Tocilizumab for KSHV-Associated Multicentric Castleman Disease
Status:
Completed
Trial end date:
2020-10-05
Target enrollment:
Participant gender:
Summary
Background:
- Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus (KSHV)-associated multicentric Castleman disease
(KSHV-MCD) is caused by a herpes virus known as KSHV. This disease can also cause several
other cancers, including Kaposi sarcoma. People with KSHV-MCD often have symptoms like fever,
weight and muscle loss, and fluid in the legs or abdomen. Tocilizumab may be able to block
the chemicals in the body that cause KSHV-MCD symptoms. Researchers want to test this drug
and other anti-virus drugs to find the best combination of drugs to treat KSHV-MCD.
Objectives:
- To test the effectiveness of tocilizumab with and without other anti-virus drugs for
KSHV-MCD.
Eligibility:
- People at least 18 years of age who have KSHV-MCD and have certain symptoms and blood
abnormalities caused by their KSHV-MCD.
Design:
- Participants will be screened with a medical history and physical exam. They will also
have blood tests, and a skin biopsy.
- Participants will have tocilizumab injections every 2 weeks for up to 12 weeks. They
will provide daily blood samples for the first 3 days of treatment.
- After the sixth dose, participants will be monitored for 4 weeks to check for possible
side effects.
- Those whose KSHV-MCD does not improve or worsens during the study may have tocilizumab
combined with two other anti-virus drugs, zidovudine and valganciclovir. These drugs are
pills that will be taken four times a day for 5 days out of every 2 weeks.
- Blood, urine, and saliva samples will be collected throughout the study.