Disulfiram With Copper Gluconate and Liposomal Doxorubicin in Treatment-Refractory Sarcomas

Last updated: March 21, 2025
Sponsor: Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

1

Condition

Sarcoma

Treatment

Copper Gluconate

Liposomal Doxorubicin (Doxil)

Disulfiram

Clinical Study ID

NCT05210374
CASE1720
  • Ages > 1
  • All Genders

Study Summary

The purpose of this study is to test the safety of combining the disulfiram (DSF) and copper gluconate (Cu) to liposomal doxorubicin to treat patients with sarcomas that recurred or did not respond to initial treatment.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Must have histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory sarcoma.

  • Must have measurable disease by RECIST criteria at study enrollment

  • Performance status of Karnofsky/Lansky ≥50%

  • Must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

  • Absolute neutrophil count ≥1,000/mcL

  • Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mcL

  • Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits

  • AST (SGOT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal

  • ALT (SGPT) ≤ 2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal

  • Serum Creatinine ≤1.5X institutional limit of normal

  • Must be able to swallow pills or consume the contents of the DSF and Capsulessprinkled on food.

  • Participants, or parent/guardians for participants <18 years old (yo), must have theability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consentdocument.

  • Must abstain from alcohol during study.

  • Prior treatment toxicities must have stabilized or resolved to ≤ Grade 1 accordingto NCI CTCAE Version 5.0 except alopecia, neuropathy and hematologic criteria (mustmeet normal organ and marrow function criteria above).

  • Participants ≥18yo must agree to pre-and post-treatment core needle tumor biopsies.For participants <18yo biopsies are optional. Biopsies will not be performed ifdeemed unsafe by interventional radiologists that will be performing the procedureand is not part of the study team to avoid bias.

  • Must abstain from sexual intercourse or used appropriate, highly-effective birthcontrol measures.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Has active, uncontrolled bacterial, viral, or fungal infection(s) requiring systemictherapy

  • Has a history of allergy or hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs, theirpharmaceutical class or any of their excipients. The participant exhibits any of theevents outlined in the Contraindications or Special Warnings and Precautionssections of Liposomal Doxorubicin Prescribing Information package inserts or on theInvestigator's Brochure for DSF/Cu.

  • Has a concomitant serious medical or psychiatric illness that, in the opinion of theinvestigator, could compromise the participant's safety or the study data integrity.

  • Is currently enrolled in any other clinical protocol or investigational trialinvolving administration of antineoplastic compounds for the treatment of theirsarcoma.

  • Is unwilling or unable to comply with study procedures.

  • Know condition preventing safe administration of copper such as a copper allergy orWilson's Disease.

  • Investigator feels participation in this study would be harmful or of no benefit tothe potential participant

Study Design

Total Participants: 24
Treatment Group(s): 3
Primary Treatment: Copper Gluconate
Phase: 1
Study Start date:
March 09, 2023
Estimated Completion Date:
December 31, 2026

Study Description

DSF blocks an enzyme called aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH). ALDH breaks down substances in the body that can be toxic. ALDH also appears to be important for making many cancers resistant to chemotherapy drugs like liposomal doxorubicin. The study team believes giving DSF with liposomal doxorubicin will help make the cancers sensitive to the liposomal doxorubicin, making it work better. Cu is an FDA approved dietary food supplement and has been shown in laboratory research to improve how DSF works, which is the rational for giving DSF with Cu. It is currently unknown if and at what dose DSF is safe to be given in this combination. Though DSF has been used for over 60 years for the treatment of alcoholism, this is the first time DSF/Cu is being tested in combination with liposomal doxorubicin in humans.

The primary objectives of this study are to:

Measure the feasibility, safety and tolerability of DSF/Cu in combination with liposomal doxorubicin

Secondary objectives of this study are to:

Measure tumor response, survival, and pharmacokinetics of the combination.

Connect with a study center

  • Cleveland Clinic, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

    Cleveland, Ohio 44122
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

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