Pharmacokinetics and Safety of Epidiferphane and Taxanes in Breast Cancer Patients
Patients with breast cancer are commonly treated with taxane chemotherapy. Some very common side effects of taxanes, such as anemia and peripheral neuropathy, are often as not well addressed during treatment, resulting in dose reductions, dose delays and early discontinuation (collectively called relative dose intensity) of these chemotherapy agents in 15-80 % of patients on these drugs. This reduction in relative dose intensity (RDI) results in worse clinical outcomes such as progression free and overall survival. Pre-clinical studies in mouse models subjected to standardized chemotherapy regimens containing paclitaxel or oxaliplatin have shown that the nutritional supplement Epidiferphane reduces both neuropathy and anemia. This study will investigate whether the use of Epidiferphane in patients with breast cancer receiving taxane chemotherapy results in an attenuation of the side effects experienced, as well as an improvement in tumor response rate. The safety and maximum tolerated dose of Epidiferphane in this patient population will also be determined in this study.
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Subjects on the phase I portion must either be initiating neoadjuvant chemotherapy or have a clinical diagnosis of metastatic breast cancer. Subjects on the phase II portion must have a clinical diagnosis of breast cancer of any stage and histology.
• Must be about to start a new treatment regimen containing either paclitaxel given weekly or docetaxel given every 3 weeks or nab-paclitaxel given weekly or every 3 weeks at UF Health, at one of the following doses:
‣ Paclitaxel weekly at 80-90 mg/m2
⁃ Nab-paclitaxel weekly at 75-125 mg/m2 or every three weekly at 260 mg/m2
⁃ Docetaxel every three weeks at 75-100 mg/m2
• An ECOG Performance Status less than or equal to 3 based on treating physician assessment
• Must continue cancer therapy at UF Health for at least the next three months
• Must not have more than one active malignancy at the time of enrollment (Subjects with a prior or concurrent malignancy whose natural history or treatment does not have the potential to interfere with the safety or efficacy assessment of the investigational regimen \[as determined by the treating physician and approved by the PI\] may be included.
• A functioning digestive tract with no obstruction
• Subjects must be willing to avoid regular consumption of green tea and curcumin supplements for the duration of trial participation.
• Written informed consent obtained from the subject and the ability for the subject to comply with all the study-related procedures.
• Subjects of childbearing potential (SOCBP) must be using an adequate method of contraception to avoid pregnancy throughout the study.
• Subjects with partners of child-bearing potential must agree to use physician-approved contraceptive methods (e.g., abstinence, condoms, vasectomy) throughout the study.