Gene Therapy in Treating Patients With Cancer of The Liver
Liver Cancer
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Liver Cancer focused on measuring localized unresectable adult primary liver cancer, adult primary hepatocellular carcinoma
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically confirmed unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) or highly suspicious for HCC based on CT scan and elevated alfafetoprotein Measurable disease by abdominal CT scan Accessible (peripheral) lesions No metastatic disease PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age: Over 18 Performance status: ECOG 0-2 Life expectancy: At least 12 weeks Platelet count at least 60,000/mm3 Absolute neutrophil count greater than 1,500/mm3 Prothrombin time of no greater than 16 seconds after administration of fresh frozen plasma Bilirubin no greater than 3.0 mg/dL Creatinine less than 1.5 mg/dL Child's class A or B cirrhosis eligible No uncontrolled infection Not pregnant or breast feeding No unstable or severe intercurrent medical condition PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy At least 4 weeks since prior radiation therapy No prior hepatic transplantation No more than 1 prior systemic regimen for hepatocellular carcinoma allowed No concurrent therapy with other investigational agents No prior gene therapy No prior intralesional therapy
Sites / Locations
- Albert Einstein Comprehensive Cancer Center
- University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Arm I
Patients receive adenovirus p53 construct by percutaneous injection to a maximum of two lesions on day 1. Treatment is repeated every 28 days for up to 6 courses. In the absence of dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) in the first cohort of 6 patients treated, subsequent cohorts of 6 patients each receive escalating doses of the drug on the same schedule. If DLT occurs in 2 of 6 patients at a given dose level, then dose escalation ceases and that dose is declared the maximum tolerated dose. Study treatment may continue in the absence of disease progression and unacceptable adverse events.