Active clinical trials for "HTLV-I Infections"

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of lenalidomide when given together with usual combination chemotherapy (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine sulfate [Oncovin], cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin hydrochloride [hydroxydaunorubicin hydrochloride], or "EPOCH") in treating adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Lenalidomide may help shrink or slow the growth of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as etoposide, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin, work in different ways to stop the growth of cancer cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as prednisone lower the body's immune response and are used with other drugs in the treatment of some types of cancer. Giving lenalidomide and the usual combination chemotherapy may work better in treating adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma compared to the usual combination chemotherapy alone.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the outcome (survival) of Adult T-cell leukemia / lymphoma (ATL) patients who receive or not specific treatment for their hemopathy (cohort 1) and the outcome (survival) of HTLV-1 chronically infected patients with / without extra-haematological disorders (cohort 2).

Objective: Human T-lymphotropic virus type-I-associated myelopathy / tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is a rare neurologic disorder that affects less than 5% of patients infected with the HTLV-I virus. The purpose of this protocol is to study the natural history of HAM/TSP by monitoring clinical progression of patients longitudinally. Additionally, we will attempt to define the virological and immunological changes of HAM/TSP. Study Population: Patients with HAM/TSP who fulfill World Health Organization diagnostic criteria are eligible to participate in this protocol. Asymptomatic seropositive individuals and individuals with indeterminate HTLV-1 serology are also eligible to participate. Design and Outcome Measures: A longitudinal assessment of clinical, virological and immunological progression in HAM/TSP will be accomplished through periodic testing and evaluation. Asymptomatic seropositive individuals, those with seroindeterminate HTLV-I serology and normal volunteers may serve as controls. Longitudinal standardized neurological examinations will be performed. Longitudinal samples of serum, plasma, and lymphocytes may be obtained from participants. Lumbar punctures may be performed on all participants. These samples will be used virological and immunological assays. A focus is on the relationships between the characteristics of viral infection, the immune response, and the genetic makeup.

Background: - Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis (HAM/TSP) is an infection of the spinal cord. The infection is caused by a virus that has been known to cause cancers like leukemia and lymphoma. It causes a weakening of the legs. Researchers want to see if raltegravir, a drug for treating human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), can be used to treat HAM/TSP. They will see if the drug can reduce the amount of virus in the blood of people with HAM/TSP. Objectives: - To see if raltegravir can reduce the viral load of people with HAM/TSP. Eligibility: - Individuals at least 18 years of age who have HAM/TSP. Design: Participants will be screened with a physical exam and medical history. Blood samples will be collected. Imaging studies will be performed. A lumbar puncture will also be taken. Participants will take the study drug twice a day for 6 months. They will note each dose in a study diary, as well as any side effects. At the 6-month visit, participants will stop taking the study drug. They will have a physical exam and blood samples, as well as other tests. Participants will have two further exams 9 months and 15 months after starting the study drug. They will have a physical exam and blood samples, as well as other tests.

The purpose of the study was to determine: (1) the toxicity and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of humanized anti-Tac (daclizumab), (Zenapax(Registered Trademark)) in patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL); (2) to define the dose of Zenapax(Registered Trademark) required to saturate interleukin 2 receptor alpha (IL-2R) alpha in patients with ATL; (3) determine the clinical response to humanized (Hu) anti-Tac (Zenapax(Registered Trademark) of patients with Tac-expressing adult T-cell leukemia; and (4) determine the serum dieaway curve (pharmacokinetics) of infused humanized (Hu)-anti-Tac in patients who have ATL. This study represented an extension of Metabolism Branch National Cancer Institute (NCI) protocols utilizing modifications of the original murine anti-Tac monoclonal antibody (mAb) developed by our group for the treatment of ATL. The scientific basis for these therapeutic studies is that the leukemic cells of patients with ATL express abnormally high levels of the Tac antigen (IL-2R alpha) on their surface whereas resting normal cells including normal T-cells of the patients do not. One presumed mode of action of Hu-anti-Tac in the treatment of ATL involves the interruption of the interaction of interleukin 2 (IL-2) with its growth factor receptor. To be effective in this goal we must maintain saturation of the IL-2 receptors (IL-2R) with humanized anti-Tac thereby preventing IL-2 mediated proliferation and yielding cytokine deprivation and apoptotic cell death of the leukemic cells. Eligible patients with ATL were treated with escalating doses of Zenapax(Registered Trademark) between groups in the Clinical Center of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). Groups of patients received sufficient Zenapax(Registered Trademark) to yield saturation of the IL-2 receptor for a period of 17 weeks. Clinical response was evaluated using routine immunological and clinical evaluation and by monitoring the saturation of the IL-2R and the absolute number of residual circulating malignant cells by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis using two fluorochrome-labeled non-crossreacting antibodies to the IL-2 receptor, anti-Tac and 7G7/B6, as well as antibodies to cluster of differentiation 3 (CD3), cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4), cluster of differentiation 7 (CD7), and cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8). Furthermore, responses were evaluated in patients with leukemia by Southern blot analysis of the arrangement of the T-cell receptor genes and human T-lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) integration. Finally, in select patients, to define the pharmacokinetics of the therapeutic antibody, had planned to monitor the serum levels of the infused Hu-anti-Tac (Zenapax(Registered Trademark)) as a function of time. This study is an essential element of our program involving IL-2R-directed therapeutic studies. If as anticipated the therapy with humanized anti-Tac yields some partial and complete remissions in patients with ATL, we will propose that it be used as a single agent for patients with smoldering and chronic ATL and in association with chemotherapeutic agents to provide a novel approach for the treatment of acute and lymphoma forms of ATL. We also plan a future clinical trial where tentative plans also had been made to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity in ATL patients of saturating doses of Zenapax(Registered Trademark) as compared to identical doses of Zenapax(Registered Trademark) given in association with (90)Y-armed 7G7/B6, a non-competing antibody to IL-2R alpha or in combination with chemotherapy.

