organization Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors
(RECIST) will be employed.
Radiographic evaluation is preferred to evaluation by
clinical examination. Tumor assessments should preferably
include abdominal CT scans with contrast. Abdominal MRI scans
are acceptable. Conventional CT and MRI should be performed
with cuts of 1.0cm or less in slice thickness contiguously.
Spiral CT should be performed using a 0.5cm contiguous
reconstruction algorithm. Lesions on chest x-ray are
acceptable as measurable lesions when they are clearly defined
and surrounded by aerated lung. However, CT is preferable for
assessment of chest lesions. Chest CT scans or chest X-rays
should be followed in patients with known pulmonary metastases
at baseline or in whom pulmonary symptoms develop during
treatment.
Documentation by color photography including a ruler is
necessary to estimate the size of skin lesions. Ultrasound is
a possible alternative to clinical measurements for
superficial palpable nodes, subcutaneous lesions, and thyroid
nodules. Ultrasound may also be used to confirm the complete
disappearance of superficial lesions usually assessed by
clinical examination. Ultrasound should not be used to measure
tumor lesions that are clinically not easily accessible.
Endoscopy, laparoscopy, and radionuclide scan should not be
used for response assessment.
The same method of assessment and the same technique should
be used to characterize each identified and reported lesion at
baseline and during follow-up. To ensure compatibility, the
baseline x-rays/scans to assess response must be performed
using identical techniques. Copies of the scans must be
available for review.
Malignant tumor masses (target lesions) should be selected
on the basis of their size and their suitability for accurate
repetitive measurements. All patients must have at least one
target lesion that can be accurately measured in at least one
dimension (longest diameter to be recorded) greater than or
equal to 2.0cm with conventional radiographic techniques or
MRI, or greater than or equal to 1.0cm with spiral CT scan. To
assess objective response, it is necessary to estimate the
overall tumor burden at baseline and use this as a comparator
for subsequent measurements. Whenever possible, several
measurable lesions up to a maximum of 10 target lesions
representative of involved organs should be identified,
measured and recorded at baseline. To allow later retrieval,
lesions should be clearly marked on the films or otherwise
identified. If the lesion is detected by more than one method
at baseline, the investigator should select at baseline the
method to be used at subsequent evaluations. All measurements
should be performed using a caliper or ruler and should be
recorded in metric notation in centimeters. A sum of the
longest diameter for all target lesions will be calculated and
reported as the baseline sum longest diameter. The baseline
sum longest diameters will be used as reference to further
characterize the objective tumor response of the measurable
dimension of the disease by repeated assessment of the sum of
the longest diameters during treatment.
All other lesions (or sites of disease) should be
identified as non-target lesions and should also be recorded
at baseline. Measurements are not required and these lesions
should be followed as "present" or "absent".
All baseline evaluations should be performed as closely as
possible to the treatment start and never more than 14 days
before the beginning of the treatment. After randomization,
oncologic assessment will be repeated every 6 weeks, for
patients in both treatment arms.
10.2 Definitions of
Objective Tumor Response and Progression-Imaging
Measurable lesions are defined as malignant tumor masses
that can be accurately measured in at least one dimension
(longest diameter to be recorded) as greater than or at 2.0cm
with conventional techniques or as greater than or equal to
1.0cm with spiral CT scan. Clinical lesions will only be
considered measurable when they are superficial (e.g. skin
nodules, palpable lymph nodes).
Nonmeasurable lesions are defined as malignant tumor masses
that cannot be accurately quantified for tumor response, and
would include bone lesions, leptomeningeal disease, ascites,
pleural or pericardial effusions, lymphangitis of the skin or
lung, abdominal masses that are not confirmed and followed by
imaging techniques, cystic lesions, irradiated lesions, and
disease documented by indirect evidence only (e.g. by
laboratory tests such as alkaline phosphatase.)
|
|
10.2.1 Target Lesions |
Complete response (CR) is defined as the disappearance of
all target lesions.
