PTEN Gene MutationPhase 2NCT04094675
Sirolimus for Cowden Syndrome With Colon Polyposis
A Phase 2 study testing Sirolimus in people with PTEN Gene Mutation and PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Colon polyposis (the presence of multiple colon polyps) is very common with Cowden syndrome, as over 60% of patients have 50 or more polyps. In a previous clinical trial, some participants had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- PTEN Gene Mutation, PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, PTEN Hamartoma Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Sirolimus
- Type of treatment
- Pill or oral medicine
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 5 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 16 Sep 2019to 5 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Cowden syndrome or other PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome spectrum disorder
- Confirmed pathogenic or likely pathogenic PTEN germline mutation on genetic testing
- Previous colonoscopy with colon polyposis. This is defined for the study as either too many polyps to remove endoscopically as judged by the performing physician at the last colonoscopy or findings indicating at least an InSIGHT stage 1 score (over 20 polyps).
- Age 18 or greater
- Capacity to consent to study
Who cannot join
- Pregnancy or plans for pregnancy while on treatment or within 3 months of stopping treatment (for both women and men)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic renal disease
- History of colon cancer or colon adenoma with high grade dysplasia
- History of colectomy
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
Columbus, Ohio, 43210
About this study
Colon polyposis (the presence of multiple colon polyps) is very common with Cowden syndrome, as over 60% of patients have 50 or more polyps. In a previous clinical trial, some participants had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period. This study is investigating sirolimus and its effect on the number of colon polyps in patients with Cowden syndrome and polyposis over a 1 year period.
Read the detailed description
PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that regulates the cell cycle through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway. When germline mutations in PTEN occur, the result is Cowden syndrome (or less commonly one of several related disorders collectively called the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome). This is characterized by the growth of hamartomas and a high risk of cancer in multiple organ systems. This includes colon polyps in 92.5% of Cowden syndrome patients and 64% with an estimated 50 or more polyps. Although outcomes of this are under reported, series suggest 20-38% of patients will receive colectomy.
Current clinical practice for Cowden syndrome is based on close surveillance for the development of cancers. Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is a specific inhibitor of mTOR that is FDA-approved for immunosuppression and use in several types of cancers as chemotherapy. It has also been used successfully in other hamartomatous syndromes including lymphangioleiomyomatosis. There is also a completed pilot clinical trial for adults with Cowden syndrome in which some had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period.
This will be an open-label pilot trial to determine whether sirolimus reduces colon polyp burden in Cowden syndrome. Sirolimus will be administered for one year. Colonoscopy with polyp estimation will be performed at trial entrance and at study completion.
- Conditions
- PTEN Gene Mutation, PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, PTEN Hamartoma Syndrome, Cowden Syndrome, Bannayan Syndrome, Bannayan Zonana Syndrome
- Being tested
- Sirolimus
- Keywords
- PTEN, Cowden syndrome, PHTS, Colon polyposis, sirolimus, Rapamycin, mTOR inhibitor
- Medical subject headings
- Hamartoma Syndrome, Multiple
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
SirolimusDrug
Also called Rapamycin, Rapamune
Use of sirolimus 2 mg by mouth daily for 1 year
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment arm | Experimental | There will be a clinic visit and colonoscopy at study entrance with standard of care sampling and assessment of polyps, including resection of concerning polyps. The investigators will also collect data on well-being via the SF-36 health survey (a validated questionnaire to help monitor this aspect given anecdotal patient-level reports of improvement while on therapy).
Study subjects will then begin sirolimus 2 mg by mouth daily for 1 year.
Laboratories will be checked at 4 days after initiation, at 2 weeks after initiation, then every 4 weeks for 3 months, then every 3 months to complete the year of therapy
Participants will have a clinic visit at 3, 6 and 9 months and include well-being assessment with the SF-36 health survey.
Participants will have a clinic visit with well-being assessment and perform colonoscopy at study closure at 12 months. The investigators will perform standard of care sampling and assessment of polyps, including resection of concerning polyps. Receives: Drug: Sirolimus |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in colon polyp burden by number
Assessment of change in number of colon polyps. This will be assessed for each segment of colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum) and then aggregated into a total number of colon polyps. The entrance result will be compared to the final result for each participant.
