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NCT00379639

A Study of Romidepsin (Depsipeptide) in Combination With Gemcitabine in Patients With Pancreatic and Other Advanced Solid Tumors

Completed Phase 1 Results posted Last updated 30 October 2019
What this trial tests

Phase 1 trial testing Romidepsin in Pancreatic Cancer in 36 participants. Completed in 1 July 2008.

Timeline
1 July 2006
Primary endpoint
1 July 2008
1 July 2008

Quick facts

Lead sponsorCelgene
PhasePhase 1
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationnon randomized
Designsingle group
Maskingnone
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment36
Start date1 July 2006
Primary completion1 July 2008
Estimated completion1 July 2008
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

Celgene — full company profile →

Who can join

18 and older, any sex, with Pancreatic Cancer. Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Number of Participants With a Dose-limiting Toxicity (DLT) Primary · 28 days

Toxicities were assessed according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI CTCAE), V 3.0. A DLT was one of the following, if considered at least possibly related to study treatment: Grade 4 neutropenia for ≥5 days or febrile neutropenia; Grade 4 thrombocytopenia or need for a platelet transfusion; ≥ Grade 3 nausea and/or emesis despite using optimal antiemetic therapy; ≥ Grade 3 diarrhea despite using maximal supportive therapy; Any clinically significant Grade 3 or 4 nonhematologic toxicity; Inability to administer all doses in cycle 1.

GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 13
Dose Level 21
Dose Level 50
Dose Level 62
Dose Level 80
Number of Participants With Adverse Events (AEs) Primary · From the date of first dose to 30 days after last dose (up to 236 days).

AEs were graded for severity according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria (NCI CTCAE), V 3.0: Grade 1: Mild; Grade 2: Moderate; Grade 3: Severe (prevents normal everyday activities); Grade 4: Life-threatening or disabling; Grade 5: Death. A serious AE is associated with events that pose a threat to a patient's life or functioning, require hospitalization, is a congenital anomaly/birth defect or is an important medical event or condition that may jeopardize the patient and may require medical or surgical intervention to prevent one of the above outcomes.

Any adverse event
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 17
Dose Level 27
Dose Level 510
Dose Level 66
Dose Level 86
≥Grade 3 adverse event
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 17
Dose Level 25
Dose Level 55
Dose Level 64
Dose Level 83
Grade 4 adverse event
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 11
Dose Level 22
Dose Level 53
Dose Level 62
Dose Level 81
Serious adverse event
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 13
Dose Level 22
Dose Level 54
Dose Level 61
Dose Level 82
Adverse event leading to discontinuation
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 10
Dose Level 20
Dose Level 51
Dose Level 60
Dose Level 81
Adverse event leading to death
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 10
Dose Level 20
Dose Level 50
Dose Level 60
Dose Level 81
Best Overall Response Primary · Disease assessments were performed within 4 weeks of first dose and every 8 weeks thereafter (up to 236 days).

Disease response was determined by the Investigator according to Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) criteria using computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging: Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all target lesions; Partial Response (PR): At least a 30% decrease in the sum of the longest diameter (LD) of target lesions; Progressive Disease (PD): At least a 20% increase in the sum of the LD of target lesions or the appearance of ≥1 new lesions; Stable Disease (SD): Neither sufficient shrinkage to qualify for PR nor sufficient increase to qualify for PD.

Complete Response
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 10
Dose Level 20
Dose Level 50
Dose Level 60
Dose Level 80
Partial Response
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 10
Dose Level 21
Dose Level 50
Dose Level 60
Dose Level 81
Stable disease
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 15
Dose Level 24
Dose Level 53
Dose Level 61
Dose Level 81
Progressive disease
GroupValue95% CI
Dose Level 11
Dose Level 22
Dose Level 54
Dose Level 63
Dose Level 81

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: From the date of first dose to 30 days after last dose.. Reporting threshold: 5%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Dose Level 1
Serious: 3/7 (43%)
Deaths:
Dose Level 2
Serious: 2/7 (29%)
Deaths:
Dose Level 5
Serious: 4/10 (40%)
Deaths:
Dose Level 6
Serious: 1/6 (17%)
Deaths:
Dose Level 8
Serious: 2/6 (33%)
Deaths:

Serious adverse events (21 terms)