Partial response (PR) is defined as a greater than or equal
to 30% decrease in the sum of the longest dimensions of the
target lesions taking as reference the baseline sum longest
dimensions.
Progressive disease (PD) id defined as a greater than or
equal to 20% increase in the sum of the longest dimensions of
the target lesions as reference the smallest sum of the
longest dimensions recorded since the treatment started, or
the appearance of one or more new lesions.
Stable Disease (SD) is defined as neither sufficient
shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify
for PD taking as references the smallest sum of the longest
dimensions since the treatment started. |
|
10.2.2 Non-Target Lesions |
Complete response (CR) is defined as the disappearance of
all nontarget lesions.
Non-Complete Response ((Non-CR)/Non-Progressive disease
(Non-PD) is defined as a persistence of one or more nontarget
lesions.
Progressive disease (PD) is defined as unequivocal
progression of existing nontarget lesions, or the appearance
of one or more new lesions.
Patients will be defined as Not Evaluable for Response (NE)
if there is no post-randomization oncologic assessment.
All patients who have a reduction in tumor lesions
sufficient to meet criteria for CR or PR on at least one
occasion will be considered to have objective evidence of
response. To be considered a confirmed objective response,
these same criteria for response must be confirmed with a
follow-up scan obtained greater than or equal to 4 weeks from
the scan documenting the response.
The reasons for discontinuation of treatment without
objective evidence of disease progression must be reported on
the Study Termination CRF. If a patient is removed from
therapy for any reason other than radiographic evidence of
tumor progression, every ----- should be made to
radiographically document disease progression even after
discontinuation of treatment. |
|
10.2.3 |
Evaluation of Overall Objective Tumor
Response |
The overall objective response at each oncologic
assessment is based on the criteria in Table 11. The best
overall response is the best response noted while the patient
is in the study. |
|
10.3 |
Methods of Assessment- Tumor
Markers |
A secondary evaluation of antitumor activity
will be the monitoring of tumor markers that are positive
before treatment and are judged to be reliable indicators of
tumor load. While the selection of tumor markers are
extensive, every effort will be made to use reasonable
judgment in determining potentially positive tumor
markers. |
11 |
Clinical Safety Assessments |
|
11.1 Definition of an Adverse
Event |
An adverse event is any untoward medical occurrence in a
patient or trial subject administered a drug or biologic
(medicinal product) or using a medical device; the event does
not necessarily have a causal relationship with that treatment
or usage.
Adverse events include the following:
- All suspected medication adverse reactions
- All reactions from medication overdose, abuse,
withdrawal, sensitivity or toxicity
- Apparently unrelated illnesses, including the worsening
of a preexisting illness
- Injury or accidents. Note that if a medical condition is
known to have caused the injury or accident (e.g., a fall
secondary to dizziness), the medical condition (dizziness)
and the accident (fall) should be reported as two separate
events. The outcome of the accident (e.g., hip fracture
secondary to fall) should be recorded under Comments.
- Abnormalities in physiological testing or physical
examination (findings that require clinical intervention or
further investigation beyond ordering a repeat
[confirmatory] test).
- Laboratory abnormalities that require clinical
intervention or further investigation (beyond ordering a
repeat [confirmatory] test) unless they are associated with
an already reported clinical event. Laboratory abnormalities
associated with a clinical event (e.g., elevated liver
enzymes in a patient with jaundice) should be described
under Comments on the report of the clinical event rather
than listed as a separate adverse event.
|
|
11.2 Serious Adverse Events |
A Serious Adverse Event is an untoward medical occurrence,
regardless of whether or not it is considered related to the
study medication, which results in:
- Death, while on treatment or less than or equal to 30
days after last study drug administration, including deaths
due to disease progression.
- Deaths occurring greater than 30 days following the last
dose need not be reported as serious adverse events unless
they are a result of an event that started while on
treatment or less than or equal to 30 days of the last dose.