Measured: 1 year
Change in colon polyp burden by staging
Assessment of change in staging of colon polyps by using the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors (InSIGHT) polyposis staging system. The InSight staging system divides colorectal polyposis into 5 progressive stages based on polyp number and size (Stage 0: <20 polyps, all <5 mm; Stage 1: 20-200 polyps, most <5 mm, none, >1 cm; Stage 2: 200-500 polyps, <10 that are >1 cm; Stage 3: 500-1000 polyps or any number if there are 10-50 that are >1 cm and amenable to complete polypectomy; Stage 4: >1000 polyps and/or any polyps grown to confluence and not amenable to simple polypectomy; any high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer). The entrance result will be compared to the final result for each participant.
Measured: 1 year
Secondary outcomes (1)
Change in well-being assessment
Assessment in change in overall health and quality of life as quantified by the SF-36 (Short Form) Health Survey. The SF-36 is a widely-used and standardized survey of participant responses to 36 questions that measures health-related quality of life. Each question has answers that are given a correlating score from 0 to 100, with a high score representing a more favorable health state. Through the combination of specific questions and averaging the scores, there are 8 scales (physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health, role limitations due to emotional problems, vitality, mental health, social functioning, bodily pain, and general health) that are reported with scores from 0 to 100, with a high score representing a more favorable health state. These can also be averaged into a physical component summary score and mental component summary score that is again from 0 to 100, with a high score representing a more favorable health state.
Measured: 1 year
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted19 Sep 2019
- Study start16 Sep 2019
- Primary completion1 Feb 2025
- Study completion5 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (6)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for PTEN Gene MutationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Ohio State UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- Open-label pilot trial
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- PTEN Research, Pfizer
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Peter P Stanich, Ohio State University
- Investigators
- Peter P Stanich, MD, Principal investigator, Ohio State University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04094675
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2018H0179
- Status last verified
- Jun 2025
- First submitted
- 13 May 2019
- Last updated
- 10 Jun 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- Yes
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Stanich PP, Pilarski R, Rock J, Frankel WL, El-Dika S, Meyer MM. Colonic manifestations of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: case series and systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb 21;20(7):1833-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1833.
PubMed 24587660Stanich PP, Owens VL, Sweetser S, Khambatta S, Smyrk TC, Richardson RL, Goetz MP, Patnaik MM. Colonic polyposis and neoplasia in Cowden syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc. 2011 Jun;86(6):489-92. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2010.0816.
PubMed 21628613Heald B, Mester J, Rybicki L, Orloff MS, Burke CA, Eng C. Frequent gastrointestinal polyps and colorectal adenocarcinomas in a prospective series of PTEN mutation carriers. Gastroenterology. 2010 Dec;139(6):1927-33. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.06.061. Epub 2010 Jun 27.
PubMed 20600018Komiya T, Blumenthal GM, DeChowdhury R, Fioravanti S, Ballas MS, Morris J, Hornyak TJ, Wank S, Hewitt SM, Morrow B, Memmott RM, Rajan A, Dennis PA. A Pilot Study of Sirolimus in Subjects with Cowden Syndrome or Other Syndromes Characterized by Germline Mutations in PTEN. Oncologist. 2019 Dec;24(12):1510-e1265. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0514. Epub 2019 Jul 26.
PubMed 31350329Lynch PM, Morris JS, Wen S, Advani SM, Ross W, Chang GJ, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Raju GS, Ricciardiello L, Iwama T, Rossi BM, Pellise M, Stoffel E, Wise PE, Bertario L, Saunders B, Burt R, Belluzzi A, Ahnen D, Matsubara N, Bulow S, Jespersen N, Clark SK, Erdman SH, Markowitz AJ, Bernstein I, De Haas N, Syngal S, Moeslein G. A proposed staging system and stage-specific interventions for familial adenomatous polyposis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2016 Jul;84(1):115-125.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2015.12.029. Epub 2016 Jan 6.
