The purpose of the study is to evaluate the safety and potential side effects of everolimus (an experimental drug) on a person with Tuberous Sclerosis Complex who also has been diagnosed with a brain tumor (astrocytoma) The hypothesis is that the drug will cause the tumor size to decrease, and may have beneficial activity separate from effects on tumors in patients.
Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC)is a genetic disorder with a birth incidence of approximately one in six thousand. Five to twenty percent of patients with TSC will develop astrocytoma, a slowly progressive tumor. They grow and cause damage to surrounding brain tissue, blockage of spinal fluid (hydrocephalus), blindness, trouble walking, seizures, and brain damage. If untreated, they can be fatal. Standard treatment involves surgery to remove the tumor; however surgery may itself cause brain damage, bleeding, or infection, as well as other complications. Studies have shown that everolimus suppresses the chemicals that cause tumors to grow in tuberous sclerosis, and may cause them to shrink. The primary objective of this study is to find out the effects of everolimus on astrocytomas in a six month trial in patients with Tuberous Sclerosis who have been diagnosed with an astrocytoma
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
28
Initial everolimus dosage will be 3 mg/m2/d taken daily or every other day, with titration to achieve a trough serum level of 5-15 ng/ml. Patients unable to tolerate levels in this range will have doses held or reduced 25% to achieve trough serum levels of 5-10 ng/ml. If trough serum level of 5-15 ng/ml is not achieved at a dosage of 3 mg/m2/d, then dosage escalation by 25% will be undertaken as tolerated. Everolimus will be similarly adjusted during the extension phase. If a subject misses more than 10 consecutive everolimus doses, additional days of everolimus treatment will be added so total duration of treatment is 6 months. If this occurs, dates of subsequent study events will be adjusted according to number of missed doses. This process will also be followed in the extension phase.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Number With Observed Adverse Side Effects
Time frame: During the entire study
Overall Reduction in SEGA Tumor Volume.
Time frame: During the entire study
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