Official Title

A Phase II Biomarker Trial of Gelatin Encapsulated Extract of American Ginseng Root (LEAG) in Breast Cancer
  • Phase

    Phase 2
  • Study Type

    Interventional
  • Intervention/Treatment

    ginseng ...
  • Study Participants

    16
This study was designed to explore the changes brought about by gelatin encapsulated extract of American Ginseng Root (LEAG) in breast cancer tumors and surrounding normal breast epithelial cells. Various tumor biomarkers, as well as inflammatory mediators, will be examined in tissue following LEAG treatment.
Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and its close relative American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) are perennial aromatic herbs that are widely used in Asian medicine. Ginseng root is used as a tonic thought to increase the body's resistance to stress and fatigue, to increase endurance under heavy physical activity, and to improve well-being in age-related debilitation. Most of the ginseng consumed, even in Asian populations, is American ginseng, and the majority of American ginseng is grown and processed in Wisconsin, with quality and standardization overseen by the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin. Furthermore, in Asian medicine, Asian ginseng (Panax ginseng) and American ginseng (Panax quinquefolium) are common components in herbals used for cancer prevention and treatment. Indeed, retrospective studies have shown that patients who consumed ginseng on a regular basis experienced cancers at a reduced rate, however, breast cancer was not considered. Ginseng has been used medicinally for over 2000 years and there are no substantiated serious adverse effects, and few, if any, non-serious adverse effects. The World Health Organization lists ginseng as a traditional medicine with very low toxicity. Clinical trials have also demonstrated an anti-hyperglycemic action of American ginseng. These studies utilized capsules containing dried, ground Ontario-grown P. qinquefolius L. root. The ground AG root preparation had an onset of action of 40 minutes. They found no significant increase in anti-hyperglycemic action after 40 minutes and no significant increase in anti-hyperglycemic action using 1 gram versus 3 gram dosing.

LEAG is a standardized preparation of lyophilized water-extract of American ginseng root in 250-mg gelatin capsules. The ginseng was purchased through the Ginseng Board of Wisconsin and the lyophilized extract has been certified for percentage of each and total ginsenoside content and screened for safe levels of minerals, metals, and pesticides by ConsumerLab.com, a leading testing service company of dietary supplements.
Study Started
Feb 29
2008
Primary Completion
Jun 30
2019
Study Completion
Jun 30
2019
Results Posted
Nov 11
2021
Last Update
Nov 11
2021

Drug American Ginseng root

four, 250mg tablets daily 5-14 days prior to surgery

  • Other names: LEAG, Ginseng

American Ginseng root Experimental

four, 250mg tablets daily 5-14 days prior to surgery

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients with cytologically confirmed breast cancer with biopsy showing invasive or non-invasive (DCIS) at least 1.0 cm greatest diameter on imaging
Surgical patients undergoing lumpectomy, subtotal or total mastectomy
18 years of age or greater
female
available tissue blocks from diagnostic biopsy
negative pregnancy test, medical history of surgical sterilization, or 1 year post menopausal
must be willing to forego surgery for minimum of 5 days
ability and willingness to sign written consent
if hypertensive, on stable dose of medication at least 30 days
if diabetic, well controlled (HbA1C < 8.5 within past 60 days or documented FPG < 140 mg/dl for 3 consecutive days
ECOG status < 2 or Karnofsky of 60% or greater

Exclusion Criteria:

previous or current malignancy, excluding non-melanomic skin cancer
evidence of distant metastatic disease
history of chemotherapy, biologic or radiotherapy with 6 months of biopsy
usage of herbal supplements or alternative medications not approved by the FDA within 1 week of starting study drug. LEAG or related ginseng products, and combination products containing ginseng, should be discontinued within 6 weeks of starting study drug
history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to LEAG
history of chronic inflammatory process, including, but not limited to, rheumatoid arthritis and lupus. This includes patients on concurrent systemic steroids or anti-inflammatory medications
active bleeding or a pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding
any swallowing dysfunction
uncontrolled intercurrent illness
poorly controlled diabetes (control indicated with HbA1c < 8.5 within past 60 days or documented fasting blood glucose < 140 mg/dl for three consecutive days)
known diabetics who have experienced episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia in the last 6 months are also considered poorly controlled and will be excluded from study participation.
uncontrolled hypertension (SBP > 140 mmHg or DBP > 90 mmHG)
pregnant or breast feeding women Women must be willing to use birth control throughout study duration.
current investigational medications or treatment with an investigational agent within 6 weeks prior to biopsy
current coumadin therapy or who have been treated with coumadin within the 2 weeks prior to biopsy
current monoamine oxidase inhibitors treatment

Summary

American Ginseng Root

All Events

Event Type Organ System Event Term American Ginseng Root

Adiponectin

Change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

1308.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 11,985

C Reactive Protein (CRP)

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

761.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1,347

Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF)

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

1.25
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 79.1

Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1)

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

-144.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 478

Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor (IGF-1R)

Mean change from baseline following 10-14 days of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

-364.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 1502

Interlueken-1- (IL-10)

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

0.1
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 0.2

IL-12p40

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

-1.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 14

IL-1b

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

5.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 13

MCP-1

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

8.0
pg/ml (Median)
Standard Deviation: 20

IL-1ra

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

46.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 687

IL-2

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

2.7
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 9.5

IL-23

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

26.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 87

IL-4

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

29.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 92

IL-6

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

4.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 12

IL-8

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

1.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 3

TGFb1

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

826.0
pg/ml (Median)
Standard Deviation: 3054

Insulin

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

299.0
pg/ml (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 982

Leptin

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

-100.0
pg/ml (Median)
Standard Deviation: 438

TNFa

Mean change from baseline to completion of treatment with LEAG.

American Ginseng Root

-15.0
pg/ml (Median)
Standard Deviation: 51

BMI

29.3
kg/m^2 (Mean)
Standard Deviation: 7.7

Estrogen Receptor Positivity

7
Participants

Glucose

82
mg/dL (Mean)
Full Range: 61.0 to 108.0

HER 2 Positivity

1
Participants

Platelet Function Assay (PFA-100)

142.8
seconds (Mean)
Full Range: 104.0 to 160.0

Progesterone Receptor Positivity

5
Participants

Triple Negative Tumors

4
Participants

Age, Categorical

Race (NIH/OMB)

Region of Enrollment

Sex: Female, Male

Overall Study

American Ginseng Root