Virotherapy and Natural History Study of KHSV-Associated Multricentric Castleman s Disease With Correlates of Disease Activity

Summary

This study will gain information about a rare disorder called KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). KSHV, a virus, causes several kinds of cancer, including some forms of MCD. KSHV stands for the Kaposi's sarcoma herpes virus, also called human herpes virus-8, or HHV-8. Researchers want to understand the biology of KSHV-MCD to identify how this disease causes illness and to find ways to treat it. There is no standard therapy effective for all cases of KSHV-MCD. The disease is often fatal, and about half the people who have it die within 2 years of diagnosis.

Participants ages 18 and older may be eligible for this study. Participation entails more drawing of blood and having repeated tumor biopsies than if patients received treatment in a non-research setting. Researchers would like to learn more about the relationship of KSHV and Castleman's disease symptoms, and they want to obtain at least three biopsies in this study.

There are some side effects of experimental therapy that participants may take for KSHV-MCD. Zidovudine, or Retrovir(R), is used at a high dose. It is given orally or through a vein, four times daily, for 7 days or longer. Zidovudine can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased bone marrow function, and decreased blood counts. Combined with valganciclovir, or Valcyte(TM), it is likely to be more toxic to bone marrow. Valganciclovir can cause problems with bone marrow function, leading to low blood counts, sterility, and defects in a fetus. Combined with zidovudine, valganciclovir may cause more toxicity to the bone marrow. It is given twice daily for 7 days or longer. Bortezomib, or Velcade(TM), is given for a few seconds by a rapid push through a needle into the vein. It is given twice weekly for four doses and then stopped for 1 week. Bortezomib can sometimes cause low blood pressure; it also can cause gastrointestinal problems and a low blood platelet count. Rituximab and liposomal doxorubicin are drugs given by a catheter into a vein. Interferon-alpha is given by injection into the skin. Those drugs are not experimental, but their use in Castleman's disease is experimental.

Some participants may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy followed by interferon-alpha. Interferon-alpha is infected into the skin by a needle. The natural form of interferon is produced by the body and helps to control viral infections. KSHV decreases the effect of the body's interferon, and the researchers want to see if giving higher doses of interferon will help to control KSHV infection.

A positron emission tomography (PET) scan, for research purposes only, may be done up to three times a year. A radioactive sugar molecule called fluorodeoxyglucose, or FDG, is used. It is believed that activated lymphocytes that may be found in participants' disease might use more FDG because these cells burn more glucose fuel.

This study may or may not have a direct benefit for participants. However, detailed assessments made throughout the study may provide information to help the doctors treat KSHV-MCD better.

Conditions

• Lymphoproliferative Disorder
• HHV-8
• Malignancy
• HIV

Interventions

DRUG

Etoposide

Etoposide 50 mg/m2 /day continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle. A maximum of 6 cycles of R-EPOCH-R will be administered except in exceptional circumstances.

DRUG

Interferon-alpha

Ages 18 and over: Initial dose of 7.5 million units subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days; subsequent dosesincrease dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 45 million units subcutaneous three times weekly; Ages 12-17: Initial dose of 5 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days Subsequent doses: Increase dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 30 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly

DRUG

Rituximab

Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV day 1, shall be administered prior to Doxil injection. When combined with EPOCH chemotherapy, Rituximab will be given on days 1 and 5.

DRUG

Zidovudine

Cycle 1: Zidovudine 600 mg PO QID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting;600 mg PO q6hours x 7-21 (Intravenous zidovudine 300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted) days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 600 mg PO QID x 7 days in outpatient setting; 600 mg PO q 6 hours x 7 days (300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted)

DRUG

Liposomal Doxorubicin

21 day cycle; 20 mg/m2 Liposomal Doxorubicin given on day 1 and shall be administered after completion of Rituximab infusion from 2 to 6 cycles.

DRUG

Bortezomib

1.3 mg/m2 IV days 1, 4, 8, and 11. Cycle length is 21 days.

DRUG

Valganciclovir

Cycle 1: Valganciclovir 900 mg PO BID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7-21 days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 900 mg PO BID x 7 days for outpatients; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7 days (Intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg may be substituted) for inpatients

DRUG

Doxorubicin

10 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.

DRUG

Vincristine

0.4 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.

DRUG

Cyclophosphamide

Cyclophosphamide: if CD4 \< 100 cells/mm3, 187 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) if CD4 greater than or equal to 100 cells/mm3, 375 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) of 21 day cycle.

DRUG

Filgrastim (G-CSF)

Filgrastim 300 micrograms subcutaneous daily beginning day 6 until absolute neutrophil count recovery 5000 cells/mm3 (Pegfilgrastim may be substituted with PI approval, at the recommended dose of one 6mg syringe)

DRUG

Prednisone

Prednisone 60 mg/m2/day PO x 5 days (days 1-5)of 21 day cycle.

DRUG

Sirolimus

Maximum daily dose of 40 mg given as a single agent on 21 day cycle.

OTHER

Observation Only

Observation of symptoms

Sponsors & Collaborators

• National Cancer Institute (NCI)

  lead NIH

Principal Investigators

• Robert Yarchoan, M.D. · National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Study Design

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2004-10-28

Primary Completion

2026-10-01

Completion

2026-10-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations