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RecruitingNCT03467360ICARUpdated Jan 20, 2026

Phase I Trial of CArbonic Anhydrase Inhibition in Combination With Radiochemotherapy or Radioimmunotherapy in Small Cell Lung Carcinoma

A Phase 1 interventional study of acetazolamide in combination with platinum and etoposide-based radiochemotherapy and acetazolamide in combination with radioimmunotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC in Small Cell Lung Cancer, sponsored by Centre Antoine Lacassagne. Recruiting at 2 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-20.

Sponsored by Centre Antoine Lacassagne · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
27
Allocation
Non-randomized
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The investigators propose to study the carbonic anhydrase inhibition (acetazolamide) associated with concomitant radiochemotherapy or radioimmunotherapy in small cell lung cancer due to:

  1. The over-expression of carbonic anhydrases in this type of cancer,
  2. The Anti-tumor effect in preclinical acetazolamide in various tumor lines including neuroendocrine tumor lines,
  3. The observed synergy between irradiation and inhibition of carbonic anhydrases,
  4. Potential anti-tumor immune effect caused by decreased extracellular acidity.
Read the detailed description

Compared with healthy cells, glucose metabolism is greatly modified in cancer cells because of their highly proliferative character. This differential tumor / healthy tissue property is an opportunity to be able to propose a treatment whose therapeutic gain can be major (targeted treatment). Preclinical studies are multiple and showed that the targeting of overexpressed proteins (carbonic anhydrases) and involved in glycolytic metabolism can lead to a significant anti-tumor effect. This has never been tested in humans.

Acetazolamide is a molecule commonly used for non carcinologic purposes but has demonstrated anti-tumor activity in preclinical studies; there is also synergy radiotherapy / targeting of carbonic anhydrases. Therefore, the investigators propose to study the combination of acetazolamide / radiotherapy / chemotherapy with platinum and etoposide in localized Small Cell Lung cancer, or associated with radioimmunotherapy (extensive SCLC).

This would be the first study:

  • targeting glucose metabolism,
  • testing the effectiveness of acetazolamide in oncology,
  • testing the synergy radiotherapy / targeting glycolytic metabolism,
  • trying to manipulate the anti-tumor immune system indirectly, by decreasing extracellular acidosis.
02

Conditions studied

  • Small Cell Lung Cancer

Keywords

  • acetazolamide
03

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • Age > or = 18 years,
  • Performance Status 0 to 2,
  • Patient with an histologically non-metastatic localized (or extensive SCLC sub-group) Small cell lung cancer,
  • Patient who must start radiotherapy treatment combined with chemotherapy with platinum and etoposide (localized SCLC sub-group) or Patient who received 4 cycles of chemoimmunotherapy with platinum salts, etoposide and immunotherapy (atezolizumab or durvalumab) as the first treatment (extensive SCLC sub-group) Note: The decision of the Multidisciplinary Consultation Team must be notified in the patient's medical file,
  • Evaluation lesion according to the criteria RECIST 1.1 and / or according to the criteria PERCIST 1.0,
  • Women of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours of the first administration of the study treatment,
  • If the patient is a woman of childbearing potential, she must be surgically sterile or agree to use two adequate methods of contraception throughout the duration of the study until 1 month after the last administration of the study treatment. Subjects of childbearing potential are those who have not been surgically sterilized or have not been free from menses for > 1 year, Note: Abstinence is acceptable if it is the patient's usual and preferred form of contraception,
  • If the male patient has one or more female partners of childbearing age, he / she must agree to use an adequate method of contraception, starting at the first administration of the study treatment up to 1 month after the last administration of the treatment. of the study, Note: Abstinence is acceptable if it is the patient's usual and preferred form of contraception,
  • Patient willing and able to provide written informed consent/assent for the trial,
  • Patient affiliated with a health insurance system.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Patient with metastatic disease,
  • History of thoracic irradiation or near / in the thoracic irradiation field,
  • Patient who refuses to participate in the study or unable to agree,
  • Contraindication to thoracic radiotherapy treatment: congestive heart failure unbalanced (ejection fraction \<30%, clinical signs), severe respiratory failure:

    • COPD grade IV according to the GOLD classification,
    • Some GOLD III COPD and any patient with a respiratory defect defined as: oxygen dependence and / or FEV1 \<40% normal and / or, DLCO \<40% predictive value and / or vital capacity \<40% predictive value,
  • Contraindication to acetazolamide: hypersensitivity to acetazolamide, severe hepatic, renal or adrenal insufficiency, sulfonamide intolerance, history of renal colic, allergy to wheat other than celiac disease,
  • Patient currently receiving one or more treatments described in section 6.9 of the protocol,
  • History of cancer, with the exception of cancers in complete remission for more than 5 years, completely resected basal cell carcinoma of the skin or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin that has undergone potentially curative therapy or in situ cervical cancer,
  • People particularly vulnerable as defined in Articles L.1121-5 to -8 of the French Healthcare Code, including: person deprived of freedom by an administrative or judicial decision, adult being the object of a legal protection measure or outside a state to express their consent, pregnant or breastfeeding women
04