PubMed 26769407Stanich PP, Gofar K, Roberts ME, Hussan H. Sirolimus for Colon Polyposis in PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2025 Jun 6;16(8):e00871. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000871. eCollection 2025 Aug 1.
PubMed 40478255
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 10 Jun 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Sirolimus for Cowden Syndrome With Colon Polyposis
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04094675
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 2018H0179
- Conditions
- PTEN Gene Mutation, PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, PTEN Hamartoma Syndrome, Cowden Syndrome, Bannayan Syndrome, Bannayan Zonana Syndrome
- Keywords
- PTEN, Cowden syndrome, PHTS, Colon polyposis, sirolimus, Rapamycin, mTOR inhibitor
- Phase
- Phase 2
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 5 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Ohio State UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- PTEN Research, Pfizer
- Study start
- 16 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 5 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 19 Sep 2019 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Colon polyposis (the presence of multiple colon polyps) is very common with Cowden syndrome, as over 60% of patients have 50 or more polyps. In a previous clinical trial, some participants had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period. This study is investigating sirolimus and its effect on the number of colon polyps in patients with Cowden syndrome and polyposis over a 1 year period.
Detailed description
PTEN is a tumor suppressor gene that regulates the cell cycle through the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR pathway. When germline mutations in PTEN occur, the result is Cowden syndrome (or less commonly one of several related disorders collectively called the PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome). This is characterized by the growth of hamartomas and a high risk of cancer in multiple organ systems. This includes colon polyps in 92.5% of Cowden syndrome patients and 64% with an estimated 50 or more polyps. Although outcomes of this are under reported, series suggest 20-38% of patients will receive colectomy.
Current clinical practice for Cowden syndrome is based on close surveillance for the development of cancers. Sirolimus (also known as rapamycin) is a specific inhibitor of mTOR that is FDA-approved for immunosuppression and use in several types of cancers as chemotherapy. It has also been used successfully in other hamartomatous syndromes including lymphangioleiomyomatosis. There is also a completed pilot clinical trial for adults with Cowden syndrome in which some had reduction in the number of colon polyps with the use of the medication sirolimus for a very short time period.
This will be an open-label pilot trial to determine whether sirolimus reduces colon polyp burden in Cowden syndrome. Sirolimus will be administered for one year. Colonoscopy with polyp estimation will be performed at trial entrance and at study completion.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- Open-label pilot trial
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Treatment arm | Experimental | Drug: SirolimusThere will be a clinic visit and colonoscopy at study entrance with standard of care sampling and assessment of polyps, including resection of concerning polyps. The investigators will also collect data on well-being via the SF-36 health survey (a validated questionnaire to help monitor this aspect given anecdotal patient-level reports of improvement while on therapy). Study subjects will then begin sirolimus 2 mg by mouth daily for 1 year. Laboratories will be checked at 4 days after initiation, at 2 weeks after initiation, then every 4 weeks for 3 months, then every 3 months to complete the year of therapy Participants will have a clinic visit at 3, 6 and 9 months and include well-being assessment with the SF-36 health survey. Participants will have a clinic visit with well-being assessment and perform colonoscopy at study closure at 12 months. The investigators will perform standard of care sampling and assessment of polyps, including resection of concerning polyps. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Cowden syndrome or other PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome spectrum disorder
- Confirmed pathogenic or likely pathogenic PTEN germline mutation on genetic testing
- Previous colonoscopy with colon polyposis. This is defined for the study as either too many polyps to remove endoscopically as judged by the performing physician at the last colonoscopy or findings indicating at least an InSIGHT stage 1 score (over 20 polyps).
- Age 18 or greater
- Capacity to consent to study
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Pregnancy or plans for pregnancy while on treatment or within 3 months of stopping treatment (for both women and men)
- Chronic kidney disease
- Chronic renal disease
- History of colon cancer or colon adenoma with high grade dysplasia
- History of colectomy
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| SirolimusAlso: Rapamycin, RapamuneUse of sirolimus 2 mg by mouth daily for 1 year | Drug | Treatment arm |
Primary outcome
Change in colon polyp burden by number
Time frame: 1 year
Assessment of change in number of colon polyps. This will be assessed for each segment of colon (ascending, transverse, descending, sigmoid, rectum) and then aggregated into a total number of colon polyps. The entrance result will be compared to the final result for each participant.
Change in colon polyp burden by staging
Time frame: 1 year
Assessment of change in staging of colon polyps by using the International Society for Gastrointestinal Hereditary Tumors (InSIGHT) polyposis staging system. The InSight staging system divides colorectal polyposis into 5 progressive stages based on polyp number and size (Stage 0: <20 polyps, all <5 mm; Stage 1: 20-200 polyps, most <5 mm, none, >1 cm; Stage 2: 200-500 polyps, <10 that are >1 cm; Stage 3: 500-1000 polyps or any number if there are 10-50 that are >1 cm and amenable to complete polypectomy; Stage 4: >1000 polyps and/or any polyps grown to confluence and not amenable to simple polypectomy; any high-grade dysplasia or invasive cancer). The entrance result will be compared to the final result for each participant.
1 secondary outcome
Change in well-being assessment
Time frame: 1 year
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 10 Jun 2025.
- Background: PubMed 24587660Stanich PP, Pilarski R, Rock J, Frankel WL, El-Dika S, Meyer MM. Colonic manifestations of PTEN hamartoma tumor syndrome: case series and systematic review. World J Gastroenterol. 2014 Feb 21;20(7):1833-8. doi: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i7.1833.
- Background: PubMed 21628613Stanich PP, Owens VL, Sweetser S, Khambatta S, Smyrk TC, Richardson RL, Goetz MP, Patnaik MM. Colonic polyposis and neoplasia in Cowden syndrome. Mayo Clin Proc. 2011 Jun;86(6):489-92. doi: 10.4065/mcp.2010.0816.
- Background: PubMed 20600018Heald B, Mester J, Rybicki L, Orloff MS, Burke CA, Eng C. Frequent gastrointestinal polyps and colorectal adenocarcinomas in a prospective series of PTEN mutation carriers. Gastroenterology. 2010 Dec;139(6):1927-33. doi: 10.1053/j.gastro.2010.06.061. Epub 2010 Jun 27.
- Background: PubMed 31350329Komiya T, Blumenthal GM, DeChowdhury R, Fioravanti S, Ballas MS, Morris J, Hornyak TJ, Wank S, Hewitt SM, Morrow B, Memmott RM, Rajan A, Dennis PA. A Pilot Study of Sirolimus in Subjects with Cowden Syndrome or Other Syndromes Characterized by Germline Mutations in PTEN. Oncologist. 2019 Dec;24(12):1510-e1265. doi: 10.1634/theoncologist.2019-0514. Epub 2019 Jul 26.
- Background: PubMed 26769407Lynch PM, Morris JS, Wen S, Advani SM, Ross W, Chang GJ, Rodriguez-Bigas M, Raju GS, Ricciardiello L, Iwama T, Rossi BM, Pellise M, Stoffel E, Wise PE, Bertario L, Saunders B, Burt R, Belluzzi A, Ahnen D, Matsubara N, Bulow S, Jespersen N, Clark SK, Erdman SH, Markowitz AJ, Bernstein I, De Haas N, Syngal S, Moeslein G. A proposed staging system and stage-specific interventions for familial adenomatous polyposis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2016 Jul;84(1):115-125.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.gie.2015.12.029. Epub 2016 Jan 6.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40478255Stanich PP, Gofar K, Roberts ME, Hussan H. Sirolimus for Colon Polyposis in PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome. Clin Transl Gastroenterol. 2025 Jun 6;16(8):e00871. doi: 10.14309/ctg.0000000000000871. eCollection 2025 Aug 1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Peter P Stanich, MD principal investigator
Ohio State University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A Phase 2 study testing Sirolimus in people with PTEN Gene Mutation and PTEN Hamartoma Tumor Syndrome, run by Ohio State University at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 5 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 10 Jun 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
What does this phase mean?
Phase 2 studies give the treatment to a larger group to see whether it has the intended effect and to keep checking safety.
Not every study follows the same path, and some studies (observational studies, device studies) have no phase.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in colon polyp burden by number (time frame: 1 year). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT04094675, which also lists 6 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 10 Jun 2025.