- In addition, any death that occurs greater than 30 days
following the last dose that the investigator assesses as
possibly related to the study medication must be reported as
a serious adverse event.
- A life-threatening adverse event (e.g., the patient was
at immediate risk of death from the event as it occurred).
It does not include an event that, had it occurred in a more
serious form, might have caused death.
- In-patient hospitalization or prolongation of existing
hospitalization (excluding hospitalizations for
administration of the study drug or procedures required by
the study protocol or tumor-related diagnostic procedures or
other planned hospitalization).
- Treatments in the emergency room for procedures such as
hydration that do not require admitting the patient to the
hospital are not considered serious.
- Persistent or significant disability/incapacity
- Congenital anomaly/birth defect
- Any other adverse event that the investigator judges to
be serious or which is defined as serious by the Regulatory
Agency in the local Country. Medical judgement should be
exercised in deciding whether a reaction is serious in other
situations. Important adverse reactions that are not
immediately life-threatening or do not result in death or
hospitalization but may jeopardize the patient should be
considered serious.
- An event needs not be reported as a serious adverse
event if it exclusively represents a relapse or an expected
change or progression of the baseline malignant disease.
This type of event needs only to be reported as an adverse
event.
- Deaths due to progressive pancreatic cancer that occur
greater than 30 days following the last dose of study
medication do not need to be reported as a serious adverse
event.
|
|
11.3 Unexpected Adverse Events |
Unexpected adverse events are defined as those events that
were not previously reported with study drug as referenced in
the protocol, investigator's brochure, consent form, or
package insert or which are symptomatically and
pathophysiologically related to a known toxicity but differ
because of greater severity or specificity. |
|
11.4 Adverse Event Reporting
Period |
The adverse event reporting period for this trial begins
upon receiving the first dose of study medication and ends 30
days after termination of study medication.
All adverse events that occur in trial subjects during the
adverse event reporting period specified in the protocol must
be reported to P&U, whether or not the event is considered
medication related.
In addition, any known untoward event that occurs
subsequent to the adverse event reporting period that the
investigator assesses as possibly related to the study
medications should also be reported as an adverse
event. |
|
11.5 Eliciting Adverse Event
Information |
The investigator is to report all directly observed adverse
events and all adverse events spontaneously reported by the
trial subject. In addition, each trial subject will be
questioned about adverse events at each clinic visit following
initiation of treatment. The question asked should be, "Since
your last clinic visit have you had any health problems?", or
a similar type of open-ended query. |
|
11.6 Reporting Requirements
Reporting Requirements for Adverse
Events
Gravity |
Reporting Time |
Type of Report |
Deaths within 30 days of last study
medication |
Within 24 hours |
Initial report on SAER-S |
|
Within 5 working days Per CRF
submission procedure |
Final report on SAER-S appropriate
CRF's |
Serious, unexpected, and related to study
medication |
Within 24 hours |
Initial report on SAER-S |
|
Within 5 working days Per CRF
submission procedure |
Final report on SAER-S appropriate
CRF's |
Serious expected or serious unrelated to
study medication |
Per CRF submission procedure |
Appropriate CRF's |
Nonserious |
Per CRF submission procedure |
Appropriate
CRF's | |
|
11.7 Recording Adverse Events in the
CRF's Procedures |
Data on all adverse events (serious and non-serious,
expected and unexpected, related or not related) will be
collected in the CRF's. Minimum requirements of adverse event
data to be recorded are type of event, start and stop dates,
highest severity grade, seriousness, action taken, outcome and
relatedness to either study medication or tumor.
· Symptoms or Signs Associated with Chemotherapy,
Radiotherapy or Concomitant Medications
Symptoms or signs associated with administration of
chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or concomitant should be reported
as adverse events.
· Symptoms of Neoplastic disease
Symptoms of pancreatic cancer are not to be considered
adverse events in this trial, provided that they are present
at baseline (before treatment with study medication is
initiated) and that they do not worsen during the treatment.
