Brain Stem Gliomas
Conditions
Keywords
recurrent adult brain stem glioma, untreated adult brain stem glioma, untreated childhood brain stem glioma, recurrent childhood brain stem glioma
Brief summary
RATIONALE: Current therapies for a brain stem glioma provide very limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of brain stem gliomas. PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on children (\> 6 months of age) and adults with newly-diagnosed or recurrent brain stem gliomas.
Detailed description
OBJECTIVES: * To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with a brain stem glioma, 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 a brain stem glioma. OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which patients 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 in measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first 2 years, every 3 months for the 3rd and 4th years, every 6 months for the 5th and 6th years, and annually thereafter. PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued for this study.
Interventions
DRUGAntineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal)
Patients with a brain stem glioma will receive Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal)
Sponsors
Burzynski Research Institute
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
6 Months to 99 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Histologically confirmed (except if medically contraindicated) brain stem glioma that is unlikely to respond to existing therapy and for which no curative therapy exists. * Tumor must be at least 5 mm in maximum diameter PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: * 6 months or greater Performance status: * Karnofsky 60-100% Life expectancy: * At least 2 months Hematopoietic: * WBC at least 2,000/mm\^3 * Platelet count greater than 50,000/mm\^3 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 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 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 participation * No serious active infections or fever * No other serious concomitant disease PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior immunotherapy * No concurrent immunomodulating agents Chemotherapy: * At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (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 before study entry) Radiotherapy: * At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy Surgery: * Not specified Other: * No prior Antineoplaston therapy
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Number of Participants With Objective Response | 12 months | 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. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 60 months | 6 months, 12 months, 24 months, 36 months, 48 months, 60 months overall survival |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Recruitment details
Fourty patients were recruited between March 1996 and January 2007. All study subjects were seen at the Burzynski Clinic in Houston, TX
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Antineoplaston Therapy Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) by IV infusion every four hours for at least 12 months. Study subjects receive increasing dosages of Atengenal and Astugenal until the maximum tolerated dosage is reached.
Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal): Patients with a brain stem glioma will receive Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) | 40 |
| Total | 40 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Antineoplaston Therapy |
|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 11.2 Years |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 18 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 22 Participants |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk |
|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | — / — |
| other Total, other adverse events | 40 / 40 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 25 / 40 |
Outcome results
Primary
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.
Time frame: 12 months
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Number of Participants With Objective Response | Complete Response | 5 Participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Number of Participants With Objective Response | Partial Response | 4 Participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Number of Participants With Objective Response | Stable Disease | 8 Participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Number of Participants With Objective Response | Progressive Disease | 14 Participants |
Secondary
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
Population: All study subjects receiving any Antineoplaston therapy
| Arm | Measure | Group | Value (NUMBER) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 6 months overall survival | 62.5 Percentage of participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 12 months overall survival | 37.5 Percentage of participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 24 months overall survival | 27.5 Percentage of participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 36 months overall survival | 25.0 Percentage of participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 48 months overall survival | 20.0 Percentage of participants |
| Antineoplaston Therapy | Percentage of Participants Who Survived | 60 months overall survival | 20.0 Percentage of participants |