Official Title: “Randomized Phase IIb Study of Sorafenib Dose Escalation in Patients With Previously Untreated Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)”

The primary objective of this study is to compare the effectiveness of a dose-escalation regimen (400 to 800mg bid) relative to the standard dosing regimen (400mg bid) of sorafenib given in patients with metastatic RCC.

The secondary objectives are to evaluate the effects of the dose-escalation regimen on the quality of life (QoL) of patients with metastatic RCC and to characterize the safety and tolerability profile of a dose-escalation regimen of sorafenib in patients with metastatic RCC.

Study Type: Interventional

Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Single Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Study Primary Completion Date: April 2009

Intervention(s) in this Clinical Trial

• Drug: Sorafenib
  • Patients randomized to Group A will receive sorafenib 600 mg bid for Weeks 5 through 8 (Dose Level 2). Patients who tolerate this dose through Week 8 will be further escalated to Dose Level 3 (800 mg po bid) for Weeks 9 through 12.
• Drug: sorafenib
  • Patients randomized to Group B will receive Dose Level 1 (sorafenib 400 mg po bid) until progression of disease, intolerable toxicity, patient refusal to continue with the study, or investigator decision to remove the patient from the study.

Arms, Groups and Cohorts in this Clinical Trial

• Active Comparator: 1
  • Eligible patients will be randomized 2:1 to either Group A (escalated dose regimen) or Group B (standard dose regimen). Patients randomized to Group A will receive sorafenib 600 mg bid for Weeks 5 through 8 (Dose Level 2). Patients who tolerate this dose through Week 8 will be further escalated to Dose Level 3 (800 mg po bid) for Weeks 9 through 12.
• Active Comparator: 2
  • Eligible patients will be randomized 2:1 to either Group A (escalated dose regimen) or Group B (standard dose regimen). Patients randomized to Group B will receive Dose Level 1 (sorafenib 400 mg po bid) until progression of disease, intolerable toxicity, patient refusal to continue with the study, or investigator decision to remove the patient from the study.

Primary Measures

• The primary endpoint will be the overall response rate (CR + PR) determined by the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria.
  • Time Frame: Every 8 Weeks
    Safety Issue?: No

Secondary Measures

• PFS rate at 9, 13 and 17 months
  • Time Frame: 9, 13, and 17 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Overall survival rate
  • Time Frame: Every 4 months
    Safety Issue?: No
• Changes from baseline in QoL measurements
  • Time Frame: Every 4 weeks
    Safety Issue?: No
• Toxicity per dose level
  • Time Frame: Every 4 weeks
    Safety Issue?: Yes

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age ≥18 years old.
• Diagnosis of unresectable/metastatic renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Nonclear cell histology is permitted (except for medullary, collecting duct, or sarcomatoid >50% of specimen). Prior metastasectomy is permitted as long as there is measurable disease at time of consent.
• Karnofsky Performance Status of 50% or greater at study entry.
• Adequate bone marrow, liver and renal function as assessed by the following: o
• Hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 g/dL. o ANC ≥ 1500/mm3. o Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3. o Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 ULN. o ALT and AST ≤ 2.5 × ULN (≤ 5 × ULN for patients with liver involvement). o Creatinine ≤ 1.5 × ULN.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum or urine pregnancy test performed within 7 days prior to the start of treatment.
• Women of childbearing potential and sexually active men must agree to use adequate barrier contraception prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and for at least three months after the last administration of sorafenib.
• INR < 1.5 or a PT/ PTT within normal limits. Patients receiving anti-coagulation treatment with an agent such as warfarin or heparin may be allowed to participate.
• For patients on warfarin, the INR should be measured prior to initiation of sorafenib and monitored at least weekly, or as defined by the local standard of care, until INR is stable.
• Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. A signed informed consent must be obtained prior to any study specific procedures.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Prior systemic anticancer treatment for metastatic disease, including investigational therapy.
• Prior treatment with bevacizumab, sunitinib, or sorafenib even in the adjuvant setting.
• Prior cytokine therapy with interleukin (IL)-2 or interferon (IFN) for metastatic disease.
• Active malignancy other than RCC (except non-melanoma skin cancer) within 5 years of enrollment.
• Hemodialysis or peritoneal dialysis.
• Treatment with radiotherapy within 2 weeks of enrollment.
• Cardiac disease: Congestive heart failure Class II or higher per NYHA. Patients must not have unstable angina (anginal symptoms at rest) or new onset angina (began within the last 3 months) or myocardial infarction within the past 6 months.
• Uncontrolled CNS metastases. All patients must undergo a CT) scan/MRI of the brain to exclude brain metastasis. Patients with adequately treated CNS disease may be considered for participation as long as the first dose of sorafenib is 4 weeks after completion of CNS therapy.
• Uncontrolled hypertension defined as SBP > 150 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHg, despite optimal medical management.
• Active clinically serious infection > Grade 2 per the CTCAE v3.
• Thrombolic or embolic events such as a cerebrovascular accident including transient ischemic attacks within the past 6 months.
• Pulmonary hemorrhage/bleeding event ≥ Grade 2 per CTCAE v3.0 within 4 weeks of administration of the first dose of study drug.
• Any other hemorrhage/bleeding event ≥ Grade 3 per CTCAE v3.0 within 4 weeks of administration of the first dose of study drug.
• Serious non-healing wound, ulcer, or bone fracture.
• Evidence or history of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy.
• Major surgery, open biopsy or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of administration of the first study drug dose.
• Use of St. John's Wort, rifampin (rifampicin), phenytoin, Phenobarbital, carbamazepine, dexamethasone.
• Known or suspected allergy to sorafenib or any agent given in the course of this trial.
• Any condition that impairs patient's ability to swallow whole pills.
• Any malabsorption problem.
• Pregnancy or lactation.

Gender Eligibility for this Clinical Trial: Both

Minimum Age for this Clinical Trial: 18 Years

Maximum Age for this Clinical Trial: N/A

Are Healthy Volunteers Accepted for this Clinical Trial?: No

Lead Sponsor: Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network

Overall Clinical Trial Officials and Contacts

Vasily Assikis, MD Principal Investigator ACORN  

Information obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov on October 10, 2008

Link to the current ClinicalTrials.gov record. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT00557830

Study ID Number: AVJARCC0702

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00557830

Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board