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Safety Study of Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) to Enhance Visualization and Resection of Tumors of the Brain

A Phase 2 Study of Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) to Enhance Visualization and Resection of Tumors of the Brain

Status
Terminated
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT01116661
Acronym
ALA
Enrollment
199
Registered
2010-05-05
Start date
2010-08-31
Completion date
2019-02-28
Last updated
2019-05-29

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Glioma

Keywords

glioma, high grade glioma, low grade glioma

Brief summary

The prodrug, 5-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA), has been shown to lead to intracellular accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins in high grade malignant gliomas in the brain. On imaging, this accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins helps delineate tumor borders, resulting in the surgeon being better able to visualize and thus able to make a complete, or near-complete resection of the tumor.

Detailed description

The drug, 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA), which leads to intracellular accumulation of fluorescent porphyrins in gliomas will be used under investigation for identification and resection of high and low grade gliomas. Surgery will be done using a modified neurosurgical microscope, with a fluorescent kit that enables switching from the conventional white light to a violet-blue excitation light for visualization during tumor resection. If deemed safe by the neurosurgeon, any area of the resection bed determined to be fluorescence-positive for tumor will be removed with appropriate designation of tissue for histopathological evaluation. After this resection, additional fluorescence images will be obtained and the process repeated until the image is negative for tumor. At all times, the decision to resect will be limited by clinical judgment of safety. The desire is that a more complete resection will occur due to the surgeon's ability to better visualize and distinguish between tumor and normal tissue, and thus be able to remove as much, or most of, the tumorous tissue, resulting in a better outcome for the patient, or for future patients.

Interventions

DRUG5-Aminolevuline Acid (ALA)

Given orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight 3hrs before anesthesia prior to surgery

Sponsors

University of California, San Francisco
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 72 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Presumptive diagnosis of high grade or low grade glioma based on imaging studies, or will have recurrent high-grade or low grade gliomas that have previously undergone diagnosis (astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, mixed oligo-astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiforme). Both of these groups will be undergoing craniotomy for tumor resection. 2. Patient age 18 to 72 years. 3. Karnofsky performance of 60% or greater 4. Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below: Leukocytes \>3,000/μL Absolute neutrophil count \>1,500/μL Platelets \>100,000/μL Total bilirubin within normal institutional limits AST (SGOT)/ALT (SGPT) \<2.5 X institutional upper limit of normal Creatinine within normal institutional limits or Creatinine clearance ≥60 mL/min/1.73 m2 for patients with creatinine levels above institutional normal. 5. The effects of Aminolevulinic Acid (ALA) on the developing human fetus are unknown. Therefore, women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation. 6. Patient must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document or have a parent or guardian with the ability to understand and the willingness to sign the written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

1. Subjects with a history of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to aminolevulinic acid (ALA). 2. Subjects with a history or family history of Porphyrias 3. Subjects with uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. 4. Pregnancy.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
The Percentage of Biopsies Taken From the Most Fluorescent Tissues That Have Tumorous Content.1 dayBiopsies were examined by a pathologist to determine the amount of tumor content from the most fluorescent tissues

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Number of Participants With Adverse Events14 daysNumber of Participants with Adverse Events, as defined by grade 3 to 5 AEs and SAEs related to study drug. .

Countries

United States

Participant flow

Participants by arm

ArmCount
5 - Aminolevuline Acid in Patients With HGG
5-Aminolevuline Acid: Given orally at a dose of 20 mg/kg body weight 3hrs before anesthesia prior to surgery
197
Total197

Baseline characteristics

Characteristic5 - Aminolevuline Acid in Patients With HGG
Age, Categorical
<=18 years
NA Participants
Age, Categorical
>=65 years
37 Participants
Age, Categorical
Between 18 and 65 years
160 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
9 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
2 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
24 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
162 Participants
Region of Enrollment
United States
197 participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
78 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
119 Participants

Adverse events

Event typeEG000
affected / at risk
deaths
Total, all-cause mortality
59 / 199
other
Total, other adverse events
25 / 199
serious
Total, serious adverse events
12 / 199

Outcome results

Primary

The Percentage of Biopsies Taken From the Most Fluorescent Tissues That Have Tumorous Content.

Biopsies were examined by a pathologist to determine the amount of tumor content from the most fluorescent tissues

Time frame: 1 day

Population: All patient who received 5-Aminolevuline Acid prior to surgical resection

ArmMeasureValue (MEDIAN)
5- Aminolevuline Acid Given to HGG ParticipantsThe Percentage of Biopsies Taken From the Most Fluorescent Tissues That Have Tumorous Content.90.9 percentage of biopsies
Secondary

Number of Participants With Adverse Events

Number of Participants with Adverse Events, as defined by grade 3 to 5 AEs and SAEs related to study drug. .

Time frame: 14 days

Population: Patients who received study drug

ArmMeasureValue (COUNT_OF_PARTICIPANTS)
5- Aminolevuline Acid Given to HGG ParticipantsNumber of Participants With Adverse Events14 Participants

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 21, 2026