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Repurposing Mefloquine for Pancreatic Cancer Treatment
Sponsor: University of Florida
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
Conditions
Interventions
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.
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.
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.