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NOT YET RECRUITING
NCT07875907
PHASE1

Repurposing Mefloquine for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment

Sponsor: University of Florida

View on ClinicalTrials.gov

Summary

Pancreatic cancer (specifically pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, PDAC) is a very aggressive disease that is often diagnosed too late for surgery, and the medicines currently available, mainly two chemotherapy combinations called modified FOLFIRINOX (mFFX) and gemcitabine + nab-paclitaxel (GnP), can extend life but rarely cure patients. This study examines mefloquine, a well-studied antimalarial drug, as a new way to attack pancreatic cancer. Laboratory work has shown that mefloquine can block an enzyme (TYMS) that cancer cells need to make DNA, and unlike many existing drugs it does not cause the cancer cells to produce more of that enzyme and become resistant. In several mouse models, as well as tumors grown from human patients, oral mefloquine at doses that were well tolerated (up to 300 mg/kg) slowed tumor growth and helped the animals live longer. This trial aims to find a safe dose of mefloquine for PDAC patients. A classic "3 + 3" design will be used in three separate arms: one taking mFFX, one taking GnP, and one taking mefloquine as monotherapy after exhausting standard of care treatment options. The main goals are to determine the recommended Phase 2 dose and to collect early signals that the drug might help shrink tumors when combined with existing chemotherapy. If the trial shows that mefloquine can be given safely and hints at improved tumor control, it would pave the way for larger studies that could eventually add an established and already-approved drug to the existing treatment options for advanced pancreatic cancer.

Key Details

Gender

All

Age Range

18 Years - Any

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Enrollment

36

Start Date

2026-11

Completion Date

2031-01

Last Updated

2026-10-15

Healthy Volunteers

No

Interventions

DRUG

Mefloquine

Subjects will take a loading dose of 250 mg orally of mefloquine once daily on days -7, -6 and -5. Then, beginning on day 1, subjects will take 250 mg of mefloquine orally either once a week or once every 2 weeks. Dose assignment will follow a 3 + 3 design for each arm, with once a week dosing as the starting dose. Three subjects will enroll in weekly dosing; if none or only one experiences a dose-limiting toxicity DLT, the recommended Phase 2 dose for that arm will be 250 mg weekly after a loading dose. If more than one subject experiences a DLT, the dose will be reduced to once every 2 weeks, and the process will repeat. If 2 or more DLTs occur at the reduced dose level, dosing will cease. Treatment will continue for all subjects until unacceptable toxicity, patient preference or disease progression. For arms that include concurrent chemotherapy (modified FOLFIRINOX or gemcitabine and nab-paclitaxel), concurrent chemotherapy will start on day 1.

DRUG

Modified FOLFIRINOX

Subjects will receive modified FOLFIRINOX beginning on day 1. Dosing of modified FOLFIRINOX will be per standard of care guidelines and the treating physician's discretion.

DRUG

gemcitabine and nab paclitaxel

Subjects will receive gemcitabine and nab paclitaxel beginning on day 1. Dosing of gemcitabine and nab paclitaxel will be per standard of care guidelines and the treating physician's discretion.