Pre-operative Decitabine in Colon Cancer: a Proof of Principle Study

In- and exclusion criteria first part:

In order to participate in the first part of the study, five extra fresh biopsies to determine tumor methylation status, a subject must meet all of the following criteria:

Inclusion criteria:

1. Biopsy proven colon cancer or high suspicion of colon cancer on a previous endoscopy.
2. Planned endoscopy.
3. Age ≥ 18yr.
4. ECOG/ WHO performance 0-2.
5. Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

1\. Any psychological, familial, sociological or geographical condition potentially hampering adequate informed consent or compliance with the study protocol.

In- and exclusion criteria second part:

In order to participate in the second part of the study - treatment with decitabine - a subject must meet all of the following criteria:

Inclusion criteriä:

1. Patients with biopsy proven colon cancer who will undergo primary tumor resection.
2. Age ≥ 18yr.
3. ECOG/ WHO performance 0-2.
4. Adequate bone marrow function (ANC\>1500/mm3, hemoglobin\>9g/dL (which may be obtained by transfusions), platelets\>100,000)
5. Adequate hepatic function (AST and ALT \<2.5x upper limit of normal (ULN)).
6. Adequate renal function (Serum creatinine ≤1.5 x ULN or calculated creatinine of \>50ml/min)
7. Women of child-bearing age must be willing to use adequate contraception and have negative serum or urine pregnancy test within 3 days prior to registration.
8. Written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria:

1. Known hypersensitivity to decitabine or its additives.
2. Surgery not planned according to time frame of the study,
3. Other systemic or local treatment of the primary tumor in the waiting time until surgery.
4. Administration of any experimental drug within 60 days prior to the first dose of decitabine.