Hydroxychloroquine With or Without Erlotinib in Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC)
Status:
Terminated
Trial end date:
2012-11-01
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Erlotinib is a type of drug called a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI). TKIs block a protein
called epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). EGFR may control tumor growth and tumor cell
survival. EGFR is found on the surface of many types of cancer cells, including non-small
cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Erlotinib is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for
the treatment of NSCLC. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is a drug approved by the FDA for treatment
of malaria, rheumatoid arthritis, and several other diseases but is not currently thought of
as a cancer treatment. Previous laboratory studies suggests that HCQ may have an anti-cancer
effect by itself in some situations, particularly when EGFR TKI drugs have been useful in the
past against the tumor. The two drugs together may be able to fight lung cancer in cases
where erlotinib is no longer effective by itself. The purpose of this research study is to
determine the highest dose of HCQ that can be given safely in combination with erlotinib. We
will also begin to look at whether HCQ plus erlotinib helps treat cancer that have become
resistant to TKI treatment after initially responding.