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Effect of Intermittent Aldesleukin Treatment With or Without Anti-HIV Drugs in HIV Infected People

Phase 2
Completed
Conditions
HIV Infections
Interventions
Registration Number
NCT00110812
Lead Sponsor
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of short cycles of recombinant interleukin-2 (also known as rIL-2 or aldesleukin) given with or without anti-HIV drugs in HIV infected patients. The effects will be compared with a study group that receives no IL-2 or antiretroviral therapy.

Study hypothesis: Intermittent aldesleukin, when given without antiretroviral therapy to patients with early HIV infection, will produce no change in HIV viral load and increases in CD4+ T lymphocyte counts comparable to aldesleukin administered with antiretrovirals.

Detailed Description

Highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) has dramatically improved prognosis and lowered morbidity and mortality rates for HIV infected patients. However, significant drug toxicities, difficulties with patient compliance to HAART regimens, and development of drug resistance highlight the need for less toxic, immune-based strategies. Aldesleukin is a synthetic protein that can increase CD4 counts; it is currently approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in patients with metastatic melanoma and renal cell carcinoma. Previous studies of aldesleukin in HIV infected patients indicated that increased CD4 counts can persist for years after aldesleukin administration, and aldesleukin given with HAART may also lead to significant lowering of viral load. This study will examine the immunologic effects of intermittent cycles of aldesleukin administered with and without HAART as compared to no therapy in HIV infected patients.

This study will last approximately 31 months. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups at study entry. Group A will receive no aldesleukin or HAART. Group B will receive aldesleukin under the skin twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks for 3 cycles, then as needed to maintain CD4 counts at or above a goal level. Group C will receive aldesleukin under the skin twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks for 3 cycles, then as needed to maintain CD4 counts at or above a goal level; Group C participants will also take HAART for 3 days prior to the start of each aldesleukin cycle, throughout the 5-day aldesleukin cycle, and for 2 days after the end of each aldesleukin cycle (for a maximum of 10 days with each aldesleukin cycle). HAART will not be provided by the study. Some Group B and C participants may take part in additional cycles of aldesleukin if they meet certain study criteria.

All participants in this study will have at least 8 study visits; these visits will occur at study entry and Weeks 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, and 32. Blood collection will occur at all visits and will include tests for CD4 count and viral load. Groups B and C will have additional blood collection within 4 days prior to the start of each aldesleukin cycle. On the last day of each aldesleukin cycle, Groups B and C will be assessed for toxicities, adverse events, and adherence to the aldesleukin daily injections; they will also have another blood collection. Group C participants will have an additional blood collection for HIV genotyping after they have completed their third aldesleukin cycle. Extended follow-up visits will occur approximately every 4 months for an additional two years. Blood collection will occur at these visits and will include tests for CD4 count, viral load, and other laboratory tests.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
COMPLETED
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
267
Inclusion Criteria
  • HIV infected
  • CD4 count of 300 cells/mm3 or more
  • Access to a HAART regimen consisting of 1 or more protease inhibitors (PIs) and 2 or more nucleoside or nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors
Read More
Exclusion Criteria
  • Prior use of aldesleukin
  • Approved or experimental antiretroviral drug (including hydroxyurea) within 1 year prior to study entry
  • Evidence of virologic failure on a PI- or nonnucleoside-based HAART regimen
  • Any current indication for continuous HAART, in the opinion of the investigator
  • Any contraindication to HAART, in the opinion of the investigator
  • Systemic corticosteroids, chemotherapy, or experimental cytotoxic drugs within 45 days of randomization
  • Approved or experimental agents with clinically significant immunomodulatory effects within 8 weeks prior to randomization
  • History of any AIDS-defining illness or certain other diseases. More information on this criterion can be found in the protocol.
  • Concurrent cancer requiring cytotoxic therapy
  • Any central nervous system (CNS) abnormality requiring ongoing treatment with antiseizure medication
  • Current or prior autoimmune or inflammatory diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, optic neuritis, or any other autoimmune or inflammatory diseases with potentially life-threatening complications
  • Significant heart, lung, kidney, liver, gastrointestinal, CNS, or psychiatric disease OR illicit substance use or abuse that, in the opinion of the investigator, would interfere with the study
  • Pregnancy or breastfeeding
Read More

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
PARALLEL
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
IL-2 with pericycle HAARTIL-2Participants will receive aldesleukin under the skin twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks for 3 cycles, then as needed to maintain CD4 counts at or above a goal level; Group 3 participants will also take HAART for 3 days prior to the start of each aldesleukin cycle, throughout the 5-day aldesleukin cycle, and for 2 days after the end of each aldesleukin cycle (for a maximum of 10 days with each aldesleukin cycle). Some Group 3 participants may take part in additional cycles of aldesleukin if they meet certain study criteria. HAART is not supplied by the study, and choice of drugs is left to the participant and physician. The HAART regimen should include at least one protease inhibitor and at least 2 nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors.
IL-2 without ARTIL-2Participants will receive aldesleukin under the skin twice daily for 5 consecutive days every 8 weeks for 3 cycles, then as needed to maintain CD4 counts at or above a goal level. Some Group 2 participants may take part in additional cycles of aldesleukin if they meet certain study criteria.
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Mean Change in CD4+ T Lymphocyte CountWeek 32

Change in CD4 count from baseline to week 32.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Fasting Lipid Profileweek 32

total fasting cholesterol

HIV-1 Genotype Changesafter 3rd cycle of IL-2

Patients who developed mutations associated with antiretroviral drugs.

