Autophagy Maintenance Therapy (Hydroxychloroquine and Nelfinavir) plus Bevacizumab for the Treatment of Recurrent High-Grade Serous Ovarian, Fallopian Tube, and Primary Peritoneal Cancer, AUTOMAIN Trial
This phase II trial studies how well autophagy maintenance therapy with hydroxychloroquine and nelfinavir, in combination with bevacizumab, works in treating patients with high-grade serous ovarian, fallopian tube, and primary peritoneal cancer that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Autophagy is a normal process in which a cell destroys proteins and other substances in its cytoplasm (the fluid inside the cell membrane but outside the nucleus), which may lead to cell death. Autophagy may prevent normal cells from developing into tumor cells, but it may also protect tumor cells by destroying anticancer drugs or substances taken up by them. Hydroxychloroquine was developed and is approved to prevent malaria and is used by millions of people around the world. Nelfinavir was developed and is approved as treatment for HIV and AIDS. Bevacizumab is in a class of medications called antiangiogenic agents. It works by stopping the formation of blood vessels that bring oxygen and nutrients to tumors. This may slow the growth and spread of the tumor. Giving hydroxychloroquine and nelfinavir may help bevacizumab work better by disrupting the autophagy process and making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug.