A Study of Sunitinib in Patients With Advanced Cholangiocarcinoma

The primary objective is to evaluate the overall survival of patients with advanced and unresectable cholangiocarcinoma treated continuously by sunitinib as second line at the dose of 37.5 mg per day, after one line of chemotherapy and to determine whether sunitinib deserves further studies in this indication.

The secondary objectives are

• To evaluate the criteria of efficacy
• To evaluate the effects of sunitinib on tumor angiogenesis
• To characterize the safety profile of sunitinib
• To identify markers associated with response to sunitinib

Inclusion criteria

• Written informed consent given according to ICH/GCP, and local regulation.
• Histologically or cytologically proven intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma.
• Disease that is not amenable to surgery, radiation, or combined modality therapy with curative intent.
• Gemcitabine with or without platinum pre-treated patients with documented progression
• Local, locally-advanced or metastatic disease documented as having shown progression on a scan (CT, MRI).
• Measurable tumor according to RECIST criteria with at least one unidimensionally measurable target lesion
• No evidence of biliary duct obstruction unless obstruction controlled by local treatment or, in whom the biliary tree can be decompressed by endoscopic or percutaneous stenting with subsequent reduction in bilirubin £ 1.5xULN.
• Age between 18 and 80 years old
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Performance Status :0-1
• Life expectancy ≥ 3 months.
• Ability to swallow oral compound.
• No acute toxic effects of previous treatment superior to grade to 1.
• Laboratory requirements:

Hematologic: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) 1.5 x 103/mm3, platelets 100 x 103/mm3, hemoglobin 9 g/dl and Hepatic: Bilirubin < 1.5 x upper normal limit (ULN), and alkaline phosphatase (AP) 5xULN. AST and ALT may be 5 x ULN Patients with jaundice Prothrombin time and partial thromboplastin time 1.7 xULN, serum albumin 2.8 g/dl. Renal: Serum creatinine 1.5 xULN , and clearance > 60 ml/min.

• Normal cardiovascular function
• Adequate organ function
• No cardiovascular events during the year prior to study entry
• Female patients must be surgically sterile or postmenopausal, or must agree to use effective contraception during the period of therapy. All female patients with reproductive potential must have a negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) within 7 days prior to starting study drug. Male patients must be surgically sterile or must agree to use effective contraception during the period of therapy. The definition of effective contraception will be based on the judgment of the investigator or a designated associate
• Absence of any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering compliance with the study protocol and follow-up schedule; those conditions should be discussed with the patient before registration in the trial
• Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, laboratory tests and other study procedures
• Registration in a national health care system (CMU included).

Exclusion criteria

• Hilar cholangiocarcinomas, cholangiocarcinomas located in the gall bladder, hepatic capsule effraction, extrahepatic primary cholangiocarcinoma, carcinoma of the Water ampullum.
• Prior treatment with other chemotherapy than gemcitabine and/or platinum.
• Concomitant treatment with any chemotherapy, chemoembolization therapy, immunotherapy, antitumoral hormonotherapy or investigational anticancer agents..
• Prior treatment with any tyrosine kinase inhibitors or anti-VEGF angiogenic inhibitors.
• Diagnosis of any second malignancy within the last 5 years, except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, or in situ carcinoma of the cervix uteri.
• Treatment with potent CYP3A4 inhibitors and inducers within 7 and 12 days, respectively prior to study drug administration.
• Pre-existing thyroid abnormality of thyroid function that cannot be maintained in the normal range with medication.
• Concomitant treatment with therapeutic doses of anticoagulants (low dose warfarin (Coumadin) up to 2 mg PO daily for deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis is allowed).
• Unstable systemic diseases including uncontrolled hypertension (>150/100 mmHg despite optimal medical therapy) or active uncontrolled infections.
• Drug having proarrhythmic potential (terfenadine, quinidine,procainamide, disopyramide, sotalol, probucol, bepridil, haloperidol, risperidone, indapamide and flecainide).
• Any of the following within the 12 months prior to study drug administration: myocardial infarction, severe/unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, cerebrovascular accident or transient ischemic attack, or pulmonary embolism.
• Abnormal cardiac function with abnormal 12 lead ECG. Ongoing cardiac dysrhythmias of NCI CTC grade2, atrial fibrillation of any grade, or prolongation of the QTc interval to >450 msec for males or >470 msec for females.
• Symptomatic brain metastases, spinal cord compression, or new evidence of brain or leptomeningeal disease.
• Current treatment with any other investigational medicinal product.
• Positive test for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) related illness
• Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
• Other severe acute or chronic medical or psychiatric condition or laboratory abnormality that may increase the risk associated with study participation or study drug administration, or may interfere with the interpretation of study results, and in the judgment of the investigator would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study.