Dietary, Herbal and Alternative Medicine in Glioblastoma Multiforme
Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors, Cerebral Edema
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors focused on measuring cerebral edema, adult glioblastoma, adult giant cell glioblastoma, adult gliosarcoma, adult anaplastic astrocytoma, adult anaplastic oligodendroglioma
Eligibility Criteria
INCLUSION CRITERIA: Patients after surgical removal of histologically confirmed World Health Organization high-grade gliomas, including astrocytomas grade III (anaplastic astrocytoma), astrocytoma grade IV (glioblastoma multiforme, GBM), anaplastic oligodendroglioma and oligoastrocytoma Karnofsky performance status of greater or equal 60 Patients who signed informed consent Patients can be receiving standard or investigational chemotherapy , hormonal therapy, immunotherapy or biologic agents as the primary treatment for their tumor Glucocorticoid therapy is allowed Bone marrow function (absolute neutrophil count [ANC] >=1500/mm^3 and platelet count >=75,000/mm^3); in the event of plate count dropping below 50,000/ mm^3 the Boswellia will be withdrawn until plate count reaches 75,000 mm^3 and above Liver function (bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase =< 2 x normal and serum glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase [SGOT] =< 3 x normal) Renal function (blood urea nitrogen [BUN] or creatinine =< 1.5 x normal) Patients suffering from mild to moderate asthma, liver and kidney disease; an assessment of the condition will be made to establish a baseline and monitor progress at 4 weekly intervals to start with for the first two months and thereafter at the usual study intervals of 4 and 6 months; if there is any significant deterioration in their condition the Boswellia will be withdrawn until these parameters are restored to their pre-treatment levels EXCLUSION CRITERIA: Any medical condition that could interfere with eating and oral administration of B. serrata Patients already taking herbal preparations that contain 5-LO inhibitors Any previous (within the past 3 years) or concurrent malignancies at other sites, with the exception of surgically cured carcinoma-in-situ of the cervix and non-melanoma skin cancer Pregnancy and breastfeeding Active infection Inability to be followed closely at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Sites / Locations
- Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Active Comparator
Arm I (intervention)
Arm II (control)
Patients receive oral Boswellia serrata extract 4 times a day and oral cyanocobalamin (vitamin B 12) once a day for 6 months in the absence of unacceptable toxicity.
Patients in the control arm receive oral cyanocobalamin (vitamin B 12) once a day for 6 months.