Disulfiram Plus Arsenic Trioxide In Patients With Metastatic Melanoma and at Least One Prior Systemic Therapy
Metastatic Melanoma

About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Metastatic Melanoma focused on measuring Metastatic Melanoma, Disulfiram, Arsenic Trioxide, Metastatic Melanoma and at Least One Prior Systemic Therapy
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Subjects must have bidimensionally measurable disease. All measurable lesions must be assessed (by physical examination, CT scan, radionuclide scan or plain X-ray) within 28 days prior to registration. Non-measurable sites must be assessed within 42 days prior to registration. The subject's disease status must be completely assessed and reported.
- All subjects must undergo a CT of abdomen and chest within 28 days prior to registration.
- All subjects must undergo either a CT or MRI of the brain within 28 days of registration. Subjects with asymptomatic brain metastasis are eligible for this protocol but their metastasis must be clinically stable and asymptomatic. Subjects with Central Nervous System (CNS) metastasis must have been evaluated by neurosurgery prior to entry to confirm that they are a candidate for this trial. Treatment of symptomatic CNS metastasis that is required before protocol entry.
- Subjects must have progressed based on Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria after at least one prior systemic therapy (chemotherapy, biologic/immunotherapy, or a combination regimen) for metastatic disease. This includes development of any new lesion or a 20% increase in the sum of the subject's measurable disease compared to their previous nadir. New CNS metastasis could be the reason for disease progression, but they must be stable clinically and satisfy criteria delineated in section 5.4. Prior systemic therapy must have been completed at least 28 days before registration.
- Subjects may have received prior biologic or immunotherapy given in an adjuvant fashion. Prior adjuvant therapy must have been completed at least 28 days prior to registration
- Subjects may have received prior radiation therapy. If all known sites of disease have been previously radiated, there must be objective evidence of progression for the subject to be eligible. Radiation therapy must have been completed at least 28 days before registration.
- Subjects may have received prior surgery. Prior surgery must have been completed at least 28 days before registration.
- Performance status must be 0-2 according to Southwest Oncology Group Criteria
Performance Status:
GRADE SCALE
0 Fully active; able to carry on all pre-disease activities without restriction.
- Restricted in physically strenuous activity but ambulatory and able to carry out work of a light or sedentary nature, e.g., light housework, office work.
- Ambulatory and capable of all self care but unable to carry out any work activities. Up and about more than 50% of waking hours.
- Capable of only limited self care; confined to bed or chair more than 50% of waking hours.
- Completely disabled. Cannot carry on any self care. Totally confined to bed or chair.
Dead
Subjects must have a normal ECG, without evidence of congestive heart failure.
- Normal heart rate (less than 100 per minute)
- Normal sinus rhythm
- Normal interval from the beginning of the Q wave to the termination of the S wave, representing the time for ventricular depolarization (QRS) interval
Subjects with QT prolongation > 500msec on their ECG will be considered ineligible.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or nursing women are not eligible to participate in this trial because the safe use of this drug in pregnancy has not been established.
- Subjects with severe myocardial disease or coronary occlusion, psychoses, and hypersensitivity to disulfiram or other thiuram derivatives used in pesticides and rubber vulcanization are excluded from the study.
- Subjects who can not abstain from alcohol intake during the entire duration of this protocol are not qualified for this study.
Sites / Locations
- Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, Irvine
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Disulfiram and arsenic trioxide
Patients receive disulfiram 250 mg PO twice daily and arsenic trioxide IV over 1-2 hours on Monday through Friday, alternating two weeks on treatment followed by two weeks off treatment. Courses repeat every 12 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The Arsenic trioxide dose will be escalated or reduced until a tolerable dose is reached. Arsenic trioxide will be administered at a starting dose of 0.05 mg/kg. If the initial dose is tolerated, the patient will be dose escalated to 0.10 mg/kg/day. If the first dose escalation is tolerated, then a second dose escalation will be attempted to 0.15 mg/kg/day, the current dose recommended for leukemia. Dosing will be continued for two weeks on alternating with two weeks off as long as tolerated to a maximum of 60 doses.