Spots Global Cancer Trial Database for RCHOP Chemoimmunotherapy Preceded BY BBB Permeabilization by t-NGR Necrosis Factor

Study Description

Brief Summary: Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) are treated with high-dose-methotrexate-based chemotherapy, which requires hospitalization and extensive expertise to manage related toxicity. Treatment with R-CHOP, the most commonly used combination against aggressive lymphomas, could overcome these difficulties, but CNS bioavailability of related drugs is poor due to their limited capability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces selective BBB permeabilization and enhances CNS access of anticancer drugs in animal models. The addition of NGR peptide improves biological properties of TNF, resulting in increased drug availability and antitumor synergistic effect, without increased toxicity. Thus, the addition of NGR-hTNF to R-CHOP may result in improved CNS drug availability and activity in patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL; this hypothesis is being tested in this ongoing phase II trial called "INGRID". This trial will consider HIV-negative patients (age 18-80 ys; ECOG PS ≤3) with relapsed/refractory PCNSL previously treated with high-dose-methotrexate-based chemotherapy± radiotherapy, and with measurable disease.

Detailed Description: There are three planned analyses: 1. An exploratory analysis (proof of principle) on the first 10 enrolled patients. In the case the experimental treatment will be safe and some tumor responses will be recorded, the chairman, after due multidisciplinary discussion, could propose to proceed with an open, non-comparative phase II trial, with overall response rate (complete and partial responses) as primary endpoint. The maximum overall response rate considered of low interest will be 30%, and the minimum response rate considered of interest will be 50%; to demonstrate that difference, a total of 28 patients will be needed (one-sided test; trype I error .10; power .9). Importantly, BBB permeabilization will be investigated using different methods. Variations in tumor microvasculature and vessel permeability will be assessed by DCE- and DSC-MRI. Permeability will be assessed in contrast-enhanced lesions, perilesional areas and normal appearing brain; results will expressed as KTRANS values normalized using contralateral normal appearing white matter, and compared by Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test. Concentrations of R-CHOP drugs were assessed on matched CSF and serum/plasma samples.Moreover, BBB permeability will be also assessed by 99mTc-diethylene-triamine-pentacetic acid (99mTc-DTPA) brain scintigraphy. 2. First of the two stages of Simon Minimax design, where 12 patients will be entered (including the 10 patients of the exploratory phase) and, if at least 4 responses will be observed, the study will be continued until a total of 28 patients will be entered. 3. Second stage of Simon Minimax design: final analysis of activity on the whole series (n=28); the experimental treatment will be declared active if at least 12 responses will be observed.

Keywords

Eligibility

Minimum Age: 18 Years

Eligible Ages: ADULT, OLDER_ADULT

Sex: ALL

Healthy Volunteers: No

Locations

Contact Details

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