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Virus Therapy

Virus-Based Drug Therapy for Brain Tumor (rQNestin Trial)

Phase 1
Recruiting
Led By E. Antonio Chiocca, MD, PhD
Research Sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Frozen biopsy consistent with glioma by neuropathologist at the time of the first surgery in this longitudinal trial
Participants must have prior diagnosis of IDH wild-type glial tumor including GBM, grade 3 anaplastic astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma or grade 2 astrocytoma with genetic features consistent with GBM, as confirmed by a neuropathologist or by a previous local pathology report
Must not have
Known chronic infections with HIV, hepatitis B or C
Participants with active viral, bacterial or fungal infection requiring concurrent antiviral or antibiotics
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up evaluated every 2 months for 1 year
Awards & highlights
All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Approved for 20 Other Conditions
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is testing the safety of a new virus-based drug for brain tumors. If it is safe, they will also test what dose is most effective.

Who is the study for?
Adults over 18 with recurrent brain tumors who've had prior radiation and chemotherapy, have a Karnofsky Performance Score ≥70, and can tolerate multiple biopsies. They must not be pregnant or breastfeeding, agree to use contraception, and have no severe infections or immune disorders. Tumors must meet specific size/location criteria.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing rQNestin34.5v.2, an investigational oncolytic virus for safety and proper dosage against recurrent malignant glioma. It includes cyclophosphamide treatment and stereotactic biopsy in a Phase I clinical setting.
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects may include typical reactions to viruses such as fever, fatigue, headache; possible local effects at the injection site; immune responses like inflammation; plus any side effects from cyclophosphamide like nausea or low blood cell counts.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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My first surgery biopsy confirmed I have glioma.
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I have been diagnosed with a specific type of brain tumor that is not IDH mutant.
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I have received temozolomide with radiation as standard treatment before.
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My blood, kidney, and liver tests are normal.
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I am able to care for myself but may not be able to do active work.
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I still have some tumor left or this is my first or second time cancer has come back.
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I am 18 years old or older.
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My MRI shows my cancer meets specific size and location criteria.

Exclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for the trial if you check “No” for criteria below:
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I have a chronic infection with HIV, hepatitis B, or C.
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I am currently being treated for an active infection.
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I am currently being treated for an active HSV-1 infection.
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I have a condition that weakens my immune system.
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My tumor size or location does not exclude me from the trial.
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I have an active tuberculosis infection.
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I haven't had severe bleeding in the last 6 months.
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I do not have any uncontrolled illnesses.
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I have a bleeding disorder or had significant bleeding in the last year.
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I have been treated with drugs targeting VEGF or VEGFR.
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I need continuous blood thinners that can't be stopped for surgery or biopsy.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~evaluated every 2 months for 1 year
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and evaluated every 2 months for 1 year for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Maximum Tolerated Dose
Secondary study objectives
HSV1 Antibody Response
HSV1 Viremia
MRI Changes in Flow
+3 more

Awards & Highlights

All Individual Drugs Already Approved
Therapies where all constituent drugs have already been approved are likely to have better-understood side effect profiles.
Approved for 20 Other Conditions
This treatment demonstrated efficacy for 20 other conditions.
No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

3Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Arm C- Multiple Dose rQNestinExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Arm C includes up to 6 intratumoral repeated doses of rQNestin34.5v.2, first in a cohort receiving 10\^8 pfus per time point, followed by a cohort receiving 10\^9 or 10\^7 pfus per time point. * Arm C adds 2 cohorts of 12 subjects in an open-label clinical trial of rQNestin34.5v.2 administered at two dose levels * The injections are planned for days 0, 15, 30, 60, 90, and 120 * Subjects with presumed radiologic evidence of recurrent malignant glioma will undergo stereotactic biopsy under monitored general or local anesthesia. Evidence of recurrent high grade or malignant must be found on frozen section for the person to receive administration of the agent.
Group II: Arm B- rQNestin+CPAExperimental Treatment3 Interventions
Arm B is rQNestin34.5v.2 treatment with Cyclophosphamide (CPA) pre-treatment This study follows a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. Participants will not enroll to Arm B until the MTD or HTD has been met for Arm A. * Cyclophosphamide one intravenous injection 2 days prior to procedure. * Subjects with presumed radiologic evidence of recurrent malignant glioma will undergo stereotactic biopsy under monitored general or local anesthesia. Evidence of recurrent high grade or malignant must be found on frozen section for the person to receive administration of the agent. * rQNestin34.5v.2 Indicated dose as per cohort, Intratumor administration during surgery, single dose
Group III: Arm A- rQNestinExperimental Treatment2 Interventions
Arm A is rQNestin34.5v.2 treatment This study follows a standard 3+3 dose escalation design. Participants will not enroll to Arm B until the MTD or HTD has been met for Arm A. * Subjects with presumed radiologic evidence of recurrent malignant glioma will undergo stereotactic biopsy under monitored general or local anesthesia. Evidence of recurrent high grade or malignant must be found on frozen section for the person to receive administration of the agent. * rQNestin34.5v.2 Indicated dose as per cohort, Intratumor administration during surgery, single dose
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Cyclophosphamide
FDA approved

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteLead Sponsor
1,108 Previous Clinical Trials
357,149 Total Patients Enrolled
National Institutes of Health (NIH)NIH
2,817 Previous Clinical Trials
8,161,697 Total Patients Enrolled
Candel Therapeutics, Inc.Industry Sponsor
11 Previous Clinical Trials
1,211 Total Patients Enrolled

Media Library

rQNestin34.5v.2 (Virus Therapy) Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT03152318 — Phase 1
Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma Research Study Groups: Arm C- Multiple Dose rQNestin, Arm A- rQNestin, Arm B- rQNestin+CPA
Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma Clinical Trial 2023: rQNestin34.5v.2 Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT03152318 — Phase 1
rQNestin34.5v.2 (Virus Therapy) 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT03152318 — Phase 1
~4 spots leftby Jun 2025