In cases where an increase in severity occurs, the event
should be reported in the appropriate section of the CRF.
· Abnormalities in Physiological Testing or Physical
Examination
Grading of Adverse Events
Grade |
Adjective |
Description |
Grade 1 |
Mild |
Does not interfere with subject's usual
function |
Grade 2 |
Moderate |
Interferes to some extent with subject's
usual function |
Grade 3 |
Severe |
Interferes significantly with subject's
usual function |
Grade 4 |
Life-threatening |
Results in a threat to life or in an
incapacitating disability |
Note the distinction between the gravity and the intensity
of an adverse event. Severe is a measure of intensity; thus, a
severe reaction is not necessarily a serious reaction. For
example, a headache may be severe in intensity, but would not
be classified as serious unless it met one of the criteria for
serious events listed above. |
|
11.8 Exposure In Utero |
If any trial subject becomes or is found to be pregnant
while receiving a study medication or within 3 months of
discontinuing study medication, the investigator is to submit
an adverse CRF that includes the anticipated date of birth or
pregnancy termination. The subject is then to be followed by
the investigator until completion of the pregnancy. If the
pregnancy ends for any reason before the anticipated date
provided, the investigator should notify the P&U
monitor.
If the outcome of the pregnancy meets the criteria for
immediate classification as a serious medical event (i.e.,
spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, neonatal death, or
congenital anomaly [including that in an aborted fetus]), the
investigator should follow the procedures for reporting
serious medical events; i.e., report the event to the
principal monitor by telephone and follow up by submission of
appropriate adverse event CRF's.
Note that "spontaneous abortion" includes miscarriage and
missed abortion.
All neonatal deaths that occur within one month of birth
should be reported, without regard to causality, as serious
adverse events. In addition, any infant death after one month
that the investigator assesses as possibly related to the in
utero exposure to the study medication should also be
reported.
In the case of a live birth, the "normality" of the newborn
can be assessed at birth (i.e., there is no required minimum
follow-up of a presumably normal infant before the Exposure in
Utero form can be completed).
The "normality" of an aborted fetus can be assessed by
gross visual inspection unless there are pre-abortion
laboratory findings suggestive of a congenital
anomaly. |
12 |
STATISTICAL CONSIDERATIONS |
|
12.1 |
Survival |
Survival is defined as the time from date of randomization
to date of death. In the absence of confirmation of death,
survival time will be censored at the last date of
follow-up. |
|
12.2 |
Objective Tumor Response Rate |
Objective response rate is defined as the proportion of
patients who have any evidence of objective CR or PR.
Confirmed objective response rate is defined as the
proportion of patients who have evidence of objective CR or PR
that is confirmed by follow-up tumor assessment greater than
or equal to 4 weeks from the tumor assessment documenting the
initial response. |
|
12.3 |
Time to Objective Tumor
Response |
Time to response is defined as the time from date of
randomization to first objective documentation of
response. |
|
12.4 |
Duration of Objective Tumor
Response |
Duration of response is defined as the date of first
objective documentation of response until the first objective
documentation of tumor progression or death due to tumor
progression in the absence of previous documentation of tumor
progression. For patients with responding tumors who do not
have objective evidence of tumor progression and who are
removed from study, who die of causes not related to
pancreatic cancer, or who are given antitumor treatment other
than the study treatment, duration of response will be
censored. Patients who die of unknown causes will be
considered to have experienced tumor
progression. |
|
12.5 |
Time to Objective Tumor
Progression |
Time to objective tumor progression is defined as the time
from date of randomization to first objective documentation of
tumor progression or death due to tumor progression in the
absence of previous documentation of tumor progression. For
patients who do not have objective evidence of tumor
progression and who are removed from study, who die of causes
not related to pancreatic cancer, or who are given antitumor
treatment other than the study treatment, time to tumor
progression will be censored. Patients who die of unknown
causes will be considered to have experienced tumor
progression. A CA19-9 increase meeting criteria for tumor
marker progression does not constitute adequate objective
evidence of tumor progression. However, such a CA 19-9
increase should prompt a repeat radiographic evaluation to
document whether or not objective tumor progression has
occurred. |
|
12.6 |
Time to Treatment Failure |
Time to treatment failure is defined as the time from date
of randomization to first objective documentation of tumor
progression, or off-treatment date, or death, whichever comes
first. Patients who are still on treatment at the time of the
analysis and patients who are removed from therapy by their
physicians during an objective response and who, at the
off-treatment date, have no evidence of objective tumor
progression will not be considered to have experienced
treatment failure, unless the withdrawal is due to the
occurrence of a medical event. For these patients, time to
treatment failure will be censored at the off-study date.
