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Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary Brain Tumors

Study Purpose

RATIONALE: Inserting the gene for herpes virus into a person's cells may improve the body's ability to fight cancer or make the cancer more sensitive to chemotherapy using antiviral drugs such as ganciclovir. PURPOSE: Phase I trial to study the effectivenesss of gene therapy in treating patients with primary brain tumors.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

 No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

 Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed malignant glioma, including: Anaplastic astrocytoma Glioblastoma Evidence of recurrence by MRI and positron emission tomography despite primary treatment that included radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy Stereotactically accessible tumor Solitary tumor preferred Largest tumor surgically accessible for debulking if multifocal disease Not adjacent to optic chiasm or brain stem No subependymal spread No herniation or marked midline shift Consent for autopsy required.PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: 18 and over Performance status: Karnofsky 70%-100% Hematopoietic: Hematologic parameters normal Hepatic: Hepatic parameters normal (less than twice normal if on anticonvulsants) Renal: Renal parameters normal Cardiovascular: No congestive heart failure No angina Other: No medical contraindication to neurosurgery and fluid injection into brain No serious uncontrolled infection Negative pregnancy test required of fertile women prior to entry Adequate contraception required of fertile women during and for 3 months after treatment.PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: Not specified Chemotherapy: See Disease Characteristics Endocrine therapy: Not specified Radiotherapy: See Disease Characteristics At least 2 months since radiotherapy Surgery: Not specified

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

 NCT00002824
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

 Phase 1
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

 Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

 Jane B. Alavi, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

 Other, NIH
Overall Status Completed
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

 Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors
Additional Details

OBJECTIVES:

  • I. Assess the response to a stereotactically administered recombinant adenovirus vector carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene (H5.010RSVTK) followed by intravenous ganciclovir in patients with recurrent malignant glioma.
  • II. Estimate the maximum tolerated dose of H5.010RSVTK in these patients.
  • III. Describe the toxic effects of H5.010RSVTK.
  • IV. Assess the efficiency of gene transfer and duration of transgene expression in these patients.
  • V. Assess quantitative and qualitative glucose metabolic activity of tumoral sites by positron emission tomography.
  • VI. Analyze the immunologic response to adenovirus transduction in these patients.
  • VII. Determine the benefit and toxicity of multiple doses of H5.010RSVTK in patients with resectable tumors.
OUTLINE: This is a dose-finding study. All patients receive stereotactically injected H5.010RSVTK (a recombinant adenovirus vector containing the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene). Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of H5.010RSVTK until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Ganciclovir is then given on the third post-injection day. Patients with unresectable tumors receive ganciclovir for 14 consecutive days. Patients with resectable tumors receive ganciclovir for 7 consecutive days before undergoing craniotomy with optimal debulking and injection of a second dose of the adenovirus vector followed by ganciclovir for 14 more days. Patients are followed monthly for survival. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 18 patients (9 with resectable tumors and 9 with unresectable tumors) will be entered over 3 years.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Status

Address

University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104

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