Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Commences Patient Enrollment in U.S. Phase II Sarcoma Clinical Trial

Oncolytics Biotech Inc. Commences
Patient Enrolment in U.S. Phase II Sarcoma Clinical Trial


http://www.integratir.com/newsrelease.asp?news=2130983233&ticker=T.ONC&lang=EN&ny=on

6/27/2007 2:00:00 AM ET

CALGARY, AB, — June 27, 2007 –
Oncolytics Biotech
Inc. (“Oncolytics”)
(TSX:ONC, NASDAQ:ONCY) announced today that patient
enrolment has commenced in its U.S. Phase II trial to evaluate the intravenous
administration of
REOLYSIN®
in patients with various sarcomas that have metastasized to the lung. Patients
are being enrolled at the Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of
Medicine in the Bronx, New York, the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer
Center in Ann Arbor, and the Cancer Therapy and Research Center, Institute for
Drug Development in San Antonio, Texas.

“The initiation of this trial represents an important milestone for the
Company,” said Dr. Brad Thompson, President and CEO of Oncolytics. “We are now
treating patients with advanced cancers in Phase II clinical trials in the U.S.
and the U.K., with additional Phase II trials expected to begin before the end
of the year. These trials are expected to yield information that will guide the
late stage clinical development program for REOLYSIN®.”

The trial (REO 014) is a Phase II, open-label, single agent study whose primary
objective is to measure tumour responses and duration of response, and to
describe any evidence of antitumour activity of intravenous, multiple dose
REOLYSIN® in patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas metastatic to the lung.
REOLYSIN® will be given intravenously to patients at a dose of 3×10(10) TCID(50)
for five consecutive days. Patients may receive additional five-day cycles of
therapy every four weeks for a maximum of eight cycles. Up to 52 patients will
be enrolled in the study.

Eligible patients must have a bone or soft tissue sarcoma metastatic to the lung
deemed by their physician to be unresponsive to or untreatable by standard
therapies. These include patients with osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma family
tumours, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, synovial sarcoma, fibrosarcoma and
leiomyosarcoma.

“There are very few treatment options for patients with bone or soft tissue
sarcomas,” said Dr. Matt Coffey, Oncolytics’ Chief Scientific Officer. “Our
decision to choose this indication is based on the observed activity of REOLYSIN®
against sarcomas in both preclinical and clinical studies.”

About Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Oncolytics is a Calgary-based biotechnology company focused on the development
of oncolytic viruses as potential cancer therapeutics. Oncolytics’ clinical
program includes a variety of Phase I and Phase II human trials using REOLYSIN®,
its proprietary formulation of the human reovirus, alone and in combination with
radiation or chemotherapy. For further information about Oncolytics, please
visit www.oncolyticsbiotech.com

This press release contains forward-looking statements, within the meaning of
Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Forward-looking
statements, including the Company’s expectations related to the U.S. Phase II
sarcoma clinical trial and the Company’s belief as to the potential of REOLYSIN®
as a cancer therapeutic, involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties,
which could cause the Company’s actual results to differ materially from those
in the forward-looking statements. Such risks and uncertainties include, among
others, the availability of funds and resources to pursue research and
development projects, the efficacy of REOLYSIN® as a cancer treatment, the
tolerability of REOLYSIN® outside a controlled test, the success and timely
completion of clinical studies and trials, the Company’s ability to successfully
commercialize REOLYSIN®, uncertainties related to the research and development
of pharmaceuticals and uncertainties related to the regulatory process.
Investors should consult the Company’s quarterly and annual filings with the
Canadian and U.S. securities commissions for additional information on risks and
uncertainties relating to the forward-looking statements. Investors are
cautioned against placing undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The
Company does not undertake to update these forward-looking statements.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Oncolytics Biotech Inc.
Cathy Ward
210, 1167 Kensington Cr NW
Calgary, Alberta T2N 1X7
Tel: 403.670.7377
Fax: 403.283.0858
cathy.ward@oncolytics.ca

The Equicom Group
Nick Hurst
325, 300 5th Ave. SW
Calgary, AB, T2P 3C4
Tel: 403.538.4845
Fax: 403.237.6916
nhurst@equicomgroup.com

The Investor Relations Group
Erika Moran
11 Stone St, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10004
Tel: 212.825.3210
Fax: 212.825.3229
emoran@investorrelationsgroup.com

Hyperthermia Plus Chemotherapy Nearly Doubles Disease-Free Survival Compared to Chemotherapy Alone for Sarcoma Cancer Patients

Hyperthermia Plus Chemotherapy Nearly Doubles Disease-Free Survival
Compared to Chemotherapy Alone for Sarcoma Cancer Patients

SALT LAKE CITY—June 4, 2007— BSD
Medical Corp. (AMX:BSM)
announced
today that the results of a 340 patient randomized Phase III clinical
trial testing the benefit of adding hyperthermia therapy to
chemotherapy were presented at the annual American Society of Clinical
Oncology (ASCO) conference underway in Chicago, Illinois. According to
the results of this clinical study, which was conducted at nine major
European cancer treatment institutions and at Duke University Medical
Center in the USA, both disease-free survival time and local
progression free survival time for patients with locally advanced,
high-grade soft tissue sarcomas nearly doubled when hyperthermia
therapy was added to chemotherapy, as compared to patients who received
chemotherapy alone.

The patients enrolled in this clinical study were very ill, with
high-grade (II/III) soft tissue sarcomas and were at significant risk
of local failure and metastasis. The patients were randomly assigned to
receive either chemotherapy alone or chemotherapy combined with
hyperthermia therapy. The patient characteristics were well balanced
between these two groups. Their treatments were administered in 4
cycles every 3 weeks before and after surgery and radiation therapy.
For patients who received both hyperthermia therapy and chemotherapy
the median disease free survival was 31.7 months, compared to 16.2
months for those who received chemotherapy alone (p=0.004), a 95%
increase. The median local progression free survival rate was estimated
at 45.3 months for patients who received chemotherapy plus hyperthermia
therapy, compared to 23.7 months for patients who received chemotherapy
alone (p=0.01), a 91% increase.

The study was conducted under the direction of the European Society of
Hyperthermic Oncology (ESHO RHT-95) and the European Organization for
Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC 62961). Rolf Issels, MD PhD of
the Munich University Medical School in Germany, was the principal
investigator. Duke University was a participant in the international
study listed on the National Cancer Institute's website at
http://www.cancer.gov/clinicaltrials/EORTC-62961 under the NCI number
NCT00003052.

All hyperthermia treatments performed in the study were conducted
using
BSD-2000 hyperthermia systems developed and produced by BSD Medical
Corp. The BSD-2000 hyperthermia therapy system non-invasively delivers
precision focused hyperthermia therapy to cancerous tumors, including
tumors located deep in the body. The BSD-2000 is a recipient of the
Frost and Sullivan Technology Innovation of the Year Award for cancer
therapy devices.

About BSD Medical

BSD Medical Corp. is the leading developer of systems used to deliver
hyperthermia therapy for the treatment of cancer. Hyperthermia therapy
is used to kill cancer directly and increase the effectiveness of
companion radiation treatments. Research has also shown promising
results from the use of hyperthermia therapy in combination with
chemotherapy, and for tumor reduction prior to surgery. For further
information visit BSD Medical's website at www.BSDMedical.com or BSD's
patient website at www.treatwithheat.com.

Statements contained in this press release that are not historical
facts are forward-looking statements, as defined in the Private
Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All forward-looking
statements are subject to risks and uncertainties detailed in the
Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

First report that apoptotic and anti-angiogenic therapies work better together than alone

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/eofr-frt110906.php

Public release date: 10-Nov-2006

Contact: Emma Mason
wordmason@mac.com
44-077-112-96986
European
Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer

First report that apoptotic and anti-angiogenic
therapies work better together than alone

Prague, Czech Republic: American researchers have found that giving
a combination of imantanib (Glivec [1]) and a drug that induces cell
death (apoptosis) was better at inhibiting the growth of Ewing's
sarcoma in mice than either therapy on its own.

Imantanib works by preventing the creation of new blood vessels to
supply the growing tumour (anti-angiogenesis) and the researchers
believe that this is the first report of synergy between apoptosis and
anti-angiogenic therapy in pre-clinical work.

Professor Andrea Hayes-Jordan reported to the EORTC-NCI-AACR [2]
Symposium on Molecular Targets and Cancer Therapeutics in Prague today
(Friday 10 November) that treating sarcoma cells with imantanib
inhibited a growth factor called PDGFR-beta. This had the effect of
increasing the sensitivity of the cells to a drug called tumour
necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL).

Prof Hayes-Jordan, assistant professor of surgery and pediatrics at
the MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, USA, said: “When I treated the
tumour cells with imantanib, the anti-angiogenic drug, the receptors
for TRAIL, the apoptotic drug, increased, thus increasing the efficacy
of TRAIL. This was supported by the mouse studies, which showed
increased inhibition of pulmonary metastases and primary tumour growth
when both were used simultaneously. These findings are important
because, if it proves to be effective in humans, it would be well
tolerated and have significantly fewer side effects than traditional
cytotoxic therapy. Also, at present, we have no effective chemotherapy
for pulmonary metastases – the only effective treatment is surgery – so
this would give us another option.”

Prof Hayes-Jordan hopes to investigate the dual therapy in humans in
a clinical trial within 12-18 months.

###

External Beam Radiation With Intratumoral Injection Of Dendritic Cells As Neo-Adjuvant Treatment for Sarcoma

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00365872?order=37

External Beam Radiation With Intratumoral Injection Of Dendritic Cells
As Neo-Adjuvant Treatment for Sarcoma

This study is currently recruiting patients.
Verified by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute August
2006
Sponsors and Collaborators:     H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
Research Institute
Cancer Treatment Research Foundation
Information provided by:     H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research
Institute
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:     NCT00365872

Purpose

This is a Phase II study using a combination of external beam radiation
with intratumoral injection of dendritic cells (white blood cells) as
neo-adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcoma.
The purpose is to determine if an injection of the patient’s own immune
related white blood cells into their tumor will strengthen the immune
system to fight against their cancer.

Pre-treatment tests include a blood draw for anti-tumor immune response
and Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV tests. Labs are drawn for baseline
immunity assays; pre-treatment biopsy with collection of tumor cells,
immunological studies, surgical specimen and post-therapy immunity
assays.

Conventional therapy on day 1 is the external beam radiation which will
be delivered in 25 equal fractions – daily for 5 days (M-F) over a
5-week period. Experimental therapy consists of leukapheresis which is
the separation and removal of leukocytes from withdrawn blood, frozen
for later use. There will be four DC injections occurring during the
course of the external beam radiation therapy.

DCs will be labeled (with a radioisotope) and injected intratumorally
before surgery. You will be randomized into one of three groups. One
group will receive injection of labeled DCs 72 hrs before surgery,
second group – 48 hrs, and third group 24 hrs before surgery. On day 50
of treatment,surgery will be performed to remove the tumor.

Results will be correlated with the level of specific immune response.
If the experimental treatment causes a measurable change in the immune
blood tests, there will be office visits, every 3 months for 2 years.
In the longer term, there will be office visits at 6 month intervals
for the third year, and yearly thereafter. A CT scan of chest and MRI
scan of extremity will be performed at every office visit.
Condition     Intervention     Phase
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
     Vaccine: Dendritic cell injections
 Procedure: Radiation therapy
 Procedure: Surgery for tumor removal
    Phase II

MedlinePlus related topics:  Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Genetics Home Reference related topics:  Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Randomized, Open Label, Uncontrolled, Single
Group Assignment, Safety/Efficacy Study

Official Title: Combination of External Beam Radiation With
Intratumoral Injection of Dendritic Cells as Neo-Adjuvant Treatment of
High-Risk Soft Tissue Sarcoma Patients
Further study details as provided by H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and
Research Institute:
Primary Outcomes: Determine if combined neo-adjuvant treatment with
apoptosis-inducing therapy (gamma-irradiation) plus intratumoral DC
administration will induce a T lymphocyte immune response specific for
soft tissue sarcoma associated antigens.; Study the functional activity
of T cells, as well as the presence, and function of DCs in patients
treated with combined administration of apoptosis-inducing agents and
DCs.; Assess the toxicity of the investigational treatment, and the
primary tumor responses.; Analysis of DC migration will compare the
ratio of radioactive count within lymph nodes and the tumor site to the
background counts.
Expected Total Enrollment:  22

Study start: June 2006

This is a Phase II study using a combination of external beam radiation
with intratumoral injection of dendritic cells (white blood cells) as
neo-adjuvant treatment for patients with high-risk soft tissue sarcoma.
The purpose is to determine if an injection of the patient’s own immune
related white blood cells into their tumor will strengthen the immune
system to fight against their cancer.

Pre-treatment test will consist of a blood draw for anti-tumor immune
response and Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C, HIV tests. A biopsy with
collection of tumor cells. Assays (ELISPOT and flow cytometry) to test
for the intended anti-tumor cell T cell response will be performed on
biopsy specimens as well as standard pathology department review of
specimens for diagnosis and assessment of necrosis and apoptosis. Labs
are also drawn for surgical specimens and post-therapy immunity assays.

Prior to commencing therapy, a procedure called leukapheresis
(peripheral blood mononuclear cell) isolation will be conducted and
twenty-four hours prior to intended injection, the dendritic cells will
be harvested and assessed for quality control. Prior to injection (the
clinical target is the gross tumor), history and physical examination
will be performed. Toxicity will be assessed according to CTC criteria.
The plan will be to inject the entire dendritic cell product evenly
throughout the tumor.

Conventional therapy consists of external beam radiation therapy, 25
fractions from day 1-33 administered Monday through Friday only. The
experimental therapy, dendrite cell (DC) injections will occur during
the course of the external beam radiation therapy. DC injections will
be prepared from frozen white blood cells and injected at four
intervals on day 12, 19, 26, and day 33.

DCs will be labeled (with a radioisotope) and injected intratumorally
before surgery. You will be randomized into one of three groups. One
group will receive injection of labeled DCs 72 hrs before surgery,
second group – 48 hrs, and third group 24 hrs before surgery. Surgery
will occur on day 50 for tumor removal.

If the experimental treatment causes a measurable change in the immune
blood tests, there will be office visits, every 3 months for 2 years.
In the longer term, there will be office visits at 6 month intervals
for the third year, and yearly thereafter. A CT scan of chest and MRI
scan of extremity will be performed at every office visit.

Eligibility
Genders Eligible for Study:  Both
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

    * Histologically diagnosed high-grade (intermediate or high grade)
soft tissue sarcoma of clinical and radiographic histological lineage.
    * Musculoskeletal tumor in extremities, trunk or chest wall.
    * Primary tumor or isolated locally recurrent tumor greater than 5
cm in diameter.
    * Clinical Stage T2N0M0 or T3N0M0
    * Patient is not a candidate for neoadjuvant chemotherapy.
    * Performance status ECOG 0 or 1.
    * No steroid therapy within 4 weeks of first dendritic cell
administration.
    * No coagulation disorder.
    * Patient’s written informed consent.
    * No contraindication to resection.
    * Adequate organ function (measured within a week of beginning
treatment).
    * WBC > 3,000/mm to the third power and ANC >1500/mm to the
third power
    * Platelets > 100,000/mm to the third power
    * Hematocrit > 25%
    * Bilirubin < 2.0 mg/dL
    * Creatinine < 2.0 mg/dL, or creatinine clearance > 60 mL/min

Exclusion Criteria:

    * Retroperitoneal location.
    * Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
    * Demonstrated metastatic disease.
    * Prior radiation therapy if the current tumor is locally recurrent
after prior resection.
    * Concurrent treatment with any anticancer agent other than
radiation as dictated by the protocol.
    * Bleeding disorder.
    * H.I.V. infection or other primary immunodeficiency disorder.
    * Ongoing systemic therapy with immunosuppressant drugs (e.g.
corticosteroids, azathioprine, cyclosporin, methotrexate).
    * Any serious ongoing infection.
    * Pregnant or lactating women — Patients in reproductive age must
agree to use contraceptive methods for the duration of the study (a
pregnancy test will be obtained before treatment).
    * ECOG performance status of 2, 3 or 4.

Location and Contact Information
Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov identifier  NCT00365872

Mary N Dunn, CRN      813-745-8356    dunnmn@moffitt.usf.edu

Florida
      H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, 
Florida,  33612,  United States; Completed

      H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, 
Florida,  33612,  United States; Recruiting

Study chairs or principal investigators

Scott Antonia, M.D.,  Principal Investigator,  H. Lee Moffitt Cancer
Center and Research Institute  

More Information

Active
Clinical Trials at Moffitt Cancer Center

Study ID Numbers:  MCC-14497
Last Updated:  August 18, 2006
Record first received:  August 17, 2006
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00365872
Health Authority: United States: Food and Drug Administration
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2006-09-25

Impact of High-Dose Busulfan Plus Melphalan As Consolidation in Metastatic Ewing Tumors: A Study by the Société Française des Cancers de l'Enfant

http://www.jco.org/cgi/content/abstract/24/24/3997

Impact of High-Dose Busulfan Plus Melphalan As Consolidation in
Metastatic Ewing Tumors: A Study by the Société Française des Cancers
de l'Enfant

Journal of Clinical Oncology, Vol 24, No 24 (August 20), 2006: pp.
3997-4002
© 2006 American Society of Clinical Oncology
DOI: 10.1200/JCO.2006.05.7059

Odile Oberlin, Annie Rey, Anne Sophie Desfachelles, Thierry Philip,
Dominique Plantaz, Claudine Schmitt, Emmanuel Plouvier, Odile Lejars,
Hervé Rubie, Philippe Terrier, Jean Michon

From the Departments of Paediatric Oncology, Biostatistics, and
Pathology, Institut Gustave Roussy, Villejuif; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Centre Oscar Lambret, Lille; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon, France; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Hôpital Michalon, Grenoble; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Hôpital d'enfants, Nancy; Department of Paediatric Oncology,
Centre hospitalo-universitaire, Besançon; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Hôpital Clocheville, Tours; Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Hôpital Purpan, Toulouse; and the Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Institut Curie, Paris, France

Address reprint requests to Odile Oberlin, MD, Department of Paediatric
Oncology, Institut Gustave-Roussy, Rue Camille Desmoulins, 94805
Villejuif Cedex, France; e-mail: oberlin@igr.fr

PURPOSE: To improve the prognosis for patients with metastatic Ewing
sarcoma/primitive neuroectodermal tumors (ES/PNET) using conventional
chemotherapy and consolidation high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) containing
busulfan and melphalan.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ninety-seven unselected patients with newly
diagnosed metastatic ES/PNET received induction chemotherapy that
included five cycles of cyclophosphamide 150 mg/m2/d for 7 days,
doxorubicin 35 mg/m2/d once, followed by two cycles of ifosfamide 1.8
g/m2/d for 5 days, and etoposide 100 mg/m2/d for 5 days. Patients in
complete or very good partial remission received HDCT with busulfan
total dose 600 mg/m2 and melphalan 140 mg/m2 followed by autologous
blood stem cells. Local therapy (surgery and/or radiation therapy) was
performed before or after HDCT.

