Active clinical trials for "Glioblastoma"

Malignant gliomas, which include Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), are the most common and most aggressive types of brain cancer, accounting for approximately 60% of primary brain tumors. These tumors are characterized by diverse molecular abnormalities (within the same tumor), which, along with the difficulties of many standard chemotherapies crossing the blood barrier, contribute to the very poor response to therapy and poor survival. We recently showed that Dichloroacetate (DCA, an inhibitor of the mitochondrial pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase) was able to depolarize cancer (but not normal) mitochondria and induce apoptosis in cancer but not normal tissues. We believe that altering the metabolism of cancers like glioblastoma (DCA switches metabolism from the cytoplasmic glycolysis to the mitochondrial glucose oxidation) we inhibit the resistance to apoptosis that characterizes cancer. Because metabolism (i.e. glycolysis) is the end result of many and diverse molecular pathways, the effects of DCA might be positive in cancers with diverse molecular backgrounds. DCA is also a very small molecule that readily crosses the blood brain barrier. Therefore we hypothesize that DCA will be an effective and relative non-toxic potential therapy for malignant gliomas. We are conducting a phase II trial with 2 parallel arms: a) patients with newly diagnosed malignant gliomas and b) patients with recurrent gliomas or gliomas that have failed standard therapy (which includes surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy). All patients need to have a histological diagnosis. DCA will be given orally and patients will be followed for a minimum of 6 months. The tumor size will be followed by standard MRI or CT criteria and glucose uptake (a direct effect of DCA on the tumor) will be measured by FDG-PET imaging. Several clinical parameters and quality of life will be followed. Potential toxicity (particularly peripheral neuropathy) will be closely followed and dose-de-escalation protocols are in place in case of toxicity. In addition, escape protocols for the application of standard therapy (when appropriate) are in place in patients with no evidence of response to DCA. In vitro studies will be performed in the tissues obtained at the time of surgery (where appropriate) and correlated prospectively with clinical data. There is limited ability to accept patients outside of Alberta; this is in part because the visit and testing schedule is intense, requiring residence in Edmonton for at least 6 months.

We are asked patients to take part in this study because they had recurrent (returned) (1st or 2nd) anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) or glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The purposes of this study are: To see if Sutent has any change on the patient and their cancer. To see if Sutent will slow or stop the growth of their tumor. To measure the safety of Sutent. Sutent is Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved to treat patients with a gastrointestinal stromal tumor after the disease worsened while taking another medicine called imatinib mesylate or when imatinib mesylate cannot be taken. Sutent is also FDA approved to treat patients with advanced renal cell carcinoma. At this time, it is not known whether Sutent will improve symptoms, or help patients with this disease live longer.

Primary objective To determine maximum tolerated dose & dose limiting toxicity of imatinib mesylate & RAD001 when combined w fixed doses of hydroxyurea among pts w recurrent GBM who are on & not on enzyme-inducing anti-convulsants including pts not on anti-epileptic drugs Secondary objective To assess safety & tolerability of imatinib mesylate in combo w RAD001 & hydroxyurea in this population To characterize single-dose & repeated-dose pharmacokinetic profiles of imatinib mesylate & RAD001 combo therapy in this pt population. To assess antiangiogenic effects, pre- and post-treatment, of imatinib mesylate, RAD001 & hydroxyurea combo therapy, using DCE-MRI to evaluate changes in extent of vascular permeability, perfusion & relative tumor blood volume; to explore assessment of tumor cellularity & tumor cell death by changes in DWI-MRI as quantitated by apparent diffusion coefficient maps.

Primary Objective To estimate 6-month progression free survival probability of patients with recurrent glioblastoma multiforme treated with bortezomib plus Avastin. This efficacy assessment will be made separately among patients on enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs and non enzyme-inducing anti-epileptic drugs. Secondary Objectives To evaluate safety & tolerability of bortezomib plus Avastin among patients with recurrent malignant glioma. To evaluate radiographic response, progression free survival & overall survival of patients with recurrent malignant glioma treated with bortezomib plus Avastin

This research is being determine whether vaccinations with your own immune cells called " dendritic cells " can activate your immune system to fight your brain tumor.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of temozolomide on a protracted schedule, after standard 5-day temozolomide regimen in patients with recurrent or progressive high grade glioma.

This randomized phase II trial studies temozolomide, radiation therapy, and cediranib maleate to see how well they work compared with temozolomide, radiation therapy, and a placebo in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma (a type of brain tumor). Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Cediranib maleate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and by blocking blood flow to the tumor. It is not yet known whether temozolomide and radiation therapy are more effective when given with or without cediranib maleate in treating glioblastoma.

RATIONALE: Vaccines made from a peptide may help the body build an effective immune response to kill tumor cells. Colony-stimulating factors, such as GM-CSF, increase the number of white blood cells and platelets found in bone marrow or peripheral blood. Giving vaccine therapy after surgery may kill any tumor cells that remain after surgery. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well vaccine therapy works in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

RATIONALE: Vaccines may help the body build an effective immune response to kill cancer cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill cancer cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. Giving vaccine therapy together with radiation therapy and chemotherapy may kill more cancer cells. PURPOSE: This randomized phase I/II trial is studying how well vaccine therapy works in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme recovering from lymphopenia caused by temozolomide.

Primary objective: To estimate 6-month progression free survival probability of pts w recurrent malignant gliomas treated w erlotinib + bevacizumab. Secondary Objectives: To evaluate safety & tolerability of erlotinib + bevacizumab among pts w recurrent malignant gliomas To evaluate radiographic response of pts w recurrent malignant gliomas treated w erlotinib + bevacizumab To evaluate pharmacokinetics of erlotinib when administered to pts w recurrent malignant gliomas; & to examine relationship of clinical response to Epidermal Growth Factor (EGFR) expression, amplification, & v-III mutation, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) expression, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) & phosphorylated protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) in archival tumor samples