Neural Stem Cell Based Virotherapy of Newly Diagnosed Malignant Glioma

Phase 1

Completed

Conditions: Glioma
Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma
Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma
Astrocytoma, Grade III
Glioblastoma Multiforme
Astrocytoma, Grade IV
Brain Cancer

Interventions: Biological: Neural stem cells loaded with an oncolytic adenovirus

Brief Summary: Malignant gliomas have a very poor prognosis with median survival measured in months rather than years. It is a disease in great need of novel therapeutic approaches. Based on the encouraging results of our preclinical studies which demonstrate improved efficacy without added toxicity, the paradigm of delivering a novel oncolytic adenovirus via a neural stem cell line in combination with radiation and chemotherapy is well-suited for evaluation in newly diagnosed malignant gliomas. The standard-of-care allows application of virotherapy as neoadjuvant therapy and assessment of the cooperative effects with radiation/chemotherapy without altering the standard treatment.

Detailed Description: This is an open-label, phase 1, dose escalation trial that followed a 3x3 design. Three doses will be evaluated in the resectable cohorts: Cohort 1: 0.5x10\^8 NSCs loading 6.25x10\^10 vp; Cohort 2: 1.0x10\^8 NSCs loading 1.25x10\^11 vp; and Cohort 3: 1.5x10\^8 NSCs loading 1.875x10\^11 vp. Subjects enrolled have newly diagnosed high-grade glioma based on clinical and radiologic criteria; pathology will be confirmed at the time of surgical resection. Direct intra-tumoral injection of study product (NSC-CRAd-S-p7) will be done after resection but prior to closure. Subjects will then receive concomitant radiotherapy (RT) at a dose of 60Gy and chemotherapy with temozolomide (TMZ), 75 mg/m2, daily during RT. This will be followed by adjuvant TMZ dosed at 200 mg/m2 for 6 cycles. Subjects will be followed until disease progression with serial brain MRIs, and for survival up to 5 years. The non-resectable cohort will not opened due to limited product availability.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria

Patients must have presumed malignant glioma based on clinical and radiologic evaluation (pathologic confirmation of malignant glioma must be made at the time of stereotactic biopsy or resection prior to NSC-CRAd-S-pk7 injection; if this is not possible, the injection will not be performed and the subject will no longer be eligible for the study).
Tumor must be accessible for injection and must not be located in the brainstem, or contained within the ventricular system.
Planning to undergo standard radiation/chemotherapy
18 years of age or older.
Performance status must be KPS ≥ 70
SGOT (AST) < 3x upper limit of normal
Serum creatinine < 2mg/dl
Platelets > 100,000/mm3 and WBC > 3000/mm3

Exclusion Criteria

Prior or ongoing liver disease including known cirrhosis, hepatitis B or C infection but not to exclude patients with a distant history of resolved hepatitis A infection.
Immunosuppressive drugs (with exception of corticosteroid).
Known HIV+ patients.
Acute infections (viral, bacterial or fungal infections requiring therapy).
Pregnant or breast-feeding patients.
Evidence of metastatic disease or other malignancy (except squamous or basal cell skin cancers).
Prior radiation therapy to the brain or prior treatment for brain tumor Other serious co-morbid illness or compromised organ function.

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Unresectable disease	Neural stem cells loaded with an oncolytic adenovirus	Patients with unresectable tumors will undergo a biopsy followed by injection of neural stem cells loaded with the virus and then receive standard chemoradiotherapy.
Resectable disease	Neural stem cells loaded with an oncolytic adenovirus	Patients with resectable tumors will undergo a resection followed by injection of neural stem cells loaded with the virus and then receive standard chemoradiotherapy.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percentage of Dose-limiting Toxicities	Two years	Using a 3+3 dose escalation design, three to six patients were to be enrolled per dose in each of the 3 cohorts. If no patients in the cohort experienced a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), then the next cohort enrolled a minimum of 3 patients. If one of three patients experienced a DLT, then 3 more patients were evaluated at that dose level. If none of these three additional patients experienced a DLT, then dose escalation occurs, unless this is the highest dose, in which case dose escalation is stopped and the highest dose is declared the MTD. If 1 or more of these additional 3 patients had a DLT, then three additional patients may be entered, after discussion with the sponsor, at the next lowest does level if only three patients were treated previously at that dose. If two or more patients experienced a DLT Dose escalation will be stopped; 3 more patients could be added with sponsor approval at the next lower dose level.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Overall Survival	Two years	Median overall survival
Progression-free Survival	two years	Median progression-free survival
Assessment of Tumor Response.	Two years	Per Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology Criteria (RANO, 2017) for target lesions as assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR): The enhancing tumor is no longer seen by neuroimaging; Partial Response (PR): Decrease of ≥ 50% in the product of two diameters with the patient on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids; Minor Response (MR): Decrease in diameter products of \< 50% with the patient on a stable or decreasing dose of steroids; Stable Disease (SD): The scan shows no change. Patients should be receiving stable or decreasing doses of steroids; Progression (P): Increase of \> 25% in tumor area (two diameters) provided that the patient has not had his/her dose of steroids decreased since the last evaluation period. A concomitant decrease in steroid dose will rule out a progression designation during the first two months after completion of radiation; Pseudoprogression (PP): Radiological changes without concomitant neurological changes.

Locations (2): Northwestern Memorial Hospital
🇺🇸
Chicago, Illinois, United States
City of Hope
🇺🇸
Duarte, California, United States