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Non-randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
27 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Localized SCLC

    non randomized, open-label extension cohort, evaluating the safety of acetazolamide in combination with platinum and etoposide-based radiochemotherapy in patients with Localized small lung cancer

    Drug: acetazolamide in combination with platinum and etoposide-based radiochemotherapy

  • Other
    Extensive SCLC

    non randomized, open-label extension cohort, evaluating the safety of acetazolamide in combination with radioimmunotherapy in patients with extensive small cell lung cancer

    Drug: acetazolamide in combination with radioimmunotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC

Interventions

  • Drugacetazolamide in combination with platinum and etoposide-based radiochemotherapy

    Radiation therapy will be combined with platinum and etoposide-based chemotherapy combined with 3-6 tablets per day of acetazolamide during the entire course of therapy (dosage appropriate to the inclusion phase).

  • Drugacetazolamide in combination with radioimmunotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC

    acetazolamide in combination with radioimmunotherapy in patients with extensive SCLC

05

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. To identify the Tolerated Maximum Dose (DMT) and Recommended Dose (DR) of acetazolamide in combination with radiotherapy combined with platinum and etoposide chemotherapy (localized SCLC) or with radioimmunotherapy (extensive SCLC)

    The frequency of limiting dose toxicities determined by the number of Adverse Events as Assessed by CTCAE v4.03 : * during the 6 weeks of treatment with acetazolamide / chemoradiation based on platinum and etoposide and in the first 6 months of follow-up after the last administration of the treatment * during the 10 days of treatment with acetazolamide / radioimmunotherapy and in the first 6 months after the last administration of the treatment with radioimmunotherapy, for the "extensive SCLC" subgroup

    Time frame: 8 months

Secondary outcomes

  1. To determine the overall tolerance of the association acetazolamide and radiochemotherapy (localized SCLC) or of the association acetazolamide and radioimmunotherapy (extensive)SCLC)

    The overall tolerability of the treatments will be measured by clinical (performance status), laboratory (blood sample), and paraclinical evaluations (ETT, EFR) and defined on the NCI CTCAE V4.03 scale

    Time frame: 27 months

  2. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment

    The tumor response (complete or partial, stabilization, progression) will be performed by Morphological evaluations using a scanner according to RECIST 1.1 criteria

    Time frame: 24 months

  3. To evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment

    The tumor response (complete or partial, stabilization, progression) will be performed by Metabolic evaluations using a PET-CT scan according to the criteria PERCIST 1.0

    Time frame: 24 months

  4. To identify predictive factors for response to acetazolamide

    The evaluation of predictive factors of acetazolamide response will be determined by serum CAIX and CAXII levels (in the 7 days before the start of acetazolamide and the end-of-treatment visit)

    Time frame: 3 months

  5. To identify predictive factors for response to acetazolamide

    The evaluation of predictive factors of acetazolamide response will be determined by: o The initial 18-FDG PET-CT scan (SUVmax, SULpeak) fixation intensity and 3 months after treatment,

    Time frame: 30 months

  6. To evaluate progression-free survival at 24 months

    To determine the delay between the date of inclusion and the date of progression or death

    Time frame: 24 months

  7. To evaluate overall survival at 24 months

    To determine the delay between the date of inclusion and the date of death

    Time frame: 24 months

  8. To determine the compliance of acetazolamide

    Compliance assessment will be done using Girerd's questionnaire

    Time frame: 27 months

  9. To evaluate the quality of life

    Quality of life will be determined using EORTC QLQC30 questionnaire

    Time frame: 27 months

06

Study locations

1 of 2 sites recruiting
  • Centre Antoine Lacassagne
    Nice, 06189, France
    Recruiting
  • Centre Hospitalier Princesse grace
    Monte Carlo, Monaco
    Terminated
07

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

08

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT03467360
Lead sponsor
Centre Antoine Lacassagne
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Mar 16, 2018
Start date
Aug 2, 2019
Primary completion
Oct 27, 2026 (estimated)
Completion
Apr 27, 2027 (estimated)
Last update
Jan 20, 2026

Study contacts

Jérôme DOYEN, PH
Contact
jerome.doyen@nice.unicancer.fr
+33492031270
Vanessa VIDAL
study director · Centre Antoine Lacassagne

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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