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Phase II High Risk Prostate Cancer Trial Using Gene & Androgen Deprivation Therapies, Radiotherapy, & Surgery

Phase II Study Evaluating HSV-tk + Valacyclovir Gene Therapy in Combination With Androgen Deprivation Therapy, Brachytherapy, External Beam Radiotherapy, and Prostatectomy for High-Risk Prostate Cancer

Status
UNKNOWN
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03541928
Enrollment
60
Registered
2018-05-31
Start date
2018-08-02
Completion date
2023-07-31
Last updated
2021-04-06

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

Conditions

High-risk Prostate Cancer, Prostate Cancer

Keywords

gene therapy, untreated prostate cancer

Brief summary

This is a prospective phase II study to assess the efficacy and toxicity of HSV-tk+ valacyclovir gene therapy in combination with androgen deprivation therapy, brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, and prostatectomy in previously untreated high-risk prostate cancer.

Detailed description

This phase II study plans to assess efficacy and toxicity of HSV-tk+ valacyclovir gene therapy in combination with androgen deprivation therapy, brachytherapy, external beam radiotherapy, and prostatectomy in previously untreated high-risk prostate cancer patients. Clinical response as evaluated by changes in serum PSA level and digital rectal examination as well as by histological alterations on re-biopsy and prostatectomy such as the presence of apoptosis, necrosis, tumor proliferation and immunologic response, will be assessed following HSV-tk + valacyclovir treatment. Blood samples will be taken for systemic immunological response, blood counts and liver functions tests. Toxicity will be graded by the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) and Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) neuro-toxicity scores (See Appendices). Additionally, patients will be followed closely to assess nadir PSA, freedom from PSA-progression, and freedom from local and distant progression and overall survival.

Interventions

DRUGHSV-Tk

Injection of the HSV-tk gene therapy product in four quadrants of prostate to enhance the immune system via bystander effect in which cytotoxicity is conferred to non-transduced neighboring cells. In vivo bystander effects are likely due to a combination of host immunological responses and to gap junction-mediated transport of phosphorylated prodrug metabolites to surrounding cells.

DRUGValacyclovir

The recommended dose for this trial is 2 g orally t.i.d. for 14 days (day 1 to day 15 and days 31 to 45). This dose has been calculated to give a similar AUC as 10 mg/kg of intravenous acyclovir administered every 8 hours. This is the same dose regimen used in a previous phase I clinical trial of ADV/HSV-tk plus acyclovir and topotecan in patients with recurrent ovarian cancer.

DRUGBicalutamide

The recommended dose for Bicalutamide therapy in combination with an LHRH analogue is one 50 mg tablet once daily (morning or evening), with or without food. It is recommended that Bicalutamide be taken at the same time each day. The use of an oral antiandrogen with medical castration for the treatment of prostate cancer is referred to as combined androgen blockade (CAB). Compared with LHRH-agonist monotherapy, CAB with bicalutamide did not reduce overall QoL but provided an early improvement in QoL related to lower urinary tract symptoms and pain.

DRUGLeuprolide Acetate

Leuprolide acetate 7.5 mg depot injection will be injected monthly for a total of 2 months.

RADIATIONBrachytherapy, External beam radiotherapy

On day 60, patient will undergo high dose rate (HDR) Brachytherapy. The patient will have 8-14 needle catheters inserted under ultrasound guidance. CT simulation and radiation treatment planning will be performed. The needle catheters will be connected to an HDR afterloader containing an Iridium 192 source. A single dose of 1250cGy will be delivered.

PROCEDURERadical prostatectomy

approximately 2-3 weeks after radiotherapy completion, patient will undergo radical retropubic prostatectomy. Use of laparoscopy or robotic assistance will be at the urologist's discretion. Lymph node dissection will be performed.

Sponsors

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
MALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* All patients must have biopsy proven adenocarcinoma of the prostate * Patients in should have at least one or more of the following characteristics PSA\>20, Gleason score 8-10, Primary Gleason pattern 5, \>4 cores with Gleason 8-10, and Clinical stage T3a-T4. * No prior surgical, hormonal, or radiotherapy prostate treatment. * ECOG performance status 0-1 * No evidence of metastatic disease or other malignancy (except squamous or basal cell skin cancers. * Patients must have PSA within 3 months of entry. * Signed informed consent to participate in the study must be obtained from patients after they have been fully informed of the nature and potential risks of the study by the investigator (or his/her designee) with the aid of written information. * Willing to provide biopsies as required by the study. * Patients must have adequate baseline organ function as assessed by the following laboratory values before initiating the protocol: * serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg% * T. bilirubin \< 2.5 mg%, ALT and AST \< 2x normal * Pts \> 100,000/mm3 , ANC\> 1500 mm , Hgb\> 10gm% * Normal partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and Pro-Thrombin Time (PT)

Exclusion criteria

* Prior treatment with immunomodulatory therapy, immunotherapy, and/or gene vector therapy in the past 3 months. * Any cytotoxic chemotherapy, RT, or immunotherapy or any investigational drug within 3 weeks of study treatment start. * Evidence of metastatic disease * Prostate volume \>50cc * Prior prostate surgery (hyperthermia, cryotherapy, etc.) * Prior pelvic radiotherapy * Prior androgen ablation hormonal therapy (except finasteride if discontinued \> 3 mo. prior to enrollment) * Patients on corticosteroids or any immunosuppressive drugs. * History of liver disease, such as cirrhosis or active/chronic hepatitis B or C. * History of or current alcohol misuse/abuse within the past 12 months. * Known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the proposed regimen (gene vector/Valacyclovir). * Inability to swallow food or any condition of the upper gastrointestinal tract that precludes administration of oral medications (Valacyclovir). * No active malignancy except for non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ cervical cancer or treated cancer from which the patient has been continuously disease free for more than 5 years. * Presence of active or suspected acute or chronic uncontrolled infection or history of immunocompromise, including a positive HIV test result. * Patients \< 18 years of age * Unwilling or unable to comply with the study protocol.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Biochemical control rate5-year biochemical disease free survival ratemeasured by PSA

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Overall survival rate5-year overall survival rateMeasured at the end of the study
Pathologic complete response rateAfter prostatectomyMeasured by pathologic result of prostatectomy
Safety based on questionnaire and clinical adverse event monitoring5-year post treatmentMeasured by the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM), the International Prostate Symptoms Score (IPSS), and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactEmily Hsiao, Ph.D.
khsiao@houstonmethodist.org713-383-5115
Backup ContactChristine O'Reilly
coreilly@houstonmethodist.org713-394-1107

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026