Gleevec Study for Patients With Ovarian Cancer

Imatinib Mesylate is a new medication that blocks several proteins important in the development of cancer. Before going on study, potential participants will have their tumor tested for c-KIT, PDGFR, and ABL for positivity. Those participants who have at least one positive biomarker will be eligible for treatment.

Before treatment starts, participants will have a complete checkup, blood tests, chest x-ray, and heart function test. Women able to have children must have a negative blood pregnancy test. A blood sample (3 teaspoons) will be taken once a week during treatment and at the end of treatment. A complete exam will also be done at the end of treatment. Tumors will be measured by computed tomography (CT) scan every 6 weeks while one study and at the end of treatment.

Participants in this study will take Imatinib Mesylate by mouth in a single dose on a daily basis. Participants will be treated for 6 weeks, which is one cycle of therapy. After 6 weeks, participants will be evaluated for side effects and tumor response. The dose may be decreased for the next cycle if participants side effects. Participants will be removed from the study if the tumor gets worse. Participants may remain on the study as long as the tumor has not gotten worse and there are no intolerable side effects.

This is an investigational study. Imatinib Mesylate has been approved for chronic myelogenous leukemia patients. However this is an investigational study of Imatinib Mesylate in patients with ovarian, tubal, or peritoneal cancer. Participants may responsible for the cost of all or part of this drug. At least 24 and as many as 74 patients will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Inclusion criteria

• Histologically confirmed metastatic epithelial ovarian, primary peritoneal cancer, or fallopian tube cancer previously treated with a platinum/taxane-containing regimen. Patients may have either low-grade or high-grade recurrent epithelial tumors.
• Patients with high-grade tumors must be platinum/taxane resistant, as defined by: progression of disease while on a first-line platinum/taxane regimen or tumor progression within 6 months of completion of a platinum/taxane regimen.
• Patients with high-grade tumors may have failed no more than 4 prior chemotherapy regimens. All taxane/platinum therapies will be counted as one regimen.
• Patients with low-grade tumors may have failed unlimited prior therapies.
• Patients' tumor tissue must express one or more of the following biomarkers: c-KIT, PDGFR or ABL. Positivity will be defined as 2+ or 3+ on immunohistochemical staining.
• All patients must have measurable disease. Measurable disease is defined as lesions which can be measured by physical examination or by means of imaging techniques. Ascites and pleural effusions are not to be considered measurable disease. An elevated serum CA 125 level without associated measurable tumor is not to be considered measurable disease.
• Patients must have a pretreatment granulocyte count (i.e., segmented neutrophils + bands) of > 1,500/Fl, a hemoglobin level of = 9.0 gm/dL and a platelet count of > 100,000/Fl.
• Patients must have adequate renal function as documented by a serum creatinine <2.0 mg/dL.
• Patients must have adequate hepatic function as documented by a serum bilirubin <1.5 mg/dL, regardless of whether patients have liver involvement secondary to tumor. Aspartate transaminase (SGOT) must be < 3* institutional upper limit of normal unless the liver is involved with tumor, in which case the aspartate transaminase must be < 5* institutional upper limit of normal.
• Patients must have an estimated life expectancy of 12 weeks or greater.
• Zubrod performance status of 0, 1, or 2.
• Patients must be older than age 18.
• Patients must have signed an approved informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who have previously received Gleevec.
• Patients with any active or uncontrolled infection, including known HIV infection.
• Patients with psychiatric disorders that would interfere with consent or follow-up.
• Patients with a history of myocardial infarction within the previous six months or congestive heart failure requiring therapy.
• Patients with a history of prior malignancy except for adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell skin cancer, in situ cervical cancer, or other cancer for which the patient has been disease-free for at least five years.
• Pregnant or lactating women. Men and women of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method.
• Presence of clinically apparent central nervous system metastases or carcinomatous meningitis.
• Patients with a history of seizures are ineligible. Patients receiving phenytoin, phenobarbital, or other antiepileptic prophylaxis are ineligible.
• Patients with any other severe concurrent disease which in the judgment of the investigator, would make the patient inappropriate for entry into this study, including significant hepatic, renal, or gastrointestinal diseases.
• Patients with a deep venous or arterial thrombosis (including pulmonary embolism) within 6 weeks of study entry.
• Patients who are receiving warfarin.