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Pilot Study of EGFR Inhibition with Erlotinib in Cirrhosis to Inhibit Fibrogenesis and Prevent Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Eligibility Criteria


Inclusion Criteria

  • Pre-Registration Inclusion:
    • Individuals with a clinical diagnosis fibrosis or cirrhosis of the liver:
      • an indication for surgical liver resection, OR
      • a clinical liver biopsy (with research tissue specimens available for analysis) ≤ 3 months prior to pre-registration.
    • Age ≥18 years.
    • Willingness to discontinue smoking during the study two weeks prior to beginning the study and willingness to not smoke while taking study medication.
    • Not pregnant or breast feeding.
    • Willingness to use adequate contraception to avoid pregnancy or impregnation until 2 weeks after discontinuing study agent.
    • Willingness to provide mandatory blood specimens as specified in the protocol.
    • Able to undergo:
      • Percutaneous or transjugular biopsy of cirrhotic liver at least 7 days prior to liver resection Surgical cohort), OR
      • A biopsy of the cirrhotic liver (Non-surgical cohort).
    • Willingness to authorize collection of tissue from surgically-resected liver or clinical liver biopsy for analyses specified in the protocol.
    • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.
  • Registration Inclusion:
    • ECOG performance status 0 or 1.
    • Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:
      • INR ≤ 1.5
      • Platelets ≥ 50 B/L (109/L)
      • Total bilirubin ≤ 3 × institutional ULN
      • AST (SGOT) and ALT (SGPT) ≤ 5 × institutional ULN
      • Creatinine ≤ 1.5 × institutional ULN
    • Non-surgical cohort only:
      • Positive phospho-EGFR assessment
    • Pre-Intervention biopsy sample collected.

Exclusion Criteria

  • Pre-Registration Exclusion:
    • Any prior treatment with erlotinib or other agent whose primary mechanism of action is known to inhibit EGFR.
    • Participants with a known diagnosis of HIV.
    • Participants who regularly (≥ 2 times per week) use drugs that alter the pH of the GI tract, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI) and antacids. Exceptions: Individuals who use prescription PPIs and have approval from their primary health care provider to discontinue for the duration of clinical trial participation may be enrolled.
    • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness.
    • Use of potent CYP3A4 inhibitors or grapefruit juice.
    • Use of CYP3A4 inducers or St. John's Wort.
    • History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to erlotinib (Tarceva™).
    • Participants who cannot have their warfarin, Lovenox, Plavix, or other comparable medications held for percutaneous or transjugular liver biopsy and surgery if so indicated.
    • Non-surgical cohort only: Pathology report from clinical liver biopsy (≤ 3 months prior to pre-registration) demonstrates no histologic abnormalities associated with chronic hepatitis, steatohepatitis, fibrosis, or cirrhosis.
  • Registration Exclusion:
    • Receiving any other investigational agents ≤6 months prior to Registration.
    • Surgical cohort (Cohort A only): Percutaneous or transjugular biopsy incomplete or not performed.