Study of Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) for Supportive and Symptomatic Management in Patients With Esophageal Cancer

Shandong First Medical University

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 1

Conditions: Esophageal Obstruction

Treatments: Other: EGCG

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05039983

GTEEC2021

Details and patient eligibility

About

The main symptom of patients with advanced esophageal cancer is eating obstruction. In clinical practice, patients need to wait for a long time before anti-tumor treatment, which will lead to a rapid decline in the quality of life and nutritional status of patients, and severe patients sometimes need to place nasointestinal feeding tubes or endoscopic stents. EGCG has been shown to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects . The complex effects of EGCG may improve esophageal obstruction during the waiting period before antineoplastic therapy. The purpose of this phase I study was to explore the safety, recommended dose and preliminary efficacy of EGCG solution in the treatment of esophageal obstruction.

Enrollment: 18 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• confirmed pathological esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
• ≥18 years old
• the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status (ECOG PS) 0-1
• no previous anti-tumor treatment
• no esophageal bleeding or fistula
• adequate hemocyte count, normal hepatic and renal functions
• Esophageal obstruction classified as grade 2 or grade 3 according to Stooler's dysphagia score

Exclusion criteria

• lactating or pregnant women
• known hypersensitivity or allergy to any kind green tea extract
• placement of small intestinal feeding tube or endoscopic stent treatment
• unable or refusing to take oral liquids

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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18 participants in 1 patient group

EGCG application

Experimental group

Description:

We have chosen a dose of 880 umol/L as the lower limit for this phase I study by referring to previous studies. Six dose levels for EGCG were defined as following: 880, 1760, 2640, 3430, and 4400 umol/L per dose. Dose escalation proceeded according to a standard phase I design with three patients initially treated on each tier. If, on any dose tier of EGCG, two of three patients or two of six patients experienced a more than grade II toxicity due to EGCG, dose escalation of EGCG would cease. The maximally tolerated dose (MTD) was defined as the highest dose with fewer than one-third of patients experiencing a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) due to EGCG. EGCG solution was given continuously for 7 days before anti-tumor treatment.

Treatment:

Other: EGCG