Nelfinavir Addition to Radiotherapy Treatment for Rectal Cancer

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  SONATINA: A Phase II Multi-Centre Randomised Controlled Study of Nelfinavir Addition to Radiotherapy Treatment in Neo-Adjuvant Therapy for Rectal Cancer

• IRAS ID

  27213

• Contact name

  Ricky Sharma

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Oxford, Clinical Trials Research Governance

• Eudract number

  2010-020621-40

• ISRCTN Number

  In progress

• Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier

  N/A

• Research summary

  In the laboratory, a broad spectrum of cancer cells is sensitized to radiotherapy after treatment with HIV protease inhibitors, such as Nelfinavir. In addition to inhibition of the Akt cellular pathway, Nelfinavir has been shown to improve the delivery of oxygenated blood to tumours and to normalise tumour vessels in preclinical models of cancer, all of which contribute to its effects in enhancing cancer cell kill by radiotherapy. In this trial, Nelfinavir will be given to patients with rectal cancer as a tablet to see if it enhances the number of cancer cells killed by radiotherapy.

• REC name

  South Central - Oxford A Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  10/H0604/61

• Date of REC Opinion

  30 Sep 2010

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion