Antineoplaston Therapy in Treating Patients With Recurrent or Refractory Mixed Gliomas

Burzynski Research Institute

Status and phase: Completed; Phase 2

Conditions: Mixed Gliomas

Treatments: Drug: Astugenal; Drug: Atengenal

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00003473

BC-BT-18 (Other Identifier)

CDR0000066510

Details and patient eligibility

About

RATIONALE: Current therapies for adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas provide very limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas.

Full description

OBJECTIVES:

• To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas 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 adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas.

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which adults with recurrent or refractory mixed gliomas 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

Enrollment: 20 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 99 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed incurable primary mixed glioma that is recurrent or refractory following standard therapy, including radiation therapy
• Evidence of recurrent or refractory tumor by MRI scan performed within two weeks prior to study entry
• Must have received and failed standard therapy
• Tumor must be at least 5 mm

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

• 18 and over

Performance status:

• Karnofsky 60-100%

Life expectancy:

• At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

• WBC at least 2000/mm3
• Platelet count at least 50,000/mm3

Hepatic:

• No hepatic insufficiency
• Bilirubin no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• SGOT and SGPT no greater than 5 times upper limit of normal

Renal:

• No renal insufficiency
• Creatinine no greater than 2.5 mg/mL
• No history of renal conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Cardiovascular:

• No known chronic heart failure
• No uncontrolled hypertension
• No history of congestive heart failure
• No other cardiovascular conditions that contraindicate high dosages of sodium

Pulmonary:

• No severe lung disease
• No severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Other:

• Not pregnant or nursing
• Fertile patients must use effective contraception during and for 4 weeks after study
• No other severe medical illness
• No nonmalignant systemic disease
• No active infection

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

• At least 4 weeks since immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

• At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy (6 weeks for nitrosoureas)

Endocrine therapy:

• Concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

• At least 8 weeks since prior radiotherapy (unless there is evidence of disease progression)

Surgery:

• Fully recovered from prior surgery

Other:

• Prior cytodifferentiating agent allowed
• No prior antineoplaston therapy

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: N/A

Interventional model: Single Group Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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20 participants in 1 patient group

Antineoplaston therapy

Experimental group

Description:

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 dose is reached.

Treatment:

Drug: Astugenal

Drug: Atengenal