DIG-HIF-1 Pharmacodynamic Trial in Newly Diagnosed Operable Breast Cancer
Primary Purpose
Breast Cancer
Status
Completed
Phase
Phase 2
Locations
United States
Study Type
Interventional
Intervention
Digoxin
Sponsored by

About this trial
This is an interventional basic science trial for Breast Cancer focused on measuring Digoxin
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Female sex
- 18-70 years of age at time of consent.
- Histologically confirmed infiltrating carcinoma of the breast (Stage I-III)
- Unresected disease that meets scheduled to undergo definitive surgery; tumor size ≥ 1cm; grade 2 or 3 tumor or Ki-67 proliferation index of ≥ 10%; and, any estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status
- Patients must not have received any prior treatment of any kind to treat the current breast cancer.
- Prior use of hormone contraceptives and replacement therapy is allowed, but must have been discontinued at least 30 days prior to the diagnostic biopsy.
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 (Karnofsky 80%-100%)
- Patients must have normal organ and marrow function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm3; platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3; bilirubin (total) less than or equal to the upper limit of normal; creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal with creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min using the Modified Cockcroft-Gault method; and, all of the following within normal limits: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium.
- Heart rate > 60 beats/minute and < 100 beats/minute (clinical exam).
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
Exclusion Criteria:
- Current use of any investigational agents
- Radiological evidence of metastatic disease
- History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to digoxin
- Concomitant use of these drugs at baseline and for the duration of digoxin administration (if randomized to receive it): the calcium channel blockers diltiazem or verapamil; cardiac arrhythmic agents (such as quinidine, amiodarone); indomethacin (Indocin); alprazolam (Xanax); diuretics (such as furosemide, spironolactone, itraconazole); beta-blockers (such as atenolol, metoprolol); calcium carbonate antacids (e.g., Maalox, Tums, Rolaids); proton pump inhibitors; antidiarrheal adsorbents (kaolin and pectin); antibiotics; other P450 inducer/inhibitors. Note: Patients already receiving digoxin are also excluded.
- Presence of any of the following on electrocardiogram (ECG): atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and flutter; AV block; heart rate < 60 beats/minute and > 100 beats/minute; ventricular Fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia; premature ventricular contractions; Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Note: Any questions on cardiac eligibility should be reviewed by the Study Cardiologist for approval in advance of enrollment.
- History of any of the following, unless approval is given by the Protocol Chair: heart disease, including acute myocardial infarction; cardiac arrhythmias, including sick sinus syndrome; pulmonary disease with a known forced expiratory volume (FEV) of <1.5 or on oxygen; gastrointestinal disease, surgery or malabsorption that could potentially impact the absorption of the study drug; patients requiring the use of a feeding tube; inability to swallow tablets
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that will limit compliance with study requirements
- Any medical condition which in the opinion of the investigator puts the patient at risk of potentially serious complications while on this therapy
Sites / Locations
- Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm Type
Experimental
No Intervention
Arm Label
Digoxin
No drug administration prior to surgery
Arm Description
Digoxin administration for 2 weeks prior to surgery.
Group of participants who will not receive digoxin; however, tissue will be collected at time of definitive breast surgery.
Outcomes
Primary Outcome Measures
Change in HIF-1α Protein Expression
To assess whether two weeks of daily oral digoxin therapy, as compared to no study drug, reduces the expression of Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein, measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in surgically resected breast cancer tissue obtained from women undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy for invasive breast cancer.
Secondary Outcome Measures
Number of Participants With Adverse Events With Digoxin Treatment
To assess safety and tolerability of two weeks of digoxin therapy in the pre-surgical setting graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.
Full Information
NCT ID
NCT01763931
First Posted
January 7, 2013
Last Updated
January 22, 2020
Sponsor
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Collaborators
United States Department of Defense
1. Study Identification
Unique Protocol Identification Number
NCT01763931
Brief Title
DIG-HIF-1 Pharmacodynamic Trial in Newly Diagnosed Operable Breast Cancer
Official Title
Digoxin as a Novel Inhibitor of Global Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) Expression & Downstream Targets in Breast Cancer: DIG-HIF-1 Pharmacodynamic Trial
Study Type
Interventional
2. Study Status
Record Verification Date
January 2020
Overall Recruitment Status
Completed
Study Start Date
January 2013 (undefined)
Primary Completion Date
April 1, 2016 (Actual)
Study Completion Date
April 1, 2016 (Actual)
3. Sponsor/Collaborators
Responsible Party, by Official Title
Sponsor
Name of the Sponsor
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Collaborators
United States Department of Defense
4. Oversight
Data Monitoring Committee
No
5. Study Description
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to learn what effects digoxin (DIG) may have on human breast cancer tissue.
Detailed Description
Breast cancer cells grow in a low oxygen environment called hypoxia. The body normally controls the amount of oxygen in cells with what is known as Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1. HIF-1 helps cancer cells grow in low oxygen environments; therefore, if this function can be blocked, it may make it harder for breast cancer cells to grow. Digoxin is a drug that has been shown to block HIF-1 in lab studies. The investigators want to learn if it blocks HIF-1 in human breast cancer tissue. This will be done by comparing the tumor tissue from the original diagnostic biopsy to tissue that is taken at the time of surgery. The investigators will also be comparing tumor tissue of patients who are not randomized to take digoxin.