Censoring for time to treatment failure will also be performed
in those patients who are given antitumor treatment other than
the study treatment before the first objective tumor
progression, off-study date, or death. A CA19-9 increase
meeting criteria for tumor marker progression does not
constitute adequate objective evidence of treatment failure.
However, such a CA19-9 increase should prompt a repeat
radiographic evaluation to document whether or not objective
tumor progression (and thus treatment failure) has
occurred. |
|
12.7 |
Clinical Benefit |
Time to first definitive performance status worsening is
the time from randomization until the last time the
performance status was no worse than at baseline.
Time to first definitive weight loss is defined as the time
from randomization until the last time the percent weight
decrease from the baseline was less than 5%.
Time to first albumin decline is defined in terms of the
time from randomization until decline in albumin by 10%, by
20%, and by 40% below baseline (based on central laboratory
data). |
|
12.8 |
Treatment Administration |
All treatments are given orally at 20 mg gel capsule dosage
for TM and 300m mg each ascorbic acid/N-acetylcysteine for
antioxidant treatment. Initial dosages are six TM capsules and
three antioxidant capsules per day, respectively. These are
given regardless of weight or age. The cerauloplasm levels
will determine if the TM dosage is changed over time as judged
by the physician. |
|
12.9 |
Study Population |
The as-treated population consists of all patients who
actually receive study drug (at least one injection), with
treatment assignments designated according to actual study
treatment received.
The primary endpoint of survival will be assessed in the
as-randomized and the as-treated patient populations.
No placebo groups will be in this study. |
13 |
QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY
ASSURANCE |
An investigators meeting will be held prior to the
initiation of the study at which the investigators and site
coordinators will be informed regarding details of the
protocol, medication supplies, and monitoring
responsibilities. The CRF's will be explained in detail.
Each clinical site conducting this study has agreed to
conduct this study according to GCP standards and in
conformity with local and national requirements (e.g., FDA or
ICH standards). Monitoring visits to the trial site will be
made periodically during the trial to ensure that all aspects
of the protocol are followed. Source documents will be
reviewed for verification of agreement with data on the CRF's.
Original patient records (e.g., hospital charts, clinic
records, laboratory printouts) should be available at each
study site for source document review by a P&U monitor.
Source document review is the cross-checking of information
recorded on study CRF's with that recorded in the original
patient records. It is recognized that for observations and
evaluations conducted solely for the purposes of the study,
the CRF may be the original patient record. It is not the
purpose of source document review to ensure that all
information on CRF's is also recorded elsewhere in the
patient's records; the purpose is to help ensure that the
CRF's accurately reflect information generated during the
study.
The investigator/institution must guarantee access to
source documents by appropriate regulatory agencies. The trial
site may also be subject to quality assurance audits by
P&U as well as inspection by appropriate regulatory
agencies. It is important that the investigators and their
relevant personnel are available during the monitoring visits
and possible audits and that sufficient time is devoted to the
process. |
14 |
Ethical Conduct of the Trial |
The trial will be performed in accordance with the
recommendations guiding physicians in biomedical research
involving human subjects adopted by the 18th World Medical
Assembly, Helsinki, Finland, 1964 and later
revisions. |
15 |
Institutional Review Board/Independent
Ethics Committee |
It is the responsibility of the investigator to obtain
approval of the trial protocol/amendments from the IRB/IEC.
All correspondence with the IRB/IEC should be filed by the
investigator.
The study will not be started until approval of the
protocol, the patient information and the informed consent
form has been obtained from the appropriate IRB/IEC. It is the
responsibility of the investigator to forward a copy of the
written approval and a list of the members, their titles or
occupation, and their institutional affiliations, to P&U.
The approval should include study identification and the date
of review.
Protocol amendments are to be submitted to the IRB/IEC (and
other local authorities, according to local regulations) prior
to implementation.
The investigator will make required progress reports to the
IRB/IEC, as well as report any serious adverse events,
life-threatening problems or deaths. The investigator will
also inform the IRB/IEC of reports of serious adverse events
(provided to him/her by the sponsor) occurring in other
clinical studies conducted with the study drug. The IRB/IEC
must be informed by the investigator of the termination of the
study.
The investigator should file all correspondence with the
IRB/IEC.
The study will not be started until written approval
receipt acknowledgment or elapse of the statutory waiting
period from the approved IRB committee. |
16 |
Patient Informed Consent |
|
16.1 |
General Information |
It is the responsibility of the investigator to give each
patient (or the patient's acceptable representative) prior to
inclusion in the trial, full and adequate verbal and written
information regarding the objective and procedures of the
trial and the possible risks involved. The patients must be
informed about their right to withdraw from the trial at any
time. Refusal to participate will involve no penalty or loss
of benefits to which the subject is otherwise entitled, and
will not prejudice further medical treatment. Written patent
information as contained in the Sample Informed Consent
(Appendix D) must be given to each patient before enrollment.
Furthermore, it is the responsibility of the investigator to
obtain signed informed consent from all patients prior to
inclusion in the trial.
The responsible physician will inform the patient about the
background and present knowledge of the drug under study and
will give the patient pertinent information as to the intended
purpose, possible benefits, and possible adverse experiences.
The procedures and possible hazards to which the patient will
be exposed will be explained.
An explanation of whom to contact for answers to pertinent
questions about the research and research subject's rights,
and who to contact in case of research-related injury will be
given.
Written patient information, when indicated, must be given
to each patient before enrollment.
If during the study the patient refuses to continue taking
part in the study, the investigator will respect this and the
patient will receive optimal and appropriate care.
The signed informed consent forms should be filed by the
investigator. Where confidentiality laws preclude this, they
should not be made available, but filed for possible future
audits. The investigator will confirm the receipt of informed
consent from each patient by completing and signing the
appropriate CRF.
The patient information and the informed consent form to be
used must be approved by the same IRB/IEC approving the
conduct of this study.
The patient should also be informed that the data will be
stored and analyzed by computer in a national database at
cancerprotocol.com, that country-specific regulations for the
handling of computerized data will be followed and described
in the patient information and that identification of
individual patient data will only be possible for the
investigator. Furthermore, the patients should be informed
about the possibility of inspection of relevant parts of the
hospital records by health authorities. |
|
16.2 |
US-Specific IRB/IEC
Requirements |
This protocol and the consent form that will be used must
be approved by an IRB/IEC before the study is initiated. The
IRB/IEC must comply with current FDA regulations. Other
investigator responsibilities relative to the IRB/IEC include
the following:
- Submission of any advertisements to recruit study
subjects to the IRB/IEC for review and approval
- During the conduct of the study, submission of progress
reports to the IRB/IEC as required, and securing re-review
and approval of the study at least once per year
- Reporting immediately to the IRB/IEC any unexpected
serious adverse event that occurs during the study
- Reporting information to the IRB/IEC if P&U provides
notification about serious adverse events reported in other
studies using these study medications
- As required, obtaining approval from the IRB/IEC for
protocol amendments and for revisions to the consent form or
subject recruitment advertisements
- Providing the IRB/IEC with any other information it
requests before or during the conduct of the study
- Maintaining a file of study-related information that
includes all correspondence with the IRB/IEC
- Notifying the IRB/IEC when the study is completed
- After study completion, providing the IRB/IEC with a
final report on the study
- A statement that the study involves research
- Purpose of the research
- A description of procedures to be followed and
identification of any that are experimental
- Expected duration of the subject's involvement in the
study
- Reasonably foreseeable risks or discomforts associated
with participation in the study
- Benefits the subject may reasonably expect from
participation in the study, including the amount and timing
of any payments for study participation
- Alternate treatment or courses of treatment, if any,
that may be advantageous to the subject
- A statement that participation is voluntary and that if
the subject chooses not to participate or withdraws from the
study, he or she will not lose any benefits he or she would
otherwise have
- Whom to contact if the subject has additional questions
about the study. (Provide both name and telephone number)
- Whom to contact if the subject has questions about
subject's rights. (Provide both name and telephone number)
- Whom to contact about an injury associated with the
study. (Provide both name and telephone number)
- A statement that described the extent to which
confidentiality will be maintained for records that identify
the subject and that notes the possibility that FDA and
P&U representatives may inspect the study records
- A compensation statement indicating any available
payment for treatment related injury
- When appropriate, additional information relating to:
- unforeseen risks
- additional costs to the subject
- how new findings on the experimental treatment will be
reported to the subject
- the number of subjects in the study or who have
previously received the experimental treatment
- the possibility of terminating the subject's
participation in the study without warning
- consequences of a subject's decision to withdraw from
the study
- procedures for orderly termination of study
participation
- identification of restrictions or inconveniences
(e.g., restrictions on smoking or use of alcohol or
over-the-counter medications, the need to avoid pregnancy,
performance of pregnancy tests or drug screens, etc.)
The language in the informed consent must be understandable
and in no way coercive. |
17 |
References |
1. |
Folkman, J. Tumor angiogenesis. Adv
Cancer Res. 1985; 43:175-203. |
2. |
Brem S. Angiogenesis and cancer
control: from concept to therapeutic trial. Cancer Control.
1999 Oct; 6(5):436-458. |
3. |
"What is the nutritional biochemistry
of copper?" 1995 Oct 11;
http://wwwvet.murdoch.edu.au/nutrition/copper/nutcop.html.
|
4. |
Gissen AS. Copper: the maligned
mineral. VRP's Newsletter. 1994 April-July/August;
http://www.vrp.com/Library/copp.htm. |
5. |
Fischer PW, Giroux A, L'Abbe MR.
Effect of zinc supplementation on copper status in adult man.
Am J Clin Nutr. 1984 Oct; 40(4):743-746. |
6. |
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PATIENT INFORMATION AND INFORMED CONSENT
FORM |
TITLE:
PROTOCOL NO: |
INVESTIGATOR:
|
(Name) (Address) (City/State/Zip) (Telephone) |
I, _________________________, do hereby consent to
participate in a research study for cancer. This study has
been explained to me and I fully understand the following:
A. PURPOSE
To determine if anti angiogenesis treatment with copper
reduction therapy and antioxidant therapy will reduce tumor
load.
B. PROCEDURES
Tetrathiomolybdate (TM) will bind copper and remove it from
the body. Copper reduction is a broad- band method to reverse
angiogenesis. Ascorbic acid- N-acelylcysteine are potent
antioxidates that work synergistically. These have an
effective anti-tumor activity.
C. TREATMENT
Start 20mg TM at six times/day, once with each meal and
three times between meals. Two weeks into the TM treatment,
the antioxidant treatments begins with one capsule every six
hours.
D. DURATION OF THERAPY
Therapy will continue until cerauloplasin is 20% of
baseline value or 8.0 mg/dL. TM dosage may be capsules to
maintain the 20% baseline level for 90 more days to allow the
blood vessels feeding the tumor to die. If my disease is
stable or shrinking and there is no other reason to stop the
drug therapy. Treatment will continue and be evaluated every
60-90 days by the physician.
I understand the antioxidant treatment will continue until
my physician judges it should stop.
When my participation in the study is to be terminated, I
will complete one last questionnaire, have blood drawn, and
undergo assessment of my tumor response to therapy.
If conditions occur which would make my participation
detrimental to my health, my doctor may discontinue this
treatment even though I might wish to proceed with further
therapy. In addition, the entire study may be terminated, at
the discretion of the sponsor, if unacceptable risks or side
effects develop. In the event of either of these occurrences,
my doctor will review my individual treatment options.
My doctor(s) would like to be able to track my cancer after
the treatment phase of the study and would also like to keep
me informed of any new information regarding the treatment I
received while on this clinical study. Therefore, during the
first year I will be contacted monthly and during the second
year every 3 months by the study nurse and asked about my
cancer.
E. POSSIBLE DISCOMFORTS AND/OR RISKS:
Cancer treatments often have side effects. The treatments
used in this study may cause all, some or none of the side
effects listed in this document. In addition, there is always
the risk of very uncommon or previously unknown side effects
occurring. Although very unusual, it is even possible that
side effects from chemotherapy may result in death. My doctor
will be checking me closely to see if any of these side
effects are occurring. Routine tests will be done to monitor
the effects of treatment. Side effects usually disappear after
the treatment is stopped. In the meantime, my doctor may
prescribe medication to keep these side effects under control.
I understand, I may need to be hospitalized in order for my
doctor to treat the side effects.
The effects of chemotherapy on the human fetus are known to
be harmful from animal studies. If I am pregnant or nursing, I
will not be allowed to participate in this study. If I agree
to participate in this study, and am of childbearing
potential, I must not become pregnant. If applicable, the
initial blood tests may include a pregnancy test. I can avoid
pregnancy by using an appropriate method of contraception
(e.g., an IUD, partner having had a vasectomy, oral
contraceptives, abstinence, or being surgically sterile). If I
should become pregnant while participating in this study, I
must inform my doctor immediately and my treatment options
will be discussed with me. If I am male, I must be either
sterile or use an approved contraceptive method (e.g.
condom).
· Possible Side Effects: Anemia
Under no circumstances should the cerauloplasmin drop below
8.0 mcg/dL. Ceruloplasmin increases. Lower dosages of TM will
be given as judged by the physician
· Prevention/Treatment of Side Effects:
F. POSSIBLE BENEFITS
Suspension of TM treatment until minimal values of
ceruloplasmin in are determined.
It is not possible to predict whether or not any personal
benefit will result from the use of the treatment program.
Possible benefits are reduction in my disease and prolongation
of my life.
G. ALTERNATIVE METHODS
Alternative treatments that could be considered in my case
include chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or other experimental
therapy. I may also choose to have no further therapy and
receive supportive care only. This may result in continued
growth of my disease. I understand that my doctor will want to
discuss these alternatives with me.
H. NEW INFORMATION FOR THE PATIENT
I understand that any new information that is developed
during the course of this study that may influence my
willingness to continue participation in this study will be
made available to me.
I. PATIENT CONTACTS
Dr. ___________________; phone _________________ has agreed
to answer any inquires that I may have concerning the
procedures and has informed me that I may also discuss with
him/her this concerning this research study and my right as a
research subject.
J. PATIENT CONFIDENTIALITY
I understand that my clinical trial information will be
recorded on forms and sent to the clinical trial sponsor. The
data on the forms will be entered into an electronic database
for storage and statistical analysis. By signing the informed
consent form I authorize this access to my records. All
records in which my name appears will be kept confidential. My
identity will not be revealed on any forms, or in any report
or
publication. | |