26 Jun Recombinant Polio Vaccine Improved Survival Rate Among Some With Aggressive Recurrent Brain Tumor
MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Dr. Desjardins
Annick Desjardins, M.D., F.R.C.P.C.
Associate Professor of Neurology
Associate Professor of Neurosurgery
Director of Clinical Research
The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke
Duke University School of Medicine
Durham, NC 27710
MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?
Response: The poliovirus receptor (CD155) is an onco-fetal cell adhesion molecule with widespread expression in all solid tumors and particularly in primary CNS tumors (adult and pediatric).
Recombinant nonpathogenic polio–rhinovirus chimera (PVSRIPO) was generated by replacing a critical piece of the genetic information from the Sabin type 1 polio vaccine, making PVSRIPO incapable of harming or killing normal brain cells, but toxic/lethal in cancer cells. In preclinical models, it has been demonstrated that the infection of tumor cells, leads to the release of danger signals, which triggers a recruitment of dendritic/CD4/CD8 T cells and a destruction of tumor cells by anti-tumor T cells.
The manuscript reports the results of the phase 1 trial of PVSRSIPO in recurrent WHO grade IV malignant glioma patients. Adult patients with recurrence of a single glioblastoma lesion, 1-5.5cm in dimension, in a non-eloquent area of the brain, were enrolled on study. PVSRIPO is injected slowly over 6.5 hours directly into the tumor via a small catheter inserted via a small bur hole. Once intratumoral injection is completed, the catheter is removed and patients are observed for localized tumor inflammation, followed by tumor contraction. A total of 61 patients were treated on study, 9 patients in a dose escalation phase and 52 in a dose expansion phase. Side effects observed were in relation to the localized inflammation of the tumor and depending on the cerebral functions in close proximity to the tumor: headaches, visual field changes, hemiparesis, etc.
One patient experienced a brain hemorrhage at the time of catheter removal, which triggered right sided weakness and aphasia. The patient remained alive 57.5 months after PVSRIPO infusion at data cutoff of March 20th, 2018. Two on-study death were observed, a patient died from cerebral edema and seizures, which was later found to be due to tumor progression, and one patient died from the complications of an intracranial hemorrhage while receiving anticoagulation and bevacizumab.
The median overall survival among all 61 patients who received PVSRIPO was 12.5 months (95% CI, 9.9 to 15.2), comparatively to 11.3 months (95% CI, 9.8 to 12.5) in a historical control group of patients treated at Duke and who would have met eligibility on trial, would have the trial been available to them.
At 24 months, the survival plateaued in patients treated with PVSRIPO with an overall survival rate of 21% (95% CI, 11 to 33) at 24 months and 36 months in PVSRIPO treated patients, while overall survival in the historical control group continued to decline, with an overall survival rates of 14% (95% CI, 8 to 21) at 24 months and 4% (95% CI, 1 to 9) at 36 months in the historical control group.
MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?
Response: A total of 61 patients were treated on the phase 1 trial. No evidence of viral neuropathogenicity or virus shedding was observed. At data cut-off of March 20, 2018, the survival rate at 24 months and 36 months was 21% (95% CI, 11 to 33), with patients remaining alive more than 70 months, more than 69 months, and more than 57 months after the PVSRIPO infusion. A phase 2 trial is ongoing, and a trial was initiated in pediatric brain tumor patients and soon, trials will open for breast and melanoma patients.
MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?
Response: The side effect profile triggered by immunotherapies require us to take our time, find the right dose and learn how to help patients in managing/tolerating the side effects from the treatment, as once the immune response has attacked the tumor, a number of patients can become long term survivors.
MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?
Response: Patents for PVSRIPO have been licensed from Duke University to the start-up company, Istari Oncology. Seven of the authors now own equity in Istari Oncology. Before these commercial arrangements were in place, the study had been approved by the institutional review board at Duke University. Because of conflict of interest and intellectual property considerations, an external data and safety monitoring board oversaw the conduct of the study.
Citation: Recurrent Glioblastoma Treated with Recombinant Poliovirus
Annick Desjardins, M.D., Matthias Gromeier, M.D., James E. Herndon, II, Ph.D., Nike Beaubier, M.D., Dani P. Bolognesi, Ph.D., Allan H. Friedman, M.D., Henry S. Friedman, M.D., Frances McSherry, M.A., Andrea M. Muscat, B.Sc., Smita Nair, Ph.D., Katherine B. Peters, M.D., Ph.D., Dina Randazzo, D.O., John H. Sampson, M.D., Ph.D., Gordana Vlahovic, M.D., William T. Harrison,Bigner, M.D., Ph.D.
NEJM June 26, 2018
DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1716435
[wysija_form id=”3″]
The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.
Last Updated on June 26, 2018 by Marie Benz MD FAAD