Treatment for advanced retinoblastoma using a chemoplaque
Official title: Retinoblastoma Phase II Expanded Access Clinical Trial
Run by Targeted Therapy Technologies, LLC · NCT06679634 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment using a special chemotherapy patch for young children with advanced retinoblastoma to see if it helps fight the cancer while keeping their vision safe.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | Any age to 8 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 30 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Targeted Therapy Technologies, LLC Industry-sponsored |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy |
| Locations | 2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | February 21, 2025 |
| Main results expected | November 2029 |
| Study ends | December 2029 |
| Registry record updated | May 22, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06679634 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children under 8 years old with advanced or recurrent intraocular retinoblastoma who have not responded to conventional treatments.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with retinoblastoma that is not amenable to treatment or those who are older than 8 years may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a chemoplaque containing chemotherapy for children with advanced or recurrent retinoblastoma. The chemoplaque will be surgically placed under the conjunctiva of the affected eye during an examination under anesthesia. Participants will be monitored through a series of eye exams and blood tests over an 84-day period to assess the treatment's effectiveness and any potential side effects. The study focuses on children under 8 years of age who have specific stages of retinoblastoma and vision potential in the affected eye.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could help preserve vision in children with advanced retinoblastoma and reduce the need for eye removal.
How similar studies have gone: While this approach is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in using localized chemotherapy for retinoblastoma treatment.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
* Age: Participants must be \< 8 years of age.
* Diagnosis and Treatment. Participants must have: Group D or earlier-stage intraocular retinoblastoma in which enucleation is a recommended therapy, OR Active residual or recurrent intraocular retinoblastoma in at least one eye following completion of first- line therapy (focal therapy for IIRC Group A eyes, or systemic or intra-arterial chemotherapy).
If both eyes require treatment, there will receive independent and individual treatment. Non-study eye will be treated by standard of care, with only focal therapy during the Study Period, if required.
* Must have demonstrated intraocular calcium in the tumor-containing eye by ophthalmic ultrasound or by neuroimaging as part of standard retinoblastoma diagnosis.
* Study eye must have vision potential, at least light perception vision in the tumor-bearing eye either with pupil response testing or demonstration of avoidance behavior to light presentation in the affected eye, and no clinical features suggestive of high risk of extraocular extension.
* Performance Level: Lansky ≥ 50 (\<16 years of age); Karnofsky performance scale of ≥50 (≥16 years of age).
* Organ Function Requirements:
1. Adequate Bone Marrow Function defined as:
* Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/mm3
* Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 (transfusion independent, defined as not receiving platelet transfusions for at least 7 Days prior to enrollment)
* Hemoglobin ≥ 8.0 g/dL at baseline (may receive RBC transfusions)
2. Adequate Renal Function defined as:
* Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥70ml/min/1.73 m2 or
* A serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows:
Age Maximum Serum Creatinine (mg/dL) Male Female
1 month to \< 6 months 0.4 0.4 6 months to \< 1 year 0.5 0.5
1. to \< 2 years 0.6 0.6
2. to \< 6 years 0.8 0.8
6 to \< 7 years 1 1
The threshold creatinine values in this Table were derived from the Schwartz formula for estimating GFR utilizing child length and stature data published by the CDC.
3. Adequate Liver Function defined as:
* Bilirubin (sum of conjugated + unconjugated) ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age.
* SGPT (ALT) ≤ 110 U/L. For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT is 45 U/L.
* Serum albumin ≥ 2 g/dL.
4. Pregnancy prevention. Females of reproductive potential must agree to the use of highly effective contraception during study participation and for an additional 40 days after the end of Episcleral Topotecan administration.
5. Informed consent. All participants and/or their parents or legally authorized representatives must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. Assent, where appropriate, will also be obtained.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Disease status. Participants known to have any of the following are excluded:
1. tumor involving the optic nerve rim
2. clinical or EUA evidence of extraocular extension
3. evidence of metastatic retinoblastoma
4. existing neuroimaging showing suspicion of, or definitive, optic nerve invasion, trilateral retinoblastoma or extra-ocular extension.
* Allergy. Participants with reported allergy to topotecan, camptothecin or derivatives thereof are excluded.
* Concomitant treatment. Participants who have received chemotherapy, other focal retinoblastoma therapy or any other investigational agent within 3 weeks of Episcleral Topotecan placement are not eligible.
* Uncontrolled intercurrent illness. Participants with known uncontrolled intercurrent illness that, in the investigator's opinion, would put the participant at undue risk or limit compliance with the study requirements, are not eligible.
* Febrile illness. Participants with clinically significant febrile illness (as determined by the investigator) within one week prior to initiation of protocol therapy are excluded.
* Pregnancy and lactation. Females of reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to initiation of protocol therapy. Due to the unknown but potential risk for adverse events (AEs) in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with the study agents, breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is treated on study.
* Compliance. Any condition of diagnosis that could in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or delegate interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the study instruction, might confound the interpretation of the study results, or put the participant at risk.
Where it's running
-
NewYork Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
New York, New York, United States Recruiting -
Children's Wisconsin
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Brian Marr, MD
- Email: bpm2133@cumc.columbia.edu
- Phone: 212-305-0011
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
-
High-dose Topotecan treatment for recurrent retinoblastoma with vitreous seeds
This study is testing whether high-dose Topotecan can help patients with recurrent retinoblastoma and vitreous seeds keep their eye while fighting the tumor.
-
Linking RB1 genetic changes to eye tumors and metastasis
We will use targeted long-read genetic sequencing on people with retinoblastoma to see if specific RB1 mutations match tumor features and the risk of spread.
-
New treatment for children with hard-to-treat retinoblastoma
This study is testing a new drug for children with hard-to-treat eye cancer to see if it works better and has fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy.
-
Understanding the incidence and outcomes of trilateral retinoblastoma
This study looks at how common trilateral retinoblastoma is and how well patients survive, comparing data from different countries to see if there are differences based on income levels.
-
Chemotherapy for high-risk retinoblastoma after eye removal
This study is testing if giving chemotherapy after removing the eye can help prevent high-risk retinoblastoma from coming back in children with Stage I disease.
-
Collecting and analyzing eye fluid from children with retinoblastoma
This study is trying to see if collecting eye fluid from children with retinoblastoma can help find important markers for better treatment and understanding of the disease.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.