RESULTS: Ninety-seven patients were enrolled from 1991 to 1999 (median
age, 12.3 years; range, 0.2 to 25 years). Among them, 75 received HDCT.
The 5-year event-free survival (EFS) rate for all 97 patients was 37%
and the overall survival (OS) rate was 38%. The EFS after HDCT was 47%.
The EFS for the 44 patients with lung-only metastases was 52%, whereas
it was 36% for patients with bone metastases without bone marrow
involvement. Among the 23 patients with bone marrow metastases, only
one survived. The multivariate analysis for both EFS and for OS
identified three independent prognostic factors: age, fever at
diagnosis, and bone marrow involvement.

CONCLUSION: Compared with conventional chemotherapy, HDCT may yield
benefits for patients with lung-only metastases or bone metastases.
These results warrant confirmation in a randomized trial and provide
part of the background data for the ongoing Euro-Ewing study.

Supported by Institut Gustave Roussy and by Société Française des
Cancers de l'Enfant.

Authors' disclosures of potential conflicts of interest and author
contributions are found at the end of this article.

The Use of Chemotherapy Medications, Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and Docetaxel (Taxotere) in the Treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, or Chondrosarcoma

http://clinicaltrials.mayo.edu/clinicaltrialdetails.cfm?trial_id=100300

The Use of Chemotherapy Medications, Gemcitabine (Gemzar) and Docetaxel

(Taxotere) in the Treatment of Ewing's Sarcoma, Osteosarcoma, or

Chondrosarcoma

IRB Number : 1693-05

Trial Status : Open for Enrollment

Phase: II

Why is this study being done?

This study is being done to:

-See if the chemotherapy drugs gemcitabine (Gemzar) and docetaxel

(Taxotere), when given together, may help to fight cancer of the bone or

soft tissue. Each of these drugs is approved by the US Food and Drug

Administration (FDA) for the treatment of some kinds of cancer, such as

cancer of the pancreas and lung, but they are not approved for this type

of cancer, so in this study they are called investigational drugs.

-See what effects (good and bad) gemcitabine and docetaxel have on the

patient and the tumor.

-See how a patients body processes the gemcitabine and docetaxel.

-(When possible), to do genetic research studies on a sample of a

patients tumor tissue.

Who is Eligible to Participate in the Study?

-Patients diagnosed with Ewings sarcoma or Osteosarcoma, and have

received standard treatments for this type of cancer, but the tumor has

come back after treatment.

-Patients diagnosed with chondrosarcoma and the tumor cannot be

completely removed by surgery or has come back after surgery.

– Patients age 4 and older

-No prior treatment with gemcitabine or taxanes

*More specific, detailed eligibility and/ or exclusion criteria are

associated with this trial.

What is Involved With this Study?

-Medication given through a vein 2 times in a 3 week cycle, for up to 14

cycles

-Physical Exams

-Weekly Blood Tests

-X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and/ or nuclear medicine scans including a

bone scan to measure patients tumor

How long will the Study run?

Patients will be in the study and receive treatment as long as the tumor

has stayed the same or has gotten smaller and patient has not had any

bad side effects, for up to 14 cycles (each cycle is 3 weeks). Treatment

will be stopped if patients tumor gets larger, if bad side effects, if

doctor thinks further treatment would not be in patients best interest,

if study closes, or if patient chooses to stop treatment.

Sponsor(s): MD Anderson Cancer Center

Study Activation: 12-19-2005

IRB Review and Approval Date: 9-8-2005

Study Type: Treatment

Projected Accrual: 10 patients

Costs of Study:There may be standard patient care costs related to

participating in a cancer research study.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Scott Okuno

Who can I Contact for Additional Information on this Trial?

If you are interested in participating in this study or would like

additional information, please contact Mayo Clinic's Cancer Center

Clinical Trials Referral Coordinator at (507) 538-7623.

What is/are the Locations of this Clinical Trial?

Rochester, MN

Ixabepilone to Treat Children and Young Adults with Solid Tumors

Ixabepilone to Treat Children and Young
Adults with Solid Tumors

This study is currently
recruiting patients.

Verified by National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) March
29, 2006

Sponsored by: National
Cancer Institute (NCI)
Information provided by: National Institutes of Health
Clinical Center (CC)
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00318526

Purpose

Background:
-Ixabepilone is a
member of a new class of anticancer drugs called epothilones, which
interfere with the ability of cancer cells to divide. Ixabepilone kills
cancer cells in the test tube and in animals.
-Epothilones are
similar to a class of drugs called taxanes, which include Taxol®
(Registered Trademark) (paclitaxel) and Taxotere® (Registered
Trademark) (docetaxel). Epothilones can kill cancer cells that are
resistant to Taxol® (Registered Trademark) in the laboratory.
-Ixabepilone has been
tested in a small number of adults and children with cancers resistant
to standard treatment.
Objectives:
-To measure the
response of solid tumors to treatment with ixabepilone.
-To determine for how
long ixabepilone can stop tumors from growing.
-To evaluate a new
method of measuring tumors in the chest with a method that measures
tumor volume.
-To further define the
side effects of ixabepilone.
Eligibility:
-Patients with
osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma/peripheral neuroectodermal tumor,
rhabdomyosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath
tumor, neuroblastoma, or Wilms tumor.
-Patients must be 12
months or older when entering the study.
-Patients with sarcoma
must have been no more than 35 years old at the time of diagnosis.
-Patients with Wilms
tumor or neuroblastoma must have been no more than 21 years old at the
time of diagnosis.
Design:
-Up to 20 patients
with each type of tumor may be enrolled.
-Patients are given
ixabepilone as a 1-hour infusion through a vein on days 1-5 of every
21-day cycle.
-Patients have a
physical exam and urine test before each cycle, blood tests weekly,
pregnancy test (for women who can bear children) every other cycle, and
tests to evaluate the tumor (radiological, imaging, or others,
depending on the tumor type) after the first cycle and then after every
other cycle.
-Patients may continue
treatment as long as their tumor responds to therapy and the side
effects are not unacceptable.

Condition Intervention Phase
Refractory Solid Tumors  Drug: Ixabepilone Phase
II

MedlinePlus consumer
health information 

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Safety/Efficacy

Official Title: Phase II Trial of Ixabepilone
(BMS-247550), an Epothilone B Analog, in Children and Young Adults with
Refractory Solid Tumors

Further study details as provided by National
Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC):
Expected Total Enrollment:  120

Study start: April 20, 2006

Background:
Ixabepilone (BMS-247550) is a semi-synthetic analog of the natural
product epothilone B. The epothilones are a novel class of non-taxane
microtubule-stabilizing agents obtained from the fermentation of the
cellulose degrading myxobacteria, Sorangium cellulosum. Ixabepilone is
active against preclinical cancer models that are naturally insensitive
to paclitaxel or have developed resistance to paclitaxel, both in-vitro
and in-vivo. The National Cancer Institute (NCI) Pediatric Oncology
Branch is conducting a phase I trial of Ixabepilone on a daily x 5
consecutive day schedule. The drug has been well tolerated in children
at doses of up to 8 mg/m(2)/d.
Objectives: This Phase
II trial is designed to establish the objective response rate (CR+PR)
using RECIST criteria of Ixabepilone in solid tumors occurring in
pediatric and young adult patients. Time to disease progression is a
secondary trial endpoint. In addition, for patients with measurable
chest disease, comparison of automated volumetric tumor measurement
with standard RECIST and WHO methods is a secondary endpoint on this
trial.
Eligibility: Patients
will be accrued in one of six disease strata: osteosarcoma, Ewing's
sarcoma/Peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (PNETs), rhabdomyosarcoma,
synovial sarcoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNSTs),
neuroblastoma, or Wilms tumor. Patients are eligible if they have
measurable disease and have not previously received taxanes. Patients
must be greater than or equal to 12 months old at trial entry. Patients
with sarcoma must have been less than or equal to 35 years old at
original diagnosis; patients with Wilms tumor or neuroblastoma must
have been less than or equal to 21 years old at original diagnosis.
Design: Ixabepilone
will be administered as a one-hour infusion on Days 1 to 5 every 21
days at a dose of 8 mg/m(2)/dose. The trial will use a two-stage design
targeting a response rate of 30%. Up to 20 patients will be accrued to
each tumor stratum.

Eligibility

Genders Eligible for
Study:  Both
Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA:
Important note: The
eligibility criteria listed below are interpreted literally and cannot
be waived (per COG policy posted 5/11/01). All clinical and laboratory
data required for determining eligibility of a patient enrolled on this
trial must be available in the patient's medical/research record which
will serve as the source document for verification at the time of
audit.
Age
-Patients must be
greater than or equal to 12 months old at trial entry.
-Patients with
neuroblastoma or Wilms tumor must have been less than 22 years of age
when originally diagnosed with the malignancy to be treated on this
protocol.
-All other patients
must have been less than 36 years of age when originally diagnosed with
the malignancy to be treated on this protocol.
Histologic Diagnosis
The target tumors are:
-Embryonal or alveolar
rhabdomyosarcoma
-Osteosarcoma
-Ewing's
sarcoma/Peripheral neuroectodermal tumor (PNET)
-Synovial sarcoma or
malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor (MPNST)
-Wilms tumor
-Neuroblastoma
Patients must have had
histologic verification of the malignancy at original diagnosis or at
recurrence.
All patients must have
refractory or recurrent tumors with no known curative treatment options.
For patients with
sarcoma and Wilms tumor:
Patients must have
measurable disease. Measurable disease is defined as lesions that can
be measured in at least one dimension by medical imaging techniques (CT
or MRI scan). Ascites, pleural effusions, bone marrow disease, and
lesions detectable only by bone scan will not be considered measurable
disease.
For patients with
neuroblastoma:
Patients with either
clinically or radiographically measurable disease or evaluable disease
by 123I-MIBG or bone scan are eligible.
-For evaluable tumor,
(123)I-MIBG or bone scan must be positive at a minimum of one site. If
the lesion was previously radiated, a biopsy must be done at least 6
weeks after radiation is complete and demonstrate viable neuroblastoma.
Performance Level
Patients must have an
ECOG performance status of 0, 1 or 2, or Karnofsky greater than or
equal to 50% (patients greater than 16 years of age) or Lansky greater
than or equal to 50% (patients less than or equal to 16 years).
Life Expectancy
Patients must have a
life expectancy of greater than or equal to 8 weeks.
Prior Therapy
Patients must have
fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy,
immunotherapy, or radiotherapy prior to entering this study.
-Myelosuppressive
chemotherapy: Must not have received within 2 weeks of entry onto this
study (4 weeks if prior nitrosourea).
-Biologic
(anti-neoplastic agent): At least 7 days since the completion of
therapy with a biologic agent.
-XRT: greater than or
equal to 2 wks for local palliative XRT (small port); greater than or
equal to 6 months must have elapsed if prior craniospinal XRT or if
greater than or equal to 50% radiation of pelvis; greater than or equal
to 6 wks must have elapsed if other substantial BM radiation.
-Stem Cell Transplant
(SCT): No evidence of active graft vs. host disease. For allogeneic
SCT, greater than or equal to 4 months must have elapsed; for
autologous SCT greater than or equal to 2 months must have elapsed.
-Study specific
limitations on prior therapy: Patients may not have received prior
taxane (paclitaxel, docetaxel) therapy.
Concomitant
Medications Restrictions
No other cancer
chemotherapy or immunomodulating agents (including steroids) will be
used. However, steroids may be used for the treatment and prevention of
hypersensitivity reactions, if necessary.
Growth factor(s): Must
not have received within 1 week of entry onto this study, with the
exception of erythropoietin.
Study Specific:
Patients may not be currently receiving strong inhibitors of CYP3A4,
and may not have received these medications within 1 week of entry.
These include:
-Antibiotics:
clarithromycin, erythromycin, troleandomycin
-Antifungals:
itraconazole, ketoconazole, fluconazole (doses greater than 3
mg/kg/day), voriconazole
-Antidepressants:
nefazodone, fluovoxamine
-Calcium channel
blockers: verapamil, diltiazem
-Antiemetics: Do not
use aprepitant (Emend® (Registered Trademark)) as it is CYP3A4
substrate, moderate inhibitor and inducer.
-Miscellaneous:
amiodarone,
-In addition,
grapefruit juice should be avoided, as it inhibits CYP3A4.
-Patients must also
avoid St. John's Wort, an inducer of CYP3A4.
-Patients may not be
taking enzyme -inducing anticonvulsants, and may not have received
these medications within 1 week of entry, as these patients may
experience different drug disposition. These medications include:
-Carbamazepine
(Tegretol)
-Felbamate (Felbtol)
-Phenobarbital
-Phenytoin (Dilantin)
-Primidone (Mysoline)
-Oxcarbazepine
(Trileptal)
Organ Function
Requirements
All patients must have:
Adequate Bone Marrow
Function Defined As
-Peripheral absolute
neutrophil count (ANC) greater than or equal to 1500/uL (off growth
factors)
-Platelet count
greater than or equal to 75,000/uL (transfusion independent)
-Hemoglobin greater
than or equal to 10.0 gm/dL (may receive RBC transfusions)
Adequate Renal
Function Defined As
Creatinine clearance
or radioisotope GFR greater than or equal to 60mL/min/1.73m(2)
OR
A serum/plasma
creatinine calculation of GFR 60mL/min/1.73m(2) using the Schwartz
formula
(Schwartz et al. J.
Peds, 106:522, 1985)
Estimated Creatinine
Clearance (in mL/min/1.73 m(2))
(k)(L)/Pcr
Where L &eq;
child's length in cm
Pcr &eq; plasma
(or serum) creatinine (in mg/dL)
K Values &eq;
0.33 low birth weight
infant
0.45 term infant
0.55 child
0.55 adolescent female
0.70 adolescent male
**The conversion
formula for serum/plasma creatinine when reported in
uMol/L units:
(k ” ht)/(sCr in
uMol/L ” 88.4)
Adequate Liver
Function Defined As
-Total bilirubin less
than or equal to 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, and
-SGPT (ALT) less than
or equal to 2.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age.
Nervous System
Function Defined As
-Patients with seizure
disorder may be enrolled if on anticonvulsants and well controlled.
Enzyme inducing anticonvulsant drugs are not allowed on this trial.
-CNS toxicity less
than or equal to Grade 2.
-Existing sensory or
motor neuropathy must be grade less than or equal to1.
EXCLUSION CRITERIA:
-Clinically
significant unrelated systemic illness, such as serious infections,
hepatic, renal or other organ dysfunction, which would, in the judgment
of the treating physician, compromise the patient's ability to tolerate
the investigational agent or is likely to interfere with the study
procedures or results.
-Pregnant or
breast-feeding females, because Ixabepilone may be harmful to the
developing fetus or nursing child. Patients of child-bearing potential
must use appropriate birth control measures.
-Patients with known
severe prior hypersensitivity reaction to agents containing Cremophor
EL.
-Patients with active
brain metastases.
For patients with
sarcoma and Wilms tumor:
Ascites, pleural
effusions, bone marrow disease, and lesions detectable only by bone
scan will not be considered measurable disease. Patients who have
disease in these locations without radiographically measurable (CT,
MRI) disease are excluded.
For patients with
neuroblastoma:
Patients with elevated
urinary catecholamines and/or bone marrow evidence of tumor, without
measurable or evaluable disease clinically or by imaging modalities
(CT, MRI, MIBG, or Bone Scan) are excluded.

Location and Contact Information

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov
identifier  NCT00318526
Maryland
      National Cancer Institute (NCI), 9000 Rockville Pike,  Bethesda, 
Maryland,  20892,  United States; Recruiting

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
 1-800-411-1222    prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov 

TTY  1-866-411-1010 

More Information

Detailed
Web Page

Publications

Jordan
A, Hadfield JA, Lawrence NJ, McGown AT. Tubulin as a target for
anticancer drugs: agents which interact with the mitotic spindle. Med
Res Rev. 1998 Jul;18(4):259-96. Review.

Wilson
L, Jordan MA. Microtubule dynamics: taking aim at a moving target. Chem
Biol. 1995 Sep;2(9):569-73. Review.

Huizing
MT, Misser VH, Pieters RC, ten Bokkel Huinink WW, Veenhof CH, Vermorken
JB, Pinedo HM, Beijnen JH. Taxanes: a new class of antitumor agents.
Cancer Invest. 1995;13(4):381-404. Review.

Study ID Numbers:  060146; 06-C-0146
Last Updated:  June 3, 2006
Record first received:  April 25, 2006
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00318526
Health Authority: United States: Federal Government
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this
record on 2006-07-03

Pharming Recieves Orphan Drug Designations For rhC1INH From US FDA

http://www.pharming.com/index.php?act=show&pg=278

Pharming Recieves Orphan Drug Designations For rhC1INH From US FDA

Leiden, The Netherlands, June 14, 2006. Biotech company Pharming Group
NV (“Pharming” or “the Company”) (Euronext: PHARM) announced today it
has received orphan drug designations for recombinant human C1
inhibitor (rhC1INH) from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The
Company has obtained designations on rhC1INH for two separate disease
indications – the prevention and/or the treatment of Delayed Graft
Function (DGF) after solid organ transplantation and the treatment of
Capillary Leakage Syndrome (CLS).

Over 25,000 solid organs were transplanted in the US in 2005, including
kidney, liver, lung and heart transplants. Delayed Graft Function is a
common complication affecting all solid organs in the post-transplant
period. DGF results in significant morbidity and mortality from early
graft dysfunction and from decreased long-term graft survival. The
condition also prolongs hospitalization and requires substitute
therapies for these patients, such as dialysis or ventilatory support.
DGF remains a critical unmet medical need despite improvements in
immunosuppression, organ preservation, and surgical technique. C1
inhibitor has been shown in numerous models of organ transplantation to
improve early graft function.

Over 100,000 patients in the US develop Capillary Leakage Syndrome
annually as a complication of various disease states, including bone
marrow/stem cell transplantation, IL-2 therapy, sepsis, and neonatal
cardiac surgery. CLS is a severe life-threatening condition
characterized by excessive fluid loss into the tissue space, which can
result in hemodynamic instability, pulmonary edema, ascites, and death.
Current therapies for patients with CLS are limited to supportive care
and treatment of the underlying condition. Previous clinical work has
demonstrated that C1 inhibitor may be an effective anti-inflammatory
that can control the mechanisms contributing to CLS.

“Pharming’s rhC1INH product could provide new treatments for immune
mediated diseases such as Delayed Graft Function in organ
transplantation and Capillary Leakage Syndrome, conditions with a high
burden and limited treatment options for patients,” said Dr. Francis
Pinto, CEO of Pharming. “The Orphan Drug designations from the FDA
further validate the potential of rhC1INH as an innovative therapy and
are a significant achievement as we advance development of rhC1INH for
these indications.”

The FDA Orphan Drug designation is reserved for promising new therapies
being developed to treat diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people
in the United States. This designation provides an accelerated review
process, tax advantages and a seven-year period of market exclusivity
in the US upon product approval. Pharming also has an Orphan Drug
designation on rhC1INH for the treatment of Hereditary Angioedema.

Background on Pharming Group NV
Pharming Group NV is developing innovative protein products for unmet
needs. The Company’s products include potential treatments for genetic
disorders, specialty products for surgical indications, intermediates
for various applications and food products. Pharming has two products
in late stage development – recombinant human C1 inhibitor for
Hereditary Angioedema (Phase III) and recombinant human lactoferrin for
use in functional foods. The advanced technologies of the Company
include innovative platforms for the production of protein
therapeutics, as well as technology and processes for the purification
and formulation of these products. Additional information is available
on the Pharming website: http://www.pharming.com.

This press release contains forward looking statements that involve
known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, which may
cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to
be materially different from the results, performance or achievements
expressed or implied by these forward looking statements. The press
release also appears in Dutch. In the event of any inconsistency, the
English version will prevail over the Dutch version.

Contact:

Carina Hamaker, Investor Voice, T: +31 (0)6 537 49959
Sarah MacLeod, Financial Dynamics, T: +44 (0)20 7269 7148
Samir Singh, Pharming Group NV, T: +31 (0)71 524 7429

Neurosurgical Use of Interstitial Laser Therapy (ILT)

http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00207350

Neurosurgical Use of Interstitial Laser
Therapy (ILT)

This study is currently
recruiting patients.

Verified by Brigham and Women's Hospital September 2005

Sponsored by: Brigham and Women's Hospital
Information provided by: Brigham and Women's Hospital
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00207350

Purpose

Our specific aims are
to test the following hypotheses: Hypothesis 1: A tumor can be
completely ablated by ILT with MRI-guidance; Hypothesis 2: The
MRI-based 3D temperature map of tissue during ILT is predictive of
destruction; Hypothesis 3: The 3D “thermal dose” map that is based on
the tissue’s temperature over time is more predictive of tissue
destruction than the temperature map.

Condition Intervention
Brain Tumor  Device: Interstitial Laser Therapy

MedlinePlus related
topics:  Brain Cancer

Study Type: Interventional
Study Design: Treatment, Non-Randomized, Open Label, Uncontrolled,
Single Group Assignment, Efficacy Study

Further study details as provided by Brigham and
Women's Hospital:
Primary Outcomes: A tumor can be completely
ablated by ILT with MRI-guidance
Secondary
Outcomes: Patients undergoing ILT will be assessed pre- and
post-operatively based on a neurological exam by a physician and
patient self-assessment using the Glioma Outcomes Questionnaire.
Expected Total Enrollment:  24

Study start: January 2002
Last follow-up: December 2004

The
goal is to evaluate the use of minimally invasive interstitial laser
therapy (ILT) in the brain. Our group is in a unique position to offer
image-guided ILT because of our expertise and resources here at Brigham
& Women's Hospital in the Departments of Neurosurgery and
Radiology. The therapy will be monitored and controlled by the use of
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). ILT is a minimally invasive procedure
in which the targeted tissue is thermally destroyed in situ in a
controlled fashion. The intra-operative MRI provides a way to “see” the
treatment. It can be used to treat disease by guiding surgery by
providing images of tissue changes during therapy.

In spite of its appeal as a minimally
invasive technique, MRI-guided ILT is not commonly practiced in the
United States. One reason is that proper clinical implementation of ILT
requires an operating room (OR) setting and an MRI scanner – a very
rare combination. Our MRI-OR suite includes a sterile procedure room
with a 0.5 Tesla vertically “open” magnet. In the past, we have
performed MRI-guided ILT procedures in 9 patients. While few in number,
this is the most extensive U.S. experience in ILT in the brain.

We have recently created a new image
networking and display package for the visualization of 3D information
during laser therapy. This provides a view of multiple image planes
taken through the tissue volume around the fiber tip.

Each patient will undergo ILT. The
procedure will be performed under anesthesia as per standard
procedures. The surgical placement of the laser fiber is a procedure
identical to the well-developed and practiced technique of brain
biopsy. A hole approximately 1 cm in diameter will be drilled in the
skull through which the laser fiber will be placed under image guidance
to confirm the actual progress during the advance of the fiber. We will
deliver energy at a rate and distribution of 1-12 watts/cm for
exposures less than 20 minutes. After the laser has been turned off,
and the tissue cooled, MRI will show the region of ablation. As needed,
the laser fiber will be moved/re-located to assure that the total
target has been ablated. After the treatment is complete, the fiber is
withdrawn, final images are acquired and the surgical site is closed
and dressed. On the day after the procedure, the patient will undergo a
24 hr follow-up MRI exam. There will be post-operative care as with any
neurosurgical patient.

The following continuous variables will be measured in this study.

  • the pre-operative tumor volume (VO) in cc
  • the post-operative ablated volume (V1) in cc
  • the intra-operative critical temperature volume (VT) in cc
  • the intra-operative critical dose
    volume (VD) in cc.

The following statistical hypothesis tests will be conducted.

Statistical Hypothesis 1. A tumor can be completely ablated by ILT
with MRI-guidance.

We
propose that the difference between the mean the pre-op tumor volumes
and the post-op ablated volumes (VO and V1, respectively) is zero.
Residual tumor is defined as (V0-V1). This will be determined by
calculating the mean of the values of the proportion of residual tumor,
defined as (V0-V1)/ V0.Use of the proportion normalizes the data for
different sized tumors.

Statistical Hypothesis 2. The MRI-based
3-D temperature map of the tissue during ILT is predictive of
destruction. We propose that the difference between the mean post-op
ablated volumes and the intra-operative critical temperature volumes
(VT and V1, respectively) is zero. This will be determined by
calculating the mean of the values of the proportion of the difference
between them, defined as (VT-V1)/VT.

