Using Lerapolturev to treat recurrent glioblastoma after surgery

Randomized Phase 2 Clinical Trial of Repeated Intratumoral and Cervical Perilymphatic Lerapolturev Injections Versus Lomustine in Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM)

This study is testing a new treatment called lerapolturev for people with recurrent glioblastoma after surgery to see if it is safe and works better than the standard chemotherapy drug lomustine.

Quick facts

• Phase: Phase 2
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 92 (estimated)
• Ages: 18 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Duke University (Academic / other)
• Drugs / interventions: bevacizumab, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, cyclophosphamide
• Locations: 1 site (Durham, North Carolina)
• Trial ID: NCT06177964 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of lerapolturev in patients with recurrent supratentorial glioblastoma following surgical resection. The study is divided into two stages: the first stage focuses on assessing the safety of lerapolturev administered via Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) in the residual tumor tissue, while the second stage is a randomized trial comparing lerapolturev to the standard chemotherapy drug lomustine. Patients will receive two doses of lerapolturev, followed by subcutaneous injections around the lymph nodes. The trial will involve approximately 92 patients in total.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are adults aged 18 and older with histopathologically confirmed recurrent supratentorial glioblastoma and a Karnofsky Performance Score of 70% or higher.

Not a fit: Patients with non-recurrent glioblastoma or those who do not meet the eligibility criteria, such as having a low Karnofsky Performance Score or significant comorbidities, may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could provide a new therapeutic option for patients with recurrent glioblastoma, potentially improving survival rates.

How similar studies have performed: While the use of lerapolturev is a novel approach, similar studies targeting glioblastoma with innovative therapies have shown promising results.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age ≥ 18 years old at the time of entry into the study.
2. Histopathologically confirmed recurrent supratentorial glioblastoma (WHO grade 4) (high grade glioma with molecular features of glioblastoma will be eligible).
3. Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) ≥ 70%
4. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl prior to biopsy
5. Platelet count ≥ 100,000/µl unsupported is necessary for eligibility on the study; however, because of risks of intracranial hemorrhage with catheter placement, platelet count ≥ 125,000/µl is required for the patient to undergo biopsy and catheter insertion, which can be attained with the help of platelet transfusion.
6. Neutrophil count ≥ 1000 prior to biopsy
7. Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x normal range prior to biopsy
8. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN prior to biopsy (Exception: Participant has known or suspected Gilbert's Syndrome for which additional lab testing of direct and/or indirect bilirubin supports this diagnosis. In these instances, a total bilirubin of ≤ 3.0 x ULN is acceptable.)
9. AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN
10. Prothrombin and Partial Thromboplastin Times ≤ 1.2 x normal prior to biopsy. Patients with prior history of thrombosis/embolism are allowed to be on anticoagulation, understanding that anticoagulation will be held in the perioperative period per the neurosurgical team's recommendations. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is preferred. If a patient is on warfarin, the international normalized ratio (INR) is to be obtained and value should be below 2.0 prior to biopsy.
11. At the time of biopsy, prior to administration of the 1st infusion of lerapolturev via CED, the presence of recurrent tumor must be confirmed by histopathological analysis.
12. Able to undergo brain MRI with and without contrast
13. Prior CDC-recommended vaccination series against PV and has received a boost immunization with trivalent Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated (IPOL®) (Sanofi-Pasteur SA) at least 1 week, but less than 6 weeks, prior to administration of lerapolturev. Note: Patients who are unsure of their prior vaccination status must provide evidence of anti-PV immunity prior to enrollment, as applicable.
14. Patient or partner(s) meets one of the following criteria:

    1. Non-childbearing potential (i.e., not sexually active, physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is post-menopausal or surgically sterile, or any male who has had a vasectomy). Surgically sterile females are defined as those with a documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation. Postmenopausal for purposes of this study is defined as 1 year without menses.; or
    2. Childbearing potential and agrees to use one of the following methods of birth control: approved hormonal contraceptives (e.g. birth control pills, patches, implants, or infusions), an intrauterine device, or a barrier method of contraception (e.g., a condom or diaphragm) used with spermicide.
15. A signed informed consent form approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) will be required for patient enrollment into the study. Patients must be able to read and understand the informed consent document and must sign the informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Females who are pregnant or breast-feeding
2. Patients with an impending, life-threatening cerebral herniation syndrome, based on the assessment of the study neurosurgeons or their designate
3. Patients with severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follow:

   1. Patients with an active infection requiring intravenous treatment or having an unexplained febrile illness (Tmax \> 99.5°F/37.5°C)
   2. Patients with known immunosuppressive disease or known human immunodeficiency virus infection
   3. Patients with unstable or severe intercurrent medical conditions such as severe heart disease (New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4)
   4. Patients with known lung (forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) \< 50%) disease or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus
4. Known albumin allergy
5. History of agammaglobulinemia
6. Patients may not have received chemotherapy or bevacizumab ≤ 4 weeks \[except for nitrosourea (6 weeks), or metronomic dosed chemotherapy such as daily etoposide or cyclophosphamide (1 week)\] prior to starting the study drug unless patients have recovered from side effects of such therapy
7. Patients may not have received immunotherapy ≤ 4 weeks prior to starting the study drug unless patients have recovered from side effects of such therapy
8. Patients may not have received treatment with tumor treating fields (e.g., Optune®) ≤ 1 week prior to starting the study drug
9. Patients may not be less than 12 weeks from radiation therapy, unless progressive disease outside of the radiation field or 2 progressive scans at least 4 weeks apart or histopathologic confirmation
10. Patients who have not completed all standard of care treatments, including surgical procedure and radiation therapy (Please note: For patients under 65 years old, standard radiation therapy is typically at least 59 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. For patients 65 years or older, standard RT is often reduced to a minimum 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks.)

    1. If the MGMT promoter in their tumor is known to be unmethylated, patients are not mandated to have received chemotherapy prior to participating in this trial
    2. If the MGMT promoter in their tumor is known to be methylated or the MGMT promoter methylation status is unknown at time of screening, patients must have received at least one chemotherapy regimen prior to participating in this trial
11. Patients with neoplastic lesions in the brainstem, cerebellum, or spinal cord; radiological evidence of active (growing) disease (active multifocal disease); extensive subependymal disease (tumor touching subependymal space is allowed); tumor crossing the midline or leptomeningeal disease
12. Patients on greater than 4 mg per day of dexamethasone within the 2 weeks prior to the 1st lerapolturev infusion via CED
13. Patients with worsening steroid myopathy (history of gradual progression of bilateral proximal muscle weakness, and atrophy of proximal muscle groups)
14. Patients with prior, unrelated malignancy requiring current active treatment with the exception of cervical carcinoma in situ and adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin
15. Patients with active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunomodulatory treatment within the past 3 months
16. Patients with known history of hypersensitivity to lomustine, dacarbazine, or any components of lomustine

Where this trial is running

Durham, North Carolina

• Duke University Medical Center — Durham, North Carolina, United States (Recruiting)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Madison Shoaf, MD — Duke University
• Study coordinator: Madison Shoaf, MD

Conditions Recurrent Supratentorial Glioblastoma; Lerapolturev; PVSRIPO; Lomustine; Shoaf; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Pro00113584