Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Ependymoma

Phase 2TerminatedNCT00003479

Burzynski Research Institute9 enrolled

Overview

RATIONALE: Current therapies for patients with ependymoma provide limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of patients with ependymoma . PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on patients with ependymoma.

OBJECTIVES: * To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with ependymoma as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial response) or stable disease. * To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with ependymoma OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which patients with ependymoma receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues for at least 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After 12 months, patients with a complete or partial response or with stable disease may continue treatment. To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued to this study

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Ependymoma

Interventions

Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal)DRUG

Patients with an ependymoma will receive Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal).

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 6 MonthsMax age: 99 Years

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed ependymoma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists * Evidence of residual tumor (\>= 5mm) by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry * No brain stem tumors PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 6 months and over Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm3 * Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm3 Hepatic: * Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * SGOT/SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal * No hepatic failure Renal: * Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/dL * No renal failure * No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Cardiovascular: * No severe heart disease * No uncontrolled hypertension * No history of congestive heart failure * No history of other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium Pulmonary: * No severe lung disease Other: * Not pregnant or nursing * Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study * No serious active infections or fever * No other serious concurrent disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy and recovered * No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered (6 weeks for nitrosoureas) * No concurrent antineoplastic agents Endocrine therapy: * Concurrent corticosteroids for cerebral edema allowed (must be on stable dose for at least 1 week prior to study) Radiotherapy: * At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No prior antineoplaston therapy

Locations (1)

Burzynski Clinic

Houston, Texas, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Number of Participants With Objective Response

Objective response rate per Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) for target lesions and assessed by MRI: Complete Response (CR), disappearance of all disease sustained for at least four weeks; Partial Response (PR), \>=50% decrease in the sum of the products of of the greatest perpendicular diameters of all measurable enhancing lesions, sustained for at least four weeks; Stable Disease (SD), \<50% decrease and \<25% increase in the sum of the products of of the greatest perpendicular diameters of all measurable enhancing lesions, sustained for at least eight weeks; Progressive Disease (PD), \>=25% increase in the sum of the products of of the greatest perpendicular diameters of all measurable enhancing lesions.

Time frame: 12 months

Secondary Outcomes

Percentage of Participants Who Survived

6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 60 months overall survival

Time frame: 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 60 months

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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