Statistical Hypothesis 3. The thermal dose map is predictive of
tissue destruction.

We
propose that the difference between the mean post-op ablated volumes
and the intra-operative critical dose volumes (VD and V1, respectively)
is zero. This will be determined by calculating the mean of the values
of the proportion of the difference between them, defined as (VD-V1
/VD).

Also, data will be collected through Neurological Examinations and
GOC Questionnaire.

Eligibility

Ages Eligible for
Study:  18 Years and above,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

Male or female Age 18+ Surgically difficult to access tumors
including intracerebral metastases and vascular malformations

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients
unwilling or unable to give written consent Patients at risk for
cardiac ischemia Patients who cannot physically fit in the MRI scanner
in the MRI OR Patients with contra-indications to MRI imaging such as
pacemakers, non-compatible aneurysm clips, shrapnel, and other internal
ferromagnetic objects Patients with coagulopathies, severe medical
problems, cardiac arrythmias or abnormal BUN –

Location and Contact Information

Please refer to this study by ClinicalTrials.gov
identifier  NCT00207350
Joanne E O'Hara, M.A.      617-732-6992    johara1@partners.org
Donna Dello Iacono, RN, MS      617-732-6826    ddelloiacono@partners.org
Massachusetts
      Brigham & Women's Hospital, Boston,  Massachusetts,  02115, 
United States; Recruiting

Peter M Black, MD, PhD,  Principal Investigator

Study chairs or principal investigators
Peter M Black, MD, PhD,  Principal Investigator,  Brigham and Women's
Hospital   

More Information

Website
for Image Guided Therapy Program at Brigham & Women's Hospital

Publications

Schulze
PC, Vitzthum HE, Goldammer A, Schneider JP, Schober R. Laser-induced
thermotherapy of neoplastic lesions in the brain–underlying tissue
alterations, MRI-monitoring and clinical applicability. Acta Neurochir
(Wien). 2004 Aug;146(8):803-12. Epub 2004 Jun 7. Review.

Peller
M, Muacevic A, Reinl H, Sroka R, Abdel-Rahman S, Issels R, Reiser MF.
[MRI-assisted thermometry for regional hyperthermia and interstitial
laser thermotherapy] Radiologe. 2004 Apr;44(4):310-9. German.

McNichols
RJ, Gowda A, Kangasniemi M, Bankson JA, Price RE, Hazle JD. MR
thermometry-based feedback control of laser interstitial thermal
therapy at 980 nm. Lasers Surg Med. 2004;34(1):48-55.

Leonardi
MA, Lumenta CB. Stereotactic guided laser-induced interstitial
thermotherapy (SLITT) in gliomas with intraoperative morphologic
monitoring in an open MR: clinical expierence. Minim Invasive
Neurosurg. 2002 Dec;45(4):201-7.

Straube
T, Kahn T. Thermal therapies in interventional MR imaging. Laser.
Neuroimaging Clin N Am. 2001 Nov;11(4):749-57. Review.

Muacevic
A, Peller M, Sroka R, Kalusche B, Pongratz T, Kreth FW, Steiger HJ,
Reiser M, Reulen HJ. [Brain protective interstitial laser
thermotherapy. Therapy of brain tumors without secondary damage] MMW
Fortschr Med. 2001 May 28;143 Suppl 2:87-8. German.

Study ID Numbers:  2001-P-001794
Last Updated:  December 8, 2005
Record first received:  September 12, 2005
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00207350
Health Authority: United States: Institutional Review Board
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this
record on 2006-04-18

High histologic and overall response to dose intensification of ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and vincristine in patients with high-risk ewing sarcoma family tumors



http://www3.interscience.wiley.com/cgi-bin/abstract/112476870

High histologic and overall response to dose intensification of
ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide with cyclophosphamide,
doxorubicin, and vincristine in patients with high-risk ewing sarcoma
family tumors

The Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital experience
Giuseppe Maria Milano, M.D. 1 *, Raffaele Cozza, M.D. 1, Ilaria Ilari,
M.D. 1, Luigi De Sio, M.D. 1, Renata Boldrini, M.D. 2, Alessandro
Jenkner, M.D. 1, Maretta De Ioris, M.D. 1, Alessandro Inserra, M.D. 3,
Carlo Dominici, M.D. 1 4, Alberto Donfrancesco, M.D. 1
1Division of Pediatric Oncology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino
Gesù-IRCCS, Rome, Italy
2Division of Pathology, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù-IRCCS, Rome,
Italy
3Division of Pediatric Surgery, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù-IRCCS,
Rome, Italy
4Department of Pediatrics, La Sapienza University, Rome, Italy
email: Giuseppe Maria Milano (milano_gm@hotmail.com)

*Correspondence to Giuseppe Maria Milano, Dipartimento di
Oncoematologia Pediatrica e Servizio Immunotrasfusionale, UO di
Oncologia, Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù-IRCCS, Piazza Sant'Onofrio
4, Rome, 00165, Italy
Fax: (011) 396 68592242

Keywords
Ewing sarcoma family tumors • chemotherapy • dose intensification •
histologic response • tumor necrosis • survival

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Ewing sarcoma (ES) and extraosseous ES/primitive neuroectodermal tumors
(PNET) share histopathologic features of the ES family of tumors
(ESFT). The authors report on their results from a regimen of
ifosfamide, carboplatin, and etoposide (ICE) with cyclophosphamide,
doxorubicin, and vincristine (CAV) dose intensification in patients
with high-risk ESFT.

METHODS
Since 1990, patients with ESFT and with 1 or more of the following risk
factors were reviewed: tumor volume > 200 mL, tumor site with a poor
prognosis, and pulmonary and/or bone marrow metastases.

RESULTS
Thirty-six patients with ESFT who were involved in the study were
divided into 2 arms of 18 patients each. One group received treatment
with various regimens, and the other group received treatment with ICE
plus CAV. The disease was brought under control more rapidly in the
latter patients, for whom surgery was more easily feasible, and up to
90% of patients achieved a major response, with an estimated 3-year
overall survival rate of 67% ± 12%.

CONCLUSIONS
The current results showed that ICE plus CAV was tolerated well and was
effective in the studied subset of tumors, indicating that dose
intensification correlates with better disease control, a high
percentage of necrosis, and conservative surgery in patients with
high-risk ESFT. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.