Change in HIV-RNA Copies/ml (log10) From Baseline to Month 12month 12
Disease Progression or Deaththroughout study, through Feb 28 2009 (median followup of 19 months)

occurrence of an opportunistic event (AIDS-defining infection or malignancy) or death

Discontinuation of IL-2week 32

Patients receiving fewer than 3 cycles of IL-2 by week 32

Plasma HIV RNAAt Week 32

change from baseline in HIV-RNA copies/ml (log10)

Change in CD4 T Lymphocyte CountAt Month 12

change from baseline to month 12 in CD4 T lymphocyte count

Initiation of Continuous ARTfrom randomization through February 28, 2009

While patients were not taking ART at baseline or while undergoing IL-2 cycles (other than use of pericycle ART in one of the three groups), some chose to start an ART regimen during the study.

Thyroid Stimulating Hormoneweek 32

Number of participants with thyroid stimulating hormone greater than the upper limit of normal

SGOTweek 32

Number of participants with aspartate aminotransferase (SGOT) greater than 5 times the upper limit of normal

Trial Locations

Locations (36)

NIH Clinical Ctr., NIAID HIV Clinic CRS

🇺🇸

Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Providence Portland Med. Ctr., Ambulatory Care and Education Ctr. CRS

🇺🇸

Portland, Oregon, United States

Washington DC VAMC, Washington Regional AIDS Program, Infectious Diseases CRS

🇺🇸

Washington, District of Columbia, United States

Hosp. Gen. de Agudos JM Ramos Mejia, Servicio de Inmunocomprometidos CRS

🇦🇷

Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Queensland Health - AIDS Med. Unit CRS

🇦🇺

Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

Caici Crs

🇦🇷

Rosario, Provincia De Sante Fe, Argentina

Univ. Hosp. Ctr. of the Med. School of Casablanca, Infectious Diseases Unit CRS

🇲🇦

Casablanca, Morocco

Univ. of Milan, Ospedale Luigi Sacco, Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases CRS

🇮🇹

Milano, Italy

Wojewodzki Szpital Zakazny CRS

🇵🇱

Warsaw, Poland

Hospital de Cascais, HDDI, Departamento Medicina Interna CRS

🇵🇹

Cascais, Portugal

Chulalongkorn University Hospital CRS

🇹🇭

Bangkok, Ratchathewi, Thailand

Virginia Commonwealth Univ. Medical Ctr. CRS

🇺🇸

Richmond, Virginia, United States

Henry Ford Hosp. CRS

🇺🇸

Detroit, Michigan, United States

Michael E. DeBakey VAMC CRS

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

Thomas Street Clinic CRS

🇺🇸

Houston, Texas, United States

South Texas Veterans Health Care System, Immunosuppression Clinic CRS

🇺🇸

San Antonio, Texas, United States

VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Infectious Diseases Section CRS

🇺🇸

Los Angeles, California, United States

Lincoln Hosp. & Med. Ctr. CRS

🇺🇸

Bronx, New York, United States

Harlem Hospital Ctr./Columbia University CRS (Gordin CTU)

🇺🇸

New York, New York, United States

Hosp. Italiano de Buenos Aires, Infectious Diseases Section CRS

🇦🇷

Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Funcei Crs

🇦🇷

Ciudad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina

St. Vincent's Hospital CRS

🇦🇺

Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia

Gladstone Road Medical Ctr. CRS

🇦🇺

Highgate Hill, Queensland, Australia

Gold Coast Sexual Health Clinic CRS

🇦🇺

Miami, Queensland, Australia

Carlton Clinic CRS

🇦🇺

Carlton, Victoria, Australia

Fundacion Arriaran CRS

🇨🇱

Santiago, Chile

Ospedale San Raffaele S.r.l. CRS

🇮🇹

Milano, Italy

Hosp. de Santa Maria, Servico de Doencas Infecciosas CRS

🇵🇹

Lisboa, Portugal

Hosp. de Egas Moniz, Servicio de Infecciologia e Medicina Tropical CRS

🇵🇹

Lisboa, Portugal

Hosp. Clinico de Barcelona CRS

🇪🇸

Barcelona, Spain

Chiang Rai Regional Hosp. INSIGHT CRS

🇹🇭

Chiangrai, Thailand

Khon Kaen Univ., Srinagarind Hosp., Div. of Infectious Diseases & Tropical Medicine, Dept. of Medici

🇹🇭

Khon Kaen, Thailand

Brighton & Sussex Univ. Hosp. NHS Trust, HIV Research Office CRS

🇬🇧

Elm Grove, Brighton, United Kingdom

Leicester Royal Infirmary, Dept. of Infection & Tropical Medicine CRS

🇬🇧

Leicester, United Kingdom

St. Bartholomew's Hosp., Infection & Immunity Clinical Group CRS

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

St. Mary's Hosp. of London, Imperial College School of Medicine CRS

🇬🇧

London, United Kingdom

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