6. Conditions and Keywords
Primary Disease or Condition Being Studied in the Trial, or the Focus of the Study
Breast Cancer
Keywords
Digoxin
7. Study Design
Primary Purpose
Basic Science
Study Phase
Phase 2
Interventional Study Model
Parallel Assignment
Masking
None (Open Label)
Allocation
Randomized
Enrollment
6 (Actual)
8. Arms, Groups, and Interventions
Arm Title
Digoxin
Arm Type
Experimental
Arm Description
Digoxin administration for 2 weeks prior to surgery.
Arm Title
No drug administration prior to surgery
Arm Type
No Intervention
Arm Description
Group of participants who will not receive digoxin; however, tissue will be collected at time of definitive breast surgery.
Intervention Type
Drug
Intervention Name(s)
Digoxin
Intervention Description
Digoxin once daily for 2 weeks prior to definitive breast surgery.
Primary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Change in HIF-1α Protein Expression
Description
To assess whether two weeks of daily oral digoxin therapy, as compared to no study drug, reduces the expression of Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α protein, measured by immunohistochemistry (IHC), in surgically resected breast cancer tissue obtained from women undergoing lumpectomy or mastectomy for invasive breast cancer.
Time Frame
Baseline (biopsy prior to surgery) and at the end of 2 weeks digoxin treatment
Secondary Outcome Measure Information:
Title
Number of Participants With Adverse Events With Digoxin Treatment
Description
To assess safety and tolerability of two weeks of digoxin therapy in the pre-surgical setting graded according to Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.
Time Frame
2 weeks
10. Eligibility
Sex
Female
Minimum Age & Unit of Time
18 Years
Maximum Age & Unit of Time
70 Years
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Female sex
18-70 years of age at time of consent.
Histologically confirmed infiltrating carcinoma of the breast (Stage I-III)
Unresected disease that meets scheduled to undergo definitive surgery; tumor size ≥ 1cm; grade 2 or 3 tumor or Ki-67 proliferation index of ≥ 10%; and, any estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status
Patients must not have received any prior treatment of any kind to treat the current breast cancer.
Prior use of hormone contraceptives and replacement therapy is allowed, but must have been discontinued at least 30 days prior to the diagnostic biopsy.
Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status of 0 or 1 (Karnofsky 80%-100%)
Patients must have normal organ and marrow function: absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1,500/mm3; platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3; bilirubin (total) less than or equal to the upper limit of normal; creatinine ≤ 1.5 times the upper limit of normal with creatinine clearance ≥ 50 mL/min using the Modified Cockcroft-Gault method; and, all of the following within normal limits: thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), magnesium, potassium, sodium, calcium.
Heart rate > 60 beats/minute and < 100 beats/minute (clinical exam).
Not pregnant or nursing
Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document
Exclusion Criteria:
Current use of any investigational agents
Radiological evidence of metastatic disease
History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to digoxin
Concomitant use of these drugs at baseline and for the duration of digoxin administration (if randomized to receive it): the calcium channel blockers diltiazem or verapamil; cardiac arrhythmic agents (such as quinidine, amiodarone); indomethacin (Indocin); alprazolam (Xanax); diuretics (such as furosemide, spironolactone, itraconazole); beta-blockers (such as atenolol, metoprolol); calcium carbonate antacids (e.g., Maalox, Tums, Rolaids); proton pump inhibitors; antidiarrheal adsorbents (kaolin and pectin); antibiotics; other P450 inducer/inhibitors. Note: Patients already receiving digoxin are also excluded.
Presence of any of the following on electrocardiogram (ECG): atrial arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation and flutter; AV block; heart rate < 60 beats/minute and > 100 beats/minute; ventricular Fibrillation; ventricular tachycardia; premature ventricular contractions; Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. Note: Any questions on cardiac eligibility should be reviewed by the Study Cardiologist for approval in advance of enrollment.
History of any of the following, unless approval is given by the Protocol Chair: heart disease, including acute myocardial infarction; cardiac arrhythmias, including sick sinus syndrome; pulmonary disease with a known forced expiratory volume (FEV) of <1.5 or on oxygen; gastrointestinal disease, surgery or malabsorption that could potentially impact the absorption of the study drug; patients requiring the use of a feeding tube; inability to swallow tablets
Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that will limit compliance with study requirements
Any medical condition which in the opinion of the investigator puts the patient at risk of potentially serious complications while on this therapy
Overall Study Officials:
First Name & Middle Initial & Last Name & Degree
Vered Stearns, M.D.
Organizational Affiliation
Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
Official's Role
Study Chair
Facility Information:
Facility Name
Kimmel Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
City
Baltimore
State/Province
Maryland
ZIP/Postal Code
21231
Country
United States
12. IPD Sharing Statement
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DIG-HIF-1 Pharmacodynamic Trial in Newly Diagnosed Operable Breast Cancer
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