MedTrace Logo

Gene Therapy for the Treatment of Brain Tumors

NCT00001328 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 15

Last updated 2017-07-02

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Malignant brain tumors are responsible for a significant amount of deaths in children and adults. Even with advances in surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, many patients diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor survive only months to weeks.

In an attempt to improve the prognosis for these patients, researchers have developed a new approach to brain tumor therapy. This approach makes use of DNA technology to transfer genes sensitive to therapy into the cells of the tumor.

Infections with the herpes simplex virus can cause cold sores in the area of the mouth. A drug called ganciclovir (Cytovene) can kill the virus. Ganciclovir is effective because the herpes virus contains a gene (Herpes-Thymidine Kinase TK gene) that is sensitive to the drug. Researchers have been able to separate this gene from the virus.

Using DNA technology, researchers hope to transfer and implant the TK gene into tumor cells making them sensitive to ganciclovir. In theory, giving patients ganciclovir will kill all tumor cells that have the TK gene incorporated into them.

Conditions

  • Brain Neoplasm
  • Neoplasm Metastasis

Interventions

DRUG

Cytovene (Ganciclovir Sodium)

DEVICE

G1TKSVNa.53 Producer Cell Line

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

    lead NIH

Study Design

Purpose
TREATMENT

Eligibility

Min Age
19 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
1992-08-21
Primary Completion
2010-04-30
Completion
2010-04-30

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

More Related Trials

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00001328 on ClinicalTrials.gov