Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With Primary Brain Tumors

• Status: Completed
• Trial end date: 1969-12-31
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

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.

• Phase: Phase 1
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: No

Details

• Lead Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania; University of Pennsylvania
• Collaborator: National Cancer Institute (NCI)
• Treatments: Ganciclovir; Ganciclovir triphosphate

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