Fluoxetine + Chemotherapy for Brain Cancer

Not currently recruiting at 3 trial locations

Overseen By Mustafa Khasraw, M.D.

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Phase < 1

Sponsor: Duke University

Must be taking: Temozolomide

Must not be taking: Antidepressants, Psychotropics, Anticoagulants, others

Disqualifiers: Mood disorders, Cardiac disease, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 4 weeks

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether the antidepressant fluoxetine can enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy for people with recurrent glioma, a type of brain cancer. Researchers aim to determine if fluoxetine induces stress in lysosomes (cell components that help break down waste), potentially boosting the cancer-killing effects of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide. Participants will receive either fluoxetine before surgery or only chemotherapy for comparison. The trial seeks participants diagnosed with recurring glioma who require surgery. As an Early Phase 1 trial, this research focuses on understanding fluoxetine's effects in people, offering participants a chance to contribute to groundbreaking cancer treatment research.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

Yes, you may need to stop taking certain medications. The trial excludes participants who are currently taking or have recently taken antidepressants, psychotropic agents, and several other specific drugs. It's important to discuss your current medications with the trial team to see if they are allowed.

Is there any evidence suggesting that this trial's treatments are likely to be safe?

Research has shown that fluoxetine, a common antidepressant, is usually well-tolerated and safe. The FDA has approved it for treating depression and anxiety, which supports its safety in people. Studies have even demonstrated that fluoxetine can slow brain tumor growth in lab settings.

This study tests whether fluoxetine can enhance the effects of temozolomide, a chemotherapy drug already used to treat brain cancer with well-known side effects. While researchers continue to study fluoxetine for brain cancer, its existing approval for other uses suggests it is generally safe. However, as this is an early phase trial, the safety of combining it with temozolomide is still being evaluated.

Prospective participants should discuss their involvement with the research team, who can provide detailed information specific to their situation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why do researchers think this study treatment might be promising?

Fluoxetine is unique in the treatment of brain cancer because it targets the condition differently than standard chemotherapy drugs like temozolomide. While most chemotherapy treatments work by damaging cancer cell DNA, fluoxetine, commonly known as an antidepressant, may have the potential to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy by modulating brain chemistry. This combined approach could offer a novel way to weaken cancer cells, making them more susceptible to treatment. Researchers are excited about the possibility of fluoxetine boosting the impact of chemotherapy, potentially leading to more effective treatments for patients with brain cancer.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for brain cancer?

Research has shown that fluoxetine, a medication often used for depression, might help treat brain cancer by affecting parts of cancer cells called lysosomes. Studies with mice found that fluoxetine can slow tumor growth and extend survival when given in doses similar to those used for humans. In this trial, some participants will receive fluoxetine before surgery. Additionally, fluoxetine seems to directly harm tumor cells and may enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs like temozolomide. Other participants in this trial will receive temozolomide before surgery. Using fluoxetine alongside standard brain cancer treatments might lead to better results for patients, suggesting that fluoxetine could be a valuable part of a brain cancer treatment plan. ^{1 3 4 6 7}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Mustafa Khasraw, MBChB, MD, FRCP, FRACP

Principal Investigator

Duke University

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

Adults over 24 with recurrent glioma brain tumors suitable for surgery and repeat chemo with Temozolomide can join. They must be fairly active (KPS > 70%), have good organ function, and agree to use contraception if needed. Excluded are those on antidepressants within a year, other psychotropics recently, history of mood disorders, certain cancers, pregnant or breastfeeding women, specific tumor locations or conditions deemed unsafe by surgeons.

Inclusion Criteria

I am using birth control and my pregnancy test was negative.

Able to undergo MRI brain with and without contrast

My brain tumor has come back after treatment.

Exclusion Criteria

Patients who are pregnant or breastfeeding

Patients with any history of mood/psychotic/substance use disorders

I am currently taking or have taken psychotropic medication in the last week.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive fluoxetine and temozolomide pre-surgery to evaluate lysosomal stress and enhance temozolomide efficacy

4 weeks

Weekly visits for monitoring and drug administration

Surgery

Tumor resection or biopsy is performed to obtain samples for LAMP1 expression analysis

1 day

In-person surgical visit

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment and surgery

4 weeks

2 visits (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Fluoxetine
• Temozolomide

Trial Overview The trial tests whether Fluoxetine causes stress in cell structures called lysosomes in the brain which might help Temozolomide work better against cancer cells. Participants will take Fluoxetine before their scheduled surgery where researchers will compare tissue samples from before and after starting the drug.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Fluoxetine pre-surgery Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Patients randomized to the experimental arm will receive fluoxetine at 20 mg/day for 5 days (initiation dose) followed by a maintenance dose of 40 mg/day starting on Day 6 (dose level 1) or 60 mg/day starting on Day 6 (dose level 2).

Group II: Temozolomide pre-surgery Active Control 1 Intervention

Temozolomide pre-surgery (control) arm will receive 50 mg/m2 temozolomide daily for 7 days (Days 1-7), followed by resection or biopsy 21 days after initiation of the temozolomide cycle.

Temozolomide is already approved in European Union, United States for the following indications:

Approved in European Union as Temodal for:

• Newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme concomitantly with radiotherapy and subsequently as monotherapy treatment
• Children from the age of three years, adolescents and adults with malignant glioma, such as glioblastoma multiforme or anaplastic astrocytoma, showing recurrence or progression after standard therapy

Approved in United States as Temodar for:

• Newly diagnosed glioblastoma concomitantly with radiotherapy and subsequently as monotherapy treatment
• Newly diagnosed or refractory anaplastic astrocytoma

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Duke University

Lead Sponsor

Trials

2,495

Recruited

5,912,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Temozolomide (TMZ) is generally safe with mild to moderate side effects, but this case report highlights a rare instance of severe aplastic anemia (AA) in a 68-year-old female patient following treatment for glioblastoma, indicating a potential serious risk associated with the drug.

The patient's AA was managed successfully with supportive care, including platelet transfusions and growth factor treatment, and her blood counts returned to normal within 38 days, emphasizing the importance of monitoring blood parameters during and after TMZ treatment to detect such rare toxicities early.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temozolomide-induced aplastic anaemia: Case report and review of the literature. Gilbar, PJ., Pokharel, K., Mangos, HM.[2022]

Fluoxetine (FLT) significantly inhibits the growth of glioma cells and induces apoptosis, particularly in rat glioma C6 cells, by activating the CHOP-dependent apoptosis pathway.

The combination of FLT and temozolomide (TMZ) shows a synergistic effect, enhancing the cytotoxicity against glioma cells, suggesting that FLT can sensitize these cells to TMZ treatment, which may improve outcomes for patients with advanced glioma.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fluoxetine synergizes with temozolomide to induce the CHOP-dependent endoplasmic reticulum stress-related apoptosis pathway in glioma cells. Ma, J., Yang, YR., Chen, W., et al.[2022]

In a phase II clinical trial involving 21 patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the combination of temozolomide (TMZ) with radiotherapy resulted in a one-year survival rate of 58% and a median survival time of 15.7 months, indicating its efficacy in extending survival.

The treatment regimen was well-tolerated, with only mild to moderate non-hematological side effects and minimal severe hematological toxicity, suggesting that TMZ has a favorable safety profile compared to traditional chemotherapy agents.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temozolomide in radio-chemotherapy combined treatment for newly-diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme: phase II clinical trial. Lanzetta, G., Campanella, C., Rozzi, A., et al.[2018]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is the only anticancer drug proven to improve survival in glioblastoma when used with radiotherapy, showing high concentrations in brain tumors and cerebrospinal fluid, which enhances its effectiveness.

Molecular markers like MGMT promoter methylation can predict better responses to TMZ treatment, but side effects such as myelosuppression and nausea are common, necessitating precautions like prophylaxis against Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Temozolomide: Temodal]. Shinoura, N., Yamada, R., Tabei, Y., et al.[2018]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an effective oral treatment for malignant gliomas, providing significant survival benefits while being generally well tolerated by patients.

While most side effects of TMZ are mild to moderate, there is a risk of severe hematologic adverse events, such as myelodysplastic syndrome and aplastic anemia, which have been documented in the literature.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Temozolomide-related hematologic toxicity. Scaringi, C., De Sanctis, V., Minniti, G., et al.[2018]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is commonly used as an adjuvant therapy for malignant glioma, but in this case study, a patient developed treatment-related acute myeloid leukemia (t-AML) after receiving 15 cycles of TMZ, highlighting a rare but serious complication.

The case raises questions about the duration of TMZ therapy, as the patient showed no tumor progression but still developed t-AML, suggesting a need for better guidelines to balance treatment benefits and risks in long-term TMZ use.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A Case of Therapy-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia Associated with Adjuvant Temozolomide Chemotherapy for Anaplastic Astrocytoma. Kosugi, K., Saito, K., Takahashi, W., et al.[2018]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is an effective oral treatment for recurrent glioblastoma multiforme, showing nearly 100% bioavailability and a favorable safety profile, making it a promising option for patients with this aggressive brain cancer.

