Study With Gemcitabine and RTA 402 for Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

A Randomized Phase I/II Study With Gemcitabine and RTA 402 or Gemcitabine and Placebo for Patients With Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

This study assesses the safety and efficacy of RTA 402 in combination with gemcitabine in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

Phase I will be conducted to determine the MTD of RTA 402 (administered orally Days 1-21 or Days 1-28 of a 28-day cycle) in combination with gemcitabine (1000 m/m2). Gemcitabine will be administered as an intravenous infusion on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle.

The phase II portion of the study will be randomized, and double-blinded. Phase II will utilize the RTA 402 MTD determined in Phase I; Arm 1 will consist of gemcitabine + RTA 402. RTA 402 capsules will administered orally Days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle (or Days 1-28 if appropriate, based on phase I results); gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2) will be administered as an intravenous infusion on Days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle in each Arm. Arm 2 will consist of gemcitabine + placebo, placebo capsules will be taken orally Days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle (or Days 1-28 if appropriate, based on phase I results). Both treatment arms are 4-weeks in length.

The study was conceived with both a Phase I and Phase II portion as described above; however, only the Phase I portion was completed. The trial was terminated in 2009 before the Phase II portion could begin.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Phase I patients should have treatment naïve pancreatic cancer; however , Phase I patients who have had 1 prior regimen consisting of adjuvant chemo-radiation or adjuvant gemcitabine - as defined within the NCCN guidelines may be enrolled. Phase II patients must have metastatic disease (Stage IV only).
• Karnofsky performance status of >70%
• Adequate liver function. (total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 mg/dL and AST(SGOT) and ALT(SGPT) of < 2.5 ULN ( ≤ 5 ULN for Phase II patients with liver metastases), Serum Creatinine < 1.5 ULN
• Adequate bone marrow function as documented by the following laboratory test results within 14 days of starting therapy. platelets ≥100,000/mm3, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/mm3, hemoglobin ≥9.0 g/dL, white blood cell (WBC) count ≥3000 /mm3
• Practice effective contraception during the entire study period.
• Life expectancy of more than 3 months.
• Able and willing to sign the informed consent form.
• Willing and able to self-administer orally and document all doses of RTA 402 ingested.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior treatment for current malignancy outside of the adjuvant setting for Phase I
• Inability to swallow tablets or capsules
• Active brain metastases or primary central nervous system (CNS) malignancies. (Patients with a previously treated brain metastasis may be included.)
• Active second malignancy
• Ten percent or greater weight loss over the 6 weeks before study entry.
• Pregnant or breast feeding
• Clinically significant illnesses which could compromise participation in the study, including, but not limited to: Uncontrolled diabetes; Active or uncontrolled infection; Acute or chronic liver disease; Confirmed diagnosis of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection; Uncontrolled hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, myocardial infarction within the past 6 months, or uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia.
• Psychiatric illness that would limit compliance with study requirements.