Vitamin E δ-Tocotrienol Administered to Subjects With Resectable Pancreatic Exocrine Neoplasia

Delta-tocotrienol is a natural Vitamin E compound that has been consumed by humans as a dietary supplement. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved it for sale as a drug. Vitamin E Delta-tocotrienol is being investigated for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic tumors. The usefulness of the Vitamin E Delta-tocotrienol in treating human tumors is unknown.

This study consists of the following: (1) a Pre-Treatment Period in which participants are consented and qualified for the study; (2) a Study Treatment Period in which participant will receive Vitamin E δ-Tocotrienol administered orally twice daily for 14 (±2) consecutive days and once on the day of surgery, with associated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic sampling; (3) a Post Treatment Period in which laboratory and physical examinations are performed. Adverse events will be recorded throughout the study.

Inclusion criteria

• The patient has a resectable tumor or cyst arising from the pancreatic exocrine gland (pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas, or mucinous cystic neoplasm of the pancreas) and is undergoing surgical resection of the neoplasm.
• The patient is not a candidate for neoadjuvant chemoradiation therapy (i.e., patients with borderline resectable pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma who are known to benefit from neoadjuvant treatment regimens).
• The patient has an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of ≤2.
• The patient has adequate organ function as follows: Serum creatinine ≤1.5 mg/dL or calculated creatinine clearance >60 mL/min; Bilirubin ≤ the institutional upper limit of normal (ULN); Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤2.5 times the upper limit of normal if no liver involvement or ≤5 times the upper limit of normal with liver involvement; absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000mm³; Platelet count ≥100,000/mm³.
• The patient has the capability of understanding the informed consent document and has signed the informed consent document.
• Sexually active patients (male and female) must use medically acceptable methods of contraception during the course of the study.
• Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test at screening.
• Able to understand and comply with the requirements of the protocol.

Exclusion criteria

• The patient is receiving concomitant radiotherapy, chemotherapy, other antineoplastic therapy, or investigational therapy (other than the investigational therapy under study).
• The patient has received radiation therapy, chemotherapy, other anti-neoplastic therapy, or investigational therapy within 30 days prior to first dose of study drug.
• The patient has had prior major surgery within 30 days prior to first dose of study drug.
• The patient has active infection or fever >38.5 C within 3 days prior to first dose of study drug.
• The patient has uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, hypertension, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
• The patient is unable or unwilling to stop taking vitamins, herbal remedies, or nonprescription medications.
• The patient is pregnant or breastfeeding.
• The patient is unable or unwilling to abide by the study protocol or cooperate fully with the investigator or designee.
• The patient is a candidate for neo-adjuvant radiation therapy.