HTLV stands for human T cell leukemia virus. HTLV-1 is a virus that attacks specific kinds of white blood cells called T cells. T cells are part of the natural defense system of the body. HTLV-1 has been associated with leukemia and lymphoma. In addition, approximately 1% of all patients infected with HTLV-1 develops a condition known as HTLV-1 associated myelopathy (HAM) / tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP). Currently there is no clearly defined, effective treatment for patients with HAM/TSP. Steroids have been used as therapy but have only been able to provide temporary relief of symptoms. Human interferon is a small protein released from different kinds of cells in the body. Interferon has been known to have antiviral and immunological effects and has been used to treat hepatitis and multiple sclerosis. Interferon Beta is released from cells called fibroblasts. These cells play a role in the production of connective tissue. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possible role of recombinant interferon beta (Avonex) in treatment of HAM/TSP. The study is broken into three phases, a pre-treatment phase, a treatment phase, and a post-treatment phase. The total duration of the study will be 44 weeks. Patients participating in this study will receive injections of Avonex 1 to 2 times a week. Throughout the study patients will regularly submit blood samples and undergo diagnostic tests such as MRI and measures of somatosensory evoked potentials.

This phase II trial studies how well nivolumab works in treating patients with human T-cell leukemia virus (HTLV)-associated T-cell leukemia/lymphoma. Nivolumab is an antibody, which is a type of blood protein that tags infected cells and other harmful agents. Nivolumab works against a protein called programmed cell death (PD)-1 and may help the body destroy cancer cells by helping the immune system to keep fighting cancer.

The main objective of the research will be to analyze, through surface electromyography, the impact of inspiratory muscle training before a supervised home training protocol in patients with human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-1). For this, a clinical, longitudinal, prospective, quantitative and single center trial will be carried out, aiming at home inspiratory muscle training lasting 5 weeks, 3 times a week, 30 minutes daily through the IMT Threshold, with 14 volunteers enrolled in the Laboratory of Studies in Functional Rehabilitation (LAERF) of the Federal University of Pará (UFPA). They will be classified as the manifestation of Tropical Spastic Paraparesis / Myelopathy (PET / MAH) for GP (PET / MAH probable) and GD (PET / MAH definitive) groups, obeying inclusion criteria. For characterization of expiratory flow rates and flows, as well as respiratory muscle strength, they will be submitted to spirometry and manovacuometry, pre, per, and post treatment, respectively. For the analysis of the electromyographic activity, the diaphragm, parasternal and sternocleidomastoid muscles will be counted in the follow-up during the analysis of inspiratory muscle strength, as well as once a week during the conduction of the inspiratory muscle training protocol. The collected data will be stored in a Microsoft Office Excel® 2010 worksheet and then submitted to statistical analysis using the Bioestat 5.0® program, adopting a standard error of 5%. The theoretical support of the research will have a bibliographical survey of scientific articles collected during the design of the project, and the accomplishment of the research. It is expected to map, through the surface electromyographic study, the impact of respiratory muscle training at a distance on the inspiratory muscle strength of patients with HTLV-I virus with probable or definitive PET / MAH.

This is a pilot study of intervention in a group of patients with tropical spastic paraparesis/ myelopathy to evaluate virologic and clinical response of raltegravir plus zidovudine in this group of patients.

This post-market study is intended to assess the performance of the HTLV Blot 2.4 in repository serum/plasma specimens with neurological disorders (n=100) or an HTLV known positive infection (n=50).