Valproic Acid With Temozolomide and Radiation Therapy to Treat Brain Tumors

Summary

Background: * Radiation therapy with temozolomide (an anti-cancer drug) is standard therapy for treating brain tumors called glioblastomas. * The drug valproic acid, currently approved for treating seizures, has been shown in laboratory tests to increase the radiosensitivity of glioma cells. Objectives: -To determine the effectiveness of adding valproic acid to standard treatment with radiation therapy and temozolomide for treating glioblastoma. Eligibility: -Patients 18 years of age and older with glioblastoma multiforme who have not been previously treated with chemotherapy of radiation. Design: * This Phase II trial will enroll 41 patients. * Patients will receive radiation therapy to the brain once a day, Monday through Friday, for 6 1/2 weeks. * Patients will take temozolomide once a day by mouth, Monday through Friday, during the period of radiation treatment. Starting 4 weeks after radiation therapy, patients will take temozolomide once a day for 5 days every 28 days for a total of six cycles. * Patients will receive valproic acid by mouth twice a day beginning 1 week prior to the first day of radiation therapy and continuing until the completion of chemotherapy and radiation therapy. * Patients will have follow-up visits 1 month after completing therapy, then every 3 months for 2 years, and then every 6 months for 3 years. Follow-up includes a physical examination, blood tests and magnetic resonance imaging of the brain.

Timeline

Start

2006-03

Primary completion

2013-06

Completion

2014-11

Publications

• Background Davis FG, McCarthy BJ, Freels S, Kupelian V, Bondy ML. The conditional probability of survival of patients with primary malignant brain tumors: surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) data. Cancer. 1999 Jan 15;85(2):485-91.
• Background Loeffler JS, Alexander E 3rd, Shea WM, Wen PY, Fine HA, Kooy HM, Black PM. Radiosurgery as part of the initial management of patients with malignant gliomas. J Clin Oncol. 1992 Sep;10(9):1379-85. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1992.10.9.1379.

Drugs

Indications