Clinical Trials

Imatinib Mesylate in Treating Patients With Recurrent Brain Tumor

Location:

Trial status:

Open for Enrollment

Why is this study being done?

OBJECTIVES:

- Determine the maximum tolerated dose of imatinib mesylate in patients with recurrent oligodendroglioma or mixed oligoastrocytoma who are currently on enzyme-inducing anticonvulsant therapy. (Phase I)

- Determine the efficacy of imatinib mesylate, as measured by response, survival, and progression-free survival, in patients with recurrent oligodendroglioma or mixed oligoastrocytoma. (Phase II)

- Compare pilot data of patients who have undergone > 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for recurrent, progressive, or mixed oligodendroglioma with traditional patients with recurrent or mixed oligodendroglioma. (Phase II and pilot study)

- Determine the toxicity and safety of this drug in these patients. (Phases I, II, and pilot study)

- Correlate, preliminarily, 1p/19q alterations, alpha-PDFGR gene amplification, and levels of related downstream signaling elements in tumor tissue with clinical response in patients treated with this drug. (Phases I, II, and pilot study)

OUTLINE: This is a multicenter, phase I, dose-escalation study followed by a phase II and a pilot study.

- Phase I: Patients receive oral imatinib mesylate twice daily for 4 weeks. Courses repeat every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of imatinib mesylate until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity.

- Phase II:

- Group 1 (concurrent enzyme-inducing anticonvulsants [EIACs]): Patients receive oral imatinib mesylate, at the MTD determined in phase I, twice daily for 4 weeks.

- Group 2 (non EIACs): Patients receive oral standard-dose imatinib mesylate twice daily for 4 weeks.

In both groups, treatment repeats every 4 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

- Pilot study: Patients are stratified and assigned to treatment groups as in phase II. Patients receive oral imatinib as in phase II.

Patients are followed every 2 months.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 93 patients will be accrued to this study.

Who is eligible to participate?

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

- Histologically confirmed oligodendroglioma or mixed oligoastrocytoma

- Grade 2-4

- Recurrent disease

- Patients with mixed gliomas must have > 25% oligodendrogliomatous component

- Failed prior surgery, radiotherapy, and temozolomide or nitrosourea-based therapy

- Progressive disease by MRI or CT scan

- Measurable or evaluable disease by MRI or CT scan

- More than 2 prior chemotherapy regimens for progressive or recurrent disease (pilot study only)

- Currently taking anticonvulsants which can induce cytochrome p450 (e.g., phenytoin, carbamazepine, barbiturates, or primidone (Phase I only)

- No prior or concurrent significant intratumoral hemorrhage

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age

- 18 and over

Performance status

- ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy

- Not specified

Hematopoietic

- Absolute neutrophil count at least 1,500/mm^3

- Platelet count at least 100,000/mm^3

- Hemoglobin at least 9 g/dL

Hepatic

- Bilirubin no greater than 1.5 mg/dL

- AST no greater than 3 times upper limit of normal

Renal

- Creatinine no greater than 2.0 mg/dL

Cardiovascular

- No myocardial infarction within the past 6 months

- No congestive heart failure requiring maintenance therapy for life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias

- No New York Heart Association class III or IV heart disease

Other

- No active uncontrolled infection

- No other severe concurrent disease that would preclude study or interfere significantly with interpreting potential drug-induced toxic effects

- No other active malignancy except nonmelanoma skin cancer

- No concurrent serious immunocompromised status unless related to concurrent steroids

- HIV-positive patients allowed

- Not pregnant or nursing

- Negative pregnancy test

- Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 6 months after study participation

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy

- At least 2 weeks since prior biologic noncytotoxic agents (e.g., thalidomide or interferon)

- No concurrent biologic therapy or immunotherapy for brain cancer

Chemotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- No prior interstitial chemotherapy, including carmustine wafers, unless separate lesion seen on MRI outside of prior treatment field

- At least 2 weeks since prior vincristine

- At least 4 weeks since other prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)

- No concurrent chemotherapy for brain cancer

Endocrine therapy

- At least 2 weeks since prior tamoxifen

- Concurrent corticosteroids allowed if dose stable for at least 1 week prior to study entry

- No concurrent hormonal therapy for brain cancer

Radiotherapy

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 12 weeks since prior radiotherapy

- No prior stereotactic radiosurgery or interstitial brachytherapy unless separate lesion seen on MRI outside of prior treatment field

- No concurrent radiotherapy for brain cancer

Surgery

- See Disease Characteristics

- At least 2 weeks since prior surgery for initial or progressive disease and recovered

- No concurrent surgery for brain cancer

Other

- At least 2 weeks since prior isotretinoin

- At least 4 weeks since prior investigational agents

- No concurrent therapeutic warfarin or heparin

- Low-dose warfarin and heparin (1 mg daily) allowed

- No other concurrent investigational or noninvestigational therapy for brain cancer

Last updated: 03/26/2012

NCT ID: NCT00049127

IRB Number:1433-02