Olaparib for Pancreatic Cancer

Recruiting at 358 trial locations

Overseen by Kim A Reiss Binder

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Travel: May Be Covered

Time Reimbursement: Varies

Trial Phase: Phase 2

Recruiting

Sponsor: National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Must not be taking: CYP3A4/5 inhibitors

Disqualifiers: Neuroendocrine tumors, MDS, AML, others

Prior Safety Data

Approved in 2 Jurisdictions

Trial Summary

What is the purpose of this trial?

This phase II trial investigates how well the addition of olaparib following completion of surgery and chemotherapy works in treating patients with pancreatic cancer that has been surgically removed (resected) and has a pathogenic mutation in BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2. Olaparib is an inhibitor of PARP, an enzyme that helps repair deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) when it becomes damaged. Blocking PARP may help keep tumor cells from repairing their damaged DNA, causing them to die. PARP inhibitors are a type of targeted therapy.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial protocol does not specify if you must stop taking your current medications. However, you cannot use certain medications that strongly inhibit CYP3A4/5 enzymes, like ketoconazole or ritonavir, while participating in the trial.

What data supports the effectiveness of the drug Olaparib for pancreatic cancer?

Olaparib has shown activity in patients with pancreatic cancer who have BRCA mutations, similar to its effectiveness in treating ovarian cancer with the same genetic mutations. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Is Olaparib safe for use in humans?

Olaparib (Lynparza) has been tested in various clinical trials for conditions like ovarian and breast cancer. Common side effects include nausea, fatigue, and anemia (low red blood cell count), while more serious effects like myelodysplastic syndrome (a blood disorder) and acute myeloid leukemia (a type of blood cancer) occurred in a small percentage of patients. ^{1 2 5 6 7}

How does the drug olaparib differ from other treatments for pancreatic cancer?

Olaparib is unique because it is an oral drug that targets specific enzymes called PARP-1 and PARP-2, which are involved in repairing damaged DNA. This makes it particularly effective for patients with BRCA mutations, as their cancer cells rely heavily on these enzymes for survival. ^{2 3 5 7 8}

Research Team

Kim A Reiss Binder

Principal Investigator

ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group

Eligibility Criteria

This trial is for adults in the US with resected pancreatic cancer and a BRCA1, BRCA2, or PALB2 mutation. They must have completed surgery and chemotherapy without recurrence of cancer. Participants need adequate blood counts, no serious medical conditions, not be on certain drugs that affect metabolism, and can't be pregnant or breastfeeding.

Inclusion Criteria

STEP 0 (PRE-REGISTRATION) INCLUSION CRITERIA

I have had or will have at least 3 months of chemotherapy around the time of my surgery.

I have recovered from side effects of previous cancer treatments, except for hair loss or nerve issues.

Exclusion Criteria

Patient must not be pregnant or breast-feeding due the potential harm to an unborn fetus and possible risk for adverse events in nursing infants with the treatment regimens being used. All patients of childbearing potential must have a blood test or urine study within 14 days prior to Step 1 randomization to rule out pregnancy. A patient of childbearing potential is defined as anyone, regardless of sexual orientation or whether they have undergone tubal ligation, who meets the following criteria: 1) has achieved menarche at some point, 2) has not undergone a hysterectomy or bilateral oophorectomy; or 3) has not been naturally postmenopausal (amenorrhea following cancer therapy does not rule out childbearing potential) for at least 24 consecutive months (i.e., has had menses at any time in the preceding 24 consecutive months)

Patient is living outside the US

I do not have a neuroendocrine tumor.

Trial Timeline

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants receive olaparib or placebo orally twice daily on days 1-28 of each cycle, repeating every 28 days for 12 cycles

12 months

Monthly visits for 12 months

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

Up to 10 years

Follow-up at 30 days, every 4 months for year 1, then every 6 months for years 2-10

Treatment Details

Interventions

• Olaparib (PARP Inhibitor)

Trial Overview The study tests if olaparib after surgery and chemo extends survival in patients with specific genetic mutations linked to pancreatic cancer. Olaparib blocks an enzyme involved in DNA repair which may prevent tumor cells from surviving. Patients are randomly assigned to receive either olaparib or a placebo.

Participant Groups

Group I: Arm I (olaparib) Experimental Treatment 4 Interventions

Patients receive olaparib PO BID on days 1-28 of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 12 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT scans or CT/MRI and collection of blood throughout the study.

Group II: Arm II (placebo) Placebo Group 4 Interventions

Patients receive placebo PO BID on days 1-28 of each cycle. Treatment repeats every 28 days for 12 cycles in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Patients also undergo CT scans or CT/MRI and collection of blood throughout the study.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Lead Sponsor

Trials

14,080

Recruited

41,180,000+

Dr. Douglas R. Lowy

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Chief Executive Officer since 2023

MD from New York University School of Medicine

Dr. Monica Bertagnolli

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Chief Medical Officer since 2022

MD from Harvard Medical School

Findings from Research

Olaparib, a PARP inhibitor, showed a 36% objective response rate in women with relapsed ovarian cancer and a germline BRCA1/2 mutation, even after they had undergone multiple lines of chemotherapy, indicating its efficacy in this challenging patient population.

The median duration of response to olaparib was 7.4 months, and the safety profile was consistent across patients who had received three or more lines of prior chemotherapy, with similar rates of serious adverse events.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib monotherapy in patients with advanced relapsed ovarian cancer and a germline BRCA1/2 mutation: a multistudy analysis of response rates and safety. Matulonis, UA., Penson, RT., Domchek, SM., et al.[2022]

In a phase 1 trial involving 18 patients with unresectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), the maximum tolerated dose of olaparib combined with irinotecan and cisplatin was determined to be 100 mg twice daily, but the addition of mitomycin C was not tolerated due to high toxicity.

Despite significant toxicity, including a high rate of grade ≥3 adverse events in 89% of patients, one patient with a BRCA2 mutation experienced a durable response lasting over four years, suggesting that further investigation into PARP inhibitors for PDAC may be warranted.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib in combination with irinotecan, cisplatin, and mitomycin C in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. Yarchoan, M., Myzak, MC., Johnson, BA., et al.[2022]

Olaparib is an oral medication that inhibits poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase and is primarily developed for treating BRCA mutation-positive ovarian cancer, with its capsule formulation already approved in the EU and USA.

The drug is currently undergoing extensive clinical trials for various cancers, including breast, gastric, and pancreatic cancers, indicating its potential broad application in oncology beyond ovarian cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib: first global approval. Deeks, ED.[2020]

The combination of cediranib and olaparib did not show clinically meaningful activity in patients with metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC) who do not have a known BRCA mutation, as no objective responses were observed in the study of 19 patients.

Despite some patients experiencing stable disease for a median of 3.1 months, the overall survival was only 3.4 months, indicating limited efficacy of this treatment combination in this patient population.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Activity and Safety of Cediranib and Olaparib Combination in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma without BRCA Mutation. Kim, JW., Cardin, DB., Vaishampayan, UN., et al.[2022]

Olaparib is a powerful inhibitor of PARP-1 and PARP-2, showing effectiveness in treating ovarian cancer, particularly in patients with germline BRCA mutations.

Phase III trials are currently evaluating olaparib's efficacy as a maintenance therapy after initial treatment in patients with BRCA mutations, highlighting its potential role in long-term cancer management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib: an oral PARP-1 and PARP-2 inhibitor with promising activity in ovarian cancer. Gunderson, CC., Moore, KN.[2016]

Olaparib, approved by the FDA for patients with advanced ovarian cancer carrying BRCA mutations, showed a 34% objective response rate in a trial of 137 patients who had undergone three or more prior chemotherapy treatments, with a median response duration of 7.9 months.

Common side effects included anemia, nausea, and fatigue, with a small risk (2%) of developing myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myeloid leukemia, indicating the need for careful monitoring during treatment.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval Summary: Olaparib Monotherapy in Patients with Deleterious Germline BRCA-Mutated Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treated with Three or More Lines of Chemotherapy. Kim, G., Ison, G., McKee, AE., et al.[2022]

Olaparib (Lynparza) is approved for treating adult patients with high-risk early breast cancer that has a germline BRCA mutation, following chemotherapy treatment.

This approval highlights Olaparib's role as an adjuvant therapy, which means it is used after initial treatments to help prevent cancer recurrence.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

New Adjuvant Treatment for High-Risk Early Breast Cancer. Aschenbrenner, DS.[2022]

Olaparib is particularly effective for patients with BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer, but it also benefits a subset of patients with BRCA wild-type tumors that have loss-of-function mutations in DNA repair genes, showing similar treatment outcomes.

The study suggests that patients with specific HRR gene mutations, even without BRCA mutations, can be identified as a group that may respond well to olaparib, indicating a potential for broader use of this treatment in ovarian cancer.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Candidate biomarkers of PARP inhibitor sensitivity in ovarian cancer beyond the BRCA genes. Hodgson, DR., Dougherty, BA., Lai, Z., et al.[2020]

References

1. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib monotherapy in patients with advanced relapsed ovarian cancer and a germline BRCA1/2 mutation: a multistudy analysis of response rates and safety. [2022]

2. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib in combination with irinotecan, cisplatin, and mitomycin C in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer. [2022]

3. New Zealand pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib: first global approval. [2020]

4. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Clinical Activity and Safety of Cediranib and Olaparib Combination in Patients with Metastatic Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma without BRCA Mutation. [2022]

5. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Olaparib: an oral PARP-1 and PARP-2 inhibitor with promising activity in ovarian cancer. [2016]

6. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

FDA Approval Summary: Olaparib Monotherapy in Patients with Deleterious Germline BRCA-Mutated Advanced Ovarian Cancer Treated with Three or More Lines of Chemotherapy. [2022]

7. United States pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

New Adjuvant Treatment for High-Risk Early Breast Cancer. [2022]

8. England pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Candidate biomarkers of PARP inhibitor sensitivity in ovarian cancer beyond the BRCA genes. [2020]