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Last Modified: 7/1/2009     First Published: 8/24/2004  
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Randomized Study of Tetracycline for the Prevention of Gefitinib-, Cetuximab-, or Other Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibitor-Induced Skin Rash in Patients With Cancer

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

Alternate Title

Tetracycline in Preventing Skin Rash in Patients Who Are Receiving Drugs Such as Gefitinib and Cetuximab for Cancer

Basic Trial Information

PhaseTypeStatusAgeSponsorProtocol IDs
No phase specifiedSupportive careCompleted18 and overNCINCCTG-N03CB
NCT00091247, N03CB

Objectives

  1. Compare the 1-month incidence and severity of gefitinib-, cetuximab-, or other epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced skin rash development in patients with cancer treated with tetracycline vs placebo.
  2. Compare the toxicity of these drugs in these patients.
  3. Compare the quality of life of patients treated with these drugs who develop vs those who do not develop a rash.
  4. Determine whether patients who discontinue tetracycline at 1 month develop a rash.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Diagnosis of cancer


  • Began therapy within the past 7 days or plans to begin therapy within 7 days after study entry with one of the following epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitors:
    • Gefitinib
    • Cetuximab
    • Erlotinib
    • Monoclonal antibody ABX-EGF
    • ICR-62
    • CI-1033
    • EMD-72000


  • No rash at study entry


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy

  • See Disease Characteristics

Chemotherapy

  • Not specified

Endocrine therapy

  • No concurrent oral contraceptives

Radiotherapy

  • Not specified

Surgery

  • Not specified

Other

  • More than 1 week since prior tetracycline
  • No milk products, antacids, or calcium supplements for 2 hours before until 2 hours after drug administration
  • No other concurrent tetracycline

Patient Characteristics:

Age

  • 18 and over

Performance status

  • Not specified

Life expectancy

  • Not specified

Hematopoietic

  • Not specified

Hepatic

  • Bilirubin ≤ 2 mg/dL

Renal

  • Creatinine ≤ 2 mg/dL

Other

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective non-hormonal contraception
  • Able to take oral medication
  • No history of skin condition that may flare during study treatment
  • No prior allergic reaction or severe intolerance to tetracycline or one of its derivatives
  • No severe nausea or vomiting that would preclude retaining study drug

Expected Enrollment

126

A total of 126 patients will be accrued for this study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome(s)

Rash severity

Outline

This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are stratified according to prior chemotherapy regimen (first-line therapy vs other), concurrent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor therapy (gefitinib vs cetuximab vs other), and concurrent corticosteroid therapy (yes vs no). Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive oral tetracycline twice daily.


  • Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo twice daily.


In both arms, treatment continues for 4 weeks in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline and then weekly for 8 weeks.

Patients are followed at weeks 4 and 8.

Published Results

Jatoi A, Rowland K, Sloan JA, et al.: Tetracycline to prevent epidermal growth factor receptor inhibitor-induced skin rashes: results of a placebo-controlled trial from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (N03CB). Cancer 113 (4): 847-53, 2008.[PUBMED Abstract]

Jatoi A, Rowland K, Sloan JA, et al.: Does tetracycline prevent/palliate epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitor-induced rash? A phase III trial from the North Central Cancer Treatment Group (N03CB). [Abstract] J Clin Oncol 25 (Suppl 18): A-LBA9006, 494s, 2007.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

North Central Cancer Treatment Group

Aminah Jatoi, MD, Protocol chair
Ph: 507-284-4918
Charles Loprinzi, MD, Protocol co-chair
Ph: 507-284-2511
Email: cloprinzi@mayo.edu

Registry Information
Official Title An Exploratory, Placebo-Controlled Trial of Prophylactic Tetracycline for Gefitinib-or Cetuximab-Induced Skin Rash (or Other Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) Inhibitor-Induced Skin Rash)
Trial Start Date 2004-12-17
Trial Completion Date 2009-07-01
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00091247
Date Submitted to PDQ 2004-08-04
Information Last Verified 2009-07-01

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.

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