ReactionSystemDose Level 1Dose Level 2Dose Level 5Dose Level 6Dose Level 8
Abdominal pain NOSGastrointestinal disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
Vomiting NOSGastrointestinal disorders
Anaemia NOSBlood and lymphatic system disorders
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Myocardial infarctionCardiac disorders
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders
Gastric ulcerGastrointestinal disorders
Small intestinal obstruction NOSGastrointestinal disorders
Upper gastrointestinal haemorrhageGastrointestinal disorders
AstheniaGeneral disorders
FatigueGeneral disorders
Sudden deathGeneral disorders
Bile duct obstructionHepatobiliary disorders
Pneumonia NOSInfections and infestations
AnorexiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
HypercalcaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Neck painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pulmonary embolismRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Deep vein thrombosisVascular disorders
Other adverse events (47 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemDose Level 1Dose Level 2Dose Level 5Dose Level 6Dose Level 8
FatigueGeneral disorders
NauseaGastrointestinal disorders
Vomiting NOSGastrointestinal disorders
AnorexiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
ConstipationGastrointestinal disorders
ThrombocytopeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Abdominal pain NOSGastrointestinal disorders
DysgeusiaNervous system disorders
Anaemia NOSBlood and lymphatic system disorders
Diarrhoea NOSGastrointestinal disorders
Chest painGeneral disorders
Pain NOSGeneral disorders
PyrexiaGeneral disorders
ArthralgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Back painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
DizzinessNervous system disorders
DyspnoeaRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
NeutropeniaBlood and lymphatic system disorders
DyspepsiaGastrointestinal disorders
Reflux oesophagitisGastrointestinal disorders
AstheniaGeneral disorders
Liver function test abnormalInvestigations
Muscle crampMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
HeadacheNervous system disorders
InsomniaPsychiatric disorders
DysuriaRenal and urinary disorders
PollakiuriaRenal and urinary disorders
EpistaxisRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
HiccupsRespiratory, thoracic and mediastinal disorders
Abdominal distensionGastrointestinal disorders
Oedema peripheralGeneral disorders
Performance status decreasedGeneral disorders
Urinary tract infection NOSInfections and infestations
Aspartate aminotransferase increasedInvestigations
Blood bilirubin increasedInvestigations
HyperkalaemiaMetabolism and nutrition disorders
Musculoskeletal painMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
MyalgiaMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Pain in extremityMusculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
AnxietyPsychiatric disorders

Most-reported serious reactions: Abdominal pain NOS, Nausea, Vomiting NOS, Anaemia NOS, Thrombocytopenia, Myocardial infarction, Constipation, Gastric ulcer.

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00379639 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

This was a phase I dose escalation trial designed to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) for the combination of romidepsin (depsipeptide) and gemcitabine. The study was originally planned as a Phase I/II; however only Phase I of the study was conducted.

Publications & conference data

8 peer-reviewed publications reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Trials with 'epigenetic' drugs: an update.
    Nebbioso A, Carafa V, Benedetti R, Altucci L. · · 2012 · cited 162× · PMID 23103179 · DOI 10.1016/j.molonc.2012.09.004
  2. Epigenetic treatment of pancreatic cancer: is there a therapeutic perspective on the horizon?
    Hessmann E, Johnsen SA, Siveke JT, Ellenrieder V. · · 2017 · cited 100× · PMID 27811314 · DOI 10.1136/gutjnl-2016-312539
  3. Targeting Histone Deacetylases in Diseases: Where Are We?
    Benedetti R, Conte M, Altucci L. · · 2015 · cited 91× · PMID 24382114 · DOI 10.1089/ars.2013.5776
  4. Modulating epigenetic modifications for cancer therapy (Review).
    Castro-Muñoz LJ, Ulloa EV, Sahlgren C, Lizano M, et al · · 2023 · cited 62× · PMID 36799181 · DOI 10.3892/or.2023.8496
  5. Small Molecules Targeting HATs, HDACs, and BRDs in Cancer Therapy.
    Wu D, Qiu Y, Jiao Y, Qiu Z, et al · · 2020 · cited 55× · PMID 33262941 · DOI 10.3389/fonc.2020.560487
  6. Developing effective combination therapy for pancreatic cancer: An overview.
    Miller AL, Garcia PL, Yoon KJ. · · 2020 · cited 54× · PMID 32135247 · DOI 10.1016/j.phrs.2020.104740
  7. Targeting epigenetic regulators as a promising avenue to overcome cancer therapy resistance.
    Song J, Yang P, Chen C, Ding W, et al · · 2025 · cited 40× · PMID 40675967 · DOI 10.1038/s41392-025-02266-z
  8. Use of class I histone deacetylase inhibitor romidepsin in combination regimens.
    Petrich A, Nabhan C. · · 2016 · cited 28× · PMID 27118119 · DOI 10.3109/10428194.2016.1160082

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Romidepsin

Trials testing the same drug.

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Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other Celgene trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

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