Research is ongoing to enhance the efficacy of TMZ by combining it with other treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and immunotherapy, as well as exploring alternative dosing strategies to overcome resistance in gliomas.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Future directions in the treatment of malignant gliomas with temozolomide. Prados, MD.[2018]

Naringenin (NGEN) significantly reduces the migration and invasion of drug-resistant glioma cells, suggesting it can enhance the effectiveness of temozolomide (TMZ) treatment.

The study provides evidence that NGEN can overcome TMZ resistance by modifying protein levels related to cell migration and invasion, making it a promising adjunct therapy for glioma patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Naringenin Sensitizes Resistant C6 Glioma Cells with a Repressive Impact on the Migrating Ability. J, J., Vanisree, AJ.[2022]

In a phase II trial involving 46 patients with progressive low-grade glioma, Temozolomide (Temodar) demonstrated a 61% objective response rate, with 24% achieving complete response and 37% achieving partial response.

The treatment showed promising safety, with limited toxicity observed; however, one patient experienced severe complications, highlighting the need for careful monitoring during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Phase II trial of temozolomide in patients with progressive low-grade glioma. Quinn, JA., Reardon, DA., Friedman, AH., et al.[2022]

The study confirmed that the generic temozolomide capsules (TOZ039) are bioequivalent to the brand Temodal® capsules, with pharmacokinetic parameters falling within the acceptable range for both 20-mg and 100-mg doses in 29 patients with brain tumors.

The treatment was found to be safe, with no treatment-related severe adverse events or mortality reported, although 82.8% of patients experienced some adverse effects, highlighting the importance of monitoring patient responses during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Bioequivalence study of 20-mg and 100-mg temozolomide capsules (TOZ309 and Temodal&#174;) in glioma patients in China. Hu, C., Lin, Q., Liu, C., et al.[2021]

Temozolomide is primarily used for treating refractory central nervous system cancers like anaplastic astrocytoma and glioblastoma, but ongoing clinical trials are exploring its efficacy and safety in newly diagnosed gliomas and other types of tumors.

Research is also investigating different dosing schedules and combinations with other treatments, suggesting that temozolomide could be a versatile option in cancer therapy beyond its current approved uses.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Future directions for temozolomide therapy. Yung, WK.[2019]

Temozolomide (TMZ) is shown to be more cost-effective than the traditional PCV treatment for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), with costs of €2367 per extra life-month and €32,471 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY).

The analysis indicates that TMZ has a high probability (over 60%) of being the most cost-effective treatment option at various willingness-to-pay thresholds, especially when considering quality of life improvements.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Economic evaluation of temozolomide in the treatment of recurrent glioblastoma multiforme. Martikainen, JA., Kivioja, A., Hallinen, T., et al.[2018]

Citations

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Impact of antidepressant use on survival outcomes in ... In the GBM39 mouse model, fluoxetine at human-equivalent doses of 50 and 80 mg/day significantly inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival ...

2. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4467135/

Fluoxetine, an antidepressant, suppresses glioblastoma by ... The data showed that fluoxetine suppressed the growth of intracranial glioblastoma brain tumors. ... The survival time of patients is markedly reduced once brain ...

3. braintumor.org braintumor.org/news/widely-available-drug-may-benefit-glioblastoma-treatment/

Widely-available Drug May Benefit Glioblastoma Treatment National Brain Tumor Society-funded research points to the potential to repurpose Prozac to treat glioblastoma.

4. tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu tischbraintumorcenter.duke.edu/blog/evaluation-fluoxetine-prozac-and-cytotoxic-lysosomal-stress-glioma-flirt

Evaluation of fluoxetine (Prozac) and Cytotoxic Lysosomal ... However, recent research published in Cell Reports has shown that fluoxetine (commonly known as Prozac) can both directly damage tumor cells by ...

5. cell.com cell.com/cell-reports/pdf/S2211-1247(21)01434-0.pdf

Targeting glioblastoma signaling and metabolism with a re- ... These results suggest that a combination of fluoxetine with standard-of-care treatment may help to improve the survival of patients with brain ...

6. med.stanford.edu med.stanford.edu/news/insights/2022/01/can-prozac-fight-brain-cancer.html

Can Prozac fight brain cancer? - Stanford Medicine The common antidepressant Prozac melts away glioblastoma tumors in laboratory mice, suggesting possible treatment for the deadly cancer.

7. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05634707

Study Details | NCT05634707 | Evaluation of Fluoxetine ... The purpose of this study is to determine whether oral fluoxetine can induce lysosomal stress and enhance Temozolomide (TMZ)-induced cell death in patients ...