Evaluation of Nelfinavir and Chemoradiation for Pancreatic Cancer

Summary

This study is designed to evaluate if nelfinavir works as a radiation sensitizer in combination with gemcitabine (a chemotherapy). We are also looking to establish the maximum dose of gemcitabine that is tolerated with the nelfinavir and radiation therapy, so the dose of gemcitabine is increased based on how previous trial participants tolerated their dose of gemcitabine.

Timeline

Start

2009-05

Primary completion

2011-07

Completion

2015-07

Publications

• Background Plastaras JP, Vapiwala N, Ahmed MS, Gudonis D, Cerniglia GJ, Feldman MD, Frank I, Gupta AK. Validation and toxicity of PI3K/Akt pathway inhibition by HIV protease inhibitors in humans. Cancer Biol Ther. 2008 May;7(5):628-35. doi: 10.4161/cbt.7.5.5728. Epub 2008 May 14.
• Background Gupta AK, Li B, Cerniglia GJ, Ahmed MS, Hahn SM, Maity A. The HIV protease inhibitor nelfinavir downregulates Akt phosphorylation by inhibiting proteasomal activity and inducing the unfolded protein response. Neoplasia. 2007 Apr;9(4):271-8. doi: 10.1593/neo.07124.
• Background Pore N, Gupta AK, Cerniglia GJ, Jiang Z, Bernhard EJ, Evans SM, Koch CJ, Hahn SM, Maity A. Nelfinavir down-regulates hypoxia-inducible factor 1alpha and VEGF expression and increases tumor oxygenation: implications for radiotherapy. Cancer Res. 2006 Sep 15;66(18):9252-9. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-06-1239.
• Background Gupta AK, Cerniglia GJ, Mick R, McKenna WG, Muschel RJ. HIV protease inhibitors block Akt signaling and radiosensitize tumor cells both in vitro and in vivo. Cancer Res. 2005 Sep 15;65(18):8256-65. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-05-1220.

Drugs

Indications