National Cancer Institute National Cancer Institute
U.S. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute
NCI Home Cancer Topics Clinical Trials Cancer Statistics Research & Funding News About NCI
Clinical Trials (PDQ®)
Patient VersionHealth Professional Version
Last Modified: 12/22/2008     First Published: 4/23/2003  
Page Options
Print This Page  Print This Page
E-Mail This Document  E-Mail This Document
Quick Links
Director's Corner

Dictionary of Cancer Terms

NCI Drug Dictionary

Funding Opportunities

NCI Publications

Advisory Boards and Groups

Science Serving People

Español
NCI Highlights
High Dose Chemotherapy Prolongs Survival for Leukemia

Prostate Cancer Study Shows No Benefit for Selenium, Vitamin E

Past Highlights
Phase II Study of Erlotinib and Gemcitabine in Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated With Anthracycline and/or Taxane

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outline
Published Results
Related Publications
Trial Contact Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Erlotinib and Gemcitabine in Treating Patients With Metastatic Breast Cancer Previously Treated With An Anthracycline and/or a Taxane

Basic Trial Information

Phase
Type
Status
Age
Sponsor
Protocol IDs

Phase II


Treatment


Closed


18 and over


NCI


NCCTG-N0234
N0234, NCT00059852

Objectives

  1. Determine the anti-tumor activity of erlotinib and gemcitabine in patients with metastatic breast cancer previously treated with anthracycline and/or taxane.
  2. Determine the adverse event profile of this regimen in these patients.
  3. Determine whether epidermal growth factor receptor and HER-2 receptor intensity and serum concentrations have an impact on clinical response in patients treated with this regimen.
  4. Determine the impact of genetic differences in proteins involved in drug response (transport, metabolism, and mechanism of action) on clinical response and adverse events associated with gemcitabine in these patients.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Histologically or cytologically confirmed breast cancer
    • Clinical evidence of metastatic disease


  • Candidate for first- or second-line chemotherapy for metastatic disease


  • Must have received prior anthracycline or taxane therapy (may have had both in the neoadjuvant, adjuvant, or metastatic setting)


  • At least 1 measurable lesion at least 20 mm by CT scan or MRI OR at least 10 mm by spiral CT scan
    • The following are not considered measurable disease:
      • Small lesions less than 20 mm by CT scan or MRI
      • Bone lesions
      • Ascites
      • Pleural/pericardial effusion
      • Inflammatory breast disease
      • Lymphangitis cutis/pulmonis
      • Abdominal masses not confirmed and followed by imaging techniques
      • Cystic lesions


  • No active CNS metastases (treated CNS metastases stable for more than 8 weeks are allowed)


  • Hormone receptor status:
    • Not specified


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy

  • At least 2 weeks since prior immunotherapy
  • No prior cetuximab

Chemotherapy

  • At least 2 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
  • No more than 1 prior chemotherapy regimen for metastatic disease
  • No more than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens total, including adjuvant therapy

Endocrine therapy

  • Prior hormonal therapy allowed in metastatic and/or adjuvant setting

Radiotherapy

  • At least 2 weeks since prior radiotherapy
  • No prior radiotherapy to more than 25% of bone marrow
  • No prior strontium chloride Sr 89

Surgery

  • More than 4 weeks since prior major surgery
  • No prior surgical procedures affecting absorption

Other

  • No prior epidermal growth factor receptor-targeting therapies (e.g., gefitinib or EKB-569)
  • No concurrent combination antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive patients
  • No other concurrent antitumor therapy

Patient Characteristics:

Age

  • 18 and over

Sex

  • Male or female

Menopausal status

  • Not specified

Performance status

  • ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

  • At least 3 months

Hematopoietic

  • Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm3
  • Platelet count at least 100,000/mm3
  • Hemoglobin at least 8.5 g/dL

Hepatic

  • Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN)
  • AST no greater than 3 times ULN
  • Alkaline phosphatase no greater than 3 times ULN

Renal

  • Creatinine no greater than 1.5 times ULN

Cardiovascular

  • No symptomatic congestive heart failure
  • No unstable angina pectoris
  • No cardiac arrhythmia

Gastrointestinal

  • No inability to take oral or nasogastric medication
  • No requirement for IV alimentation
  • No active peptic ulcer disease

Ophthalmic

  • No abnormalities of the cornea based on history (e.g., dry eye syndrome or Sjögren's syndrome)
  • No congenital abnormality (e.g., Fuch's dystrophy)
  • No abnormal slit-lamp examination using a vital dye (e.g., fluorescein or Bengal-Rose)
  • No abnormal corneal sensitivity test (Schirmer test or similar tear production test)

Other

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception
    • Sub-dermal implants and condoms are not considered acceptable forms of contraception
  • No other invasive non-breast malignancy within the past 5 years except adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer
  • No ongoing or active infection
  • No psychiatric illness or social situation that would preclude study compliance
  • No other concurrent uncontrolled illness

Expected Enrollment

A total of 5-56 patients will be accrued for this study within 20 months.

Outline

This is a multicenter study.

Patients receive gemcitabine IV on days 1 and 8 and oral erlotinib on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 21 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Patients achieving a complete response are followed every 6 weeks for up to 5 years or until disease progression (PD). Patients discontinuing study therapy for any other reason are followed every 3 months until PD and then every 6 months for up to 5 years.

Published Results

Thome S, Hobday T, Hillman D, et al.: Translational correlates, including outcome for patients with ER-/PR-/HER2- (triple negative (TNeg)) disease from N0234, a phase II trial of gemcitabine and erlotinib for pts with previously treated metastatic breast cancer (MBC). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 25 (Suppl 18): A-1071, 2007.

Graham DL, Hillman DW, Hobday TJ, et al.: N0234: phase II study of erlotinib (OSI-774) plus gemcitabine as first-or second-line therapy for metastatic breast cancer (MBC). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 23 (Suppl 16): A-644, 39s, 2005.

Related Publications

Pockaj BA, Mukherjee P, Tinder TL, et al.: NCCTG N0338: effect of docetaxel and carboplatin on VEGF, PGE2, and immune cells in patients with stage II or III breast cancer. [Abstract] 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, December 10-14, 2008, San Antonio, Texas. A-5110, 2008.

Reinholz MM, Kitzmann KK, Hillman D, et al.: Differential gene expression in circulating tumor cells between primary and metastatic breast cancer patients. [Abstract] Breast Cancer Res Treat 106 (1): A-5022, S213-4, 2007.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

North Central Cancer Treatment Group

Edith Perez, MD, Protocol chair
Ph: 507-284-1159
Email: perez.edith@mayo.edu
Stephan Thome, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 402-393-3110

Registry Information
Official Title A Phase II Study of OSI-774 (Tarceva) and Gemcitabine for Patients with Metastatic Breast Cancer
Trial Start Date 2003-06-02
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00059852
Date Submitted to PDQ 2003-03-06
Information Last Verified 2004-09-08
NCI Grant/Contract Number U10-CA25224

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

Back to TopBack to Top

A Service of the National Cancer Institute
Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health USA.gov