Pilot Study of Lucentis Combined With Proton Beam Irradiation in Treating Wet Age-related Macular Degeneration

Summary

Because a possible synergism of radiation and inhibitors of vascular endothelial growth factor has been shown in cancer patients and patients with wet macular degeneration, this pilot study is being conducted to determine whether treating wet macular degeneration with a combination of Lucentis and proton beam irradiation is safe. Lucentis is an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor which was recently FDA approved for treatment of wet macular degeneration. It appears to be the most effective therapy thus far for wet macular degeneration among all drugs FDA approved for this condition. If no major safety issues are associated with this combination therapy, a larger study will be conducted to determine whether this combination therapy is more effective than Lucentis monotherapy.

Timeline

Start

2007-05

Primary completion

2010-06

Completion

2010-06

Publications

• Results Park SS, Daftari I, Phillips T, Morse LS. Three-year follow-up of a pilot study of ranibizumab combined with proton beam irradiation as treatment for exudative age-related macular