Preventing Squamous Cell Skin Cancer

NCT ID: NCT02347813

Last Updated: 2020-06-23

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: PHASE2
• Total Enrollment: 12 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2014-11-30
• Study Completion Date: 2019-06-01

Brief Summary

This study is proposed based on our work showing that the diabetes drug Pioglitazone strongly inhibits growth of tissue cultured squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. This occurs at concentrations readily achievable by oral administration of this drug using doses currently approved for the treatment of diabetes. In our study, we propose to enroll 40 non-diabetic adult subjects (18-80 yrs of age inclusive) with a documented clinical history of frequent occurrence of skin squamous cell cancer to receive Pioglitazone (Actos®,Takeda Pharmaceuticals). Each subject will receive usual care for all new tumors they develop while on study (i.e, excision and plastic repair). The study protocol will randomize (1:1) patients for 6 months of observation followed by 6 months of treatment (group 1) or 6 months of treatment with drug followed by observation for 6 months (to examine washout effects). The biopsy specimens collected on and off therapy will be examined to determine if they express AKR1C3, an enzyme we believe increases resistance of SCC to prostaglandin inflammatory mediators. We will also examine the histologic grade of the removed tumors and study whether Pioglitazone treatment can decrease the number of aggressive versus well differentiated tumors in study patients. This pilot study is designed to detect a statistically significant change in SCC tumor numbers but is not sponsored by the drug manufacturer. The data obtained will not be used to effect a change in the product label.

Detailed Description

This is a single center open label feasibility pilot project based at the University of Rochester. This study is proposed based on our work showing that the diabetes drug Pioglitazone strongly inhibits growth of tissue cultured squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the skin. This occurs at concentrations readily achievable by oral administration of this drug using doses currently approved for the treatment of diabetes. In our study, we propose to enroll 40 non-diabetic adult subjects (18-80 yrs of age inclusive) with a documented clinical history of frequent occurrence of skin squamous cell cancer to receive Pioglitazone (Actos®,Takeda Pharmaceuticals). Patients followed in the University of Rochester Dermatology Clinic who have had greater than 3 or more SCCs treated in the past year, without contraindication for the use of pioglitazone, and are on a stable drug treatment regimen will be offered participation .The study has a cross-over design, so patients will be enrolled and randomized to one arm of two treatment protocols: 1) six months of usual care while documenting and characterizing any new tumors that occur followed by 6 months of pioglitazone treatment plus usual care for the next 6 months or 2) six months of pioglitazone treatment followed by 6 months off treatment receiving usual care. The second group will offer the opportunity to assess whether there is any persistent beneficial effect after pioglitazone treatment ends, while tumors from the first group that occur during the initial 6 months of usual care will be characterized by study parameters for comparison to tumors arising while on treatment. At the end of the one year treatment period, the number of biopsy-proven new tumors that patients develop while taking pioglitazone will be counted and compared with the number that patients developed during the 6 month period they were not receiving treatment as well as the numbers that occurred during the 6 months after treatment (washout effect). This information will be used as the basis for a larger multicenter study. We will also examine the histologic grade of the removed tumors and study whether Pioglitazone treatment can decrease the number of aggressive versus well differentiated tumors in study patients. This pilot study is designed to detect a statistically significant change in SCC tumor numbers but is not sponsored by the drug manufacturer. The data obtained will not be used to effect a change in the product label.

This study will also assess secondary endpoints. First, we will examine whether the ratio of well-differentiated to poorly differentiated SCC is influenced while subjects are on treatment. This endpoint is included because it is unknown whether there may be more signaling mediated by PPARγ in one tumor morphology vs. another. Second, we will determine whether patients on treatment might have different numbers of "borderline" lesions biopsied; precancerous lesions are often suspicious enough to biopsy. It may be that there will be fewer lesions in this category, as well as fewer squamous cell cancers. Basal cell cancers and other forms of skin cancer will also be documented. Third, we will test tumors that are excised after they are processed for routine diagnostic pathology to see if markers of proliferation or apoptosis that are influenced by PPARγ activity or the presence of AKR1C3 are altered. These endpoints would support the idea that any changes produced in tumor incidence while patients are on study drug are related to the mechanistic effect on PPARγ that is proposed.

Subjects will be excluded from study if they have NYHA class I - IV cardiac status because of concerns that thiazolidinediones, such as Pioglitazone, may exacerbate congestive heart failure.

Conditions

Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: PREVENTION
• Blinding Strategy: NONE

Study Groups

Delayed Intervention

After enrollment, subjects will be observed for 24 weeks for skin cancer tumors. Tumors will be appropriately treated as per standard of care. Then they will begin the pioglitazone regimen for 24 more weeks, during which time skin cancer tumors will be observed and appropriately treated as per standard of care.

Group Type: OTHER

Pioglitazone

Intervention Type: DRUG

15 mg of pioglitazone orally for 2 weeks, and if well tolerated, 30 mg pioglitazone orally for 5 1/2 months.

Immediate Intervention

Subjects will begin the 24 week pioglitazone regimen immediately after enrollment, during which time skin cancer tumors will be observed and appropriately treated as per standard of care. After 24 weeks of drug, subjects will be observed for 24 weeks for skin cancer tumors. Tumors will be appropriately treated as per standard of care.

Group Type: OTHER

Pioglitazone

Intervention Type: DRUG

15 mg of pioglitazone orally for 2 weeks, and if well tolerated, 30 mg pioglitazone orally for 5 1/2 months.

Interventions

Pioglitazone

15 mg of pioglitazone orally for 2 weeks, and if well tolerated, 30 mg pioglitazone orally for 5 1/2 months.

Intervention Type: DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Actos

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• >18 years of age, male or female, state of health stable
• Able understand protocol and give consent
• Has had treatment of 2 - 6 squamous cell carcinomas of the skin during the year prior to enrollment, & pathology is available for verification
• Stable treatment regimen for their skin cancer problems in place for 1 year, with expectation to keep medications the same during study
• Able to keep study appointments & comply with protocol

Exclusion Criteria

• Unwillingness or unable to complete informed consent process
• < 18 years of age
• Allergy to Pioglitazone
• Taking Rifampin, Trimethoprim, Celebrex or Gemfibrozil
• Pregnant or breastfeeding (Pregnancy Category C)
• History of heart failure NYHA Class III or Class IV
• Subjects with type 1 or type 2 diabetes
• Problems with pedal edema
• Liver disease (ETOH, viral hepatitis, drug-induced hepatitis) or elevated ALT, AST or total bilirubin
• Osteoporosis with high risk of fracture
• History of bladder cancer
• Recent change in chronic oral medications. Participants enrolled while on a systemic medication for their skin cancer must remain on treatment.

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

University of Rochester

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Alice Pentland

Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Alice P. Pentland, M.D.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Rochester

References

Mantel A, Carpenter-Mendini A, VanBuskirk J, Pentland AP. Aldo-keto reductase 1C3 is overexpressed in skin squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and affects SCC growth via prostaglandin metabolism. Exp Dermatol. 2014 Aug;23(8):573-8. doi: 10.1111/exd.12468. Epub 2014 Jul 16.

Reference Type: BACKGROUND

PMID: 24917395 (View on PubMed)

Provided Documents

Document Type: Informed Consent Form

View Document

Document Type: Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan

View Document

Other Identifiers

URochester RSRB 00052209

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id