L-glutamine + Chemotherapy for Pancreatic Cancer
Trial Summary
What is the purpose of this trial?
This study will enroll a total of 16 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. All subjects will receive combination therapy of gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and L-glutamine. The study investigates what the appropriate dosage of L-glutamine is so that there is the lowest risk of side effects, and whether the supplement will make standard chemotherapy of gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel more effective in treating advanced pancreatic cancer.
Do I have to stop taking my current medications for the trial?
The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot be on strong CYP2C8 or CYP3A4 inhibitors or inducers within 1 week before starting nab-paclitaxel.
What data supports the effectiveness of the drug combination of L-glutamine, Gemcitabine, and Nab-paclitaxel for pancreatic cancer?
Research shows that combining nab-paclitaxel (a form of paclitaxel) with gemcitabine significantly improves survival in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer compared to using gemcitabine alone. This combination has become a standard treatment option for metastatic pancreatic cancer due to its positive results in clinical trials.12345
Is the combination of L-glutamine and chemotherapy safe for humans?
The combination of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) and gemcitabine has been studied for safety in patients with pancreatic cancer, including elderly patients, and is generally considered safe, though specific side effects and tolerability can vary. These drugs are FDA-approved for cancer treatment, indicating they have passed safety evaluations for use in humans.12346
What makes the drug combination of L-glutamine, Gemcitabine, and Nab-paclitaxel unique for treating pancreatic cancer?
The combination of L-glutamine with Gemcitabine and Nab-paclitaxel is unique because it adds a nutritional supplement (L-glutamine) to a standard chemotherapy regimen, which may help improve treatment outcomes or reduce side effects, although this specific combination is not yet a standard treatment for pancreatic cancer.23478
Research Team
Jun Gong, MD
Principal Investigator
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Eligibility Criteria
Adults with advanced pancreatic cancer who haven't had chemotherapy for metastatic disease can join. They must have good organ function, not be pregnant or breastfeeding, agree to use birth control, and be able to follow the study plan. People with severe pre-existing neuropathy, other active cancers, or conditions that could affect the study's outcome cannot participate.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
L-glutamine Pre-treatment
1-week administration of L-glutamine to measure baseline and post-glutamine monotherapy plasma metabolite levels
Treatment
Combination therapy of gemcitabine, nab-paclitaxel, and L-glutamine administered over 28-day cycles
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
Treatment Details
Interventions
- Gemcitabine
- L-glutamine
- Nab-paclitaxel
Gemcitabine is already approved in European Union, United States, Canada, Japan for the following indications:
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Pancreatic cancer
- Breast cancer
- Ovarian cancer
- Non-small cell lung cancer
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
Jun Gong, MD
Lead Sponsor
Emmaus Medical, Inc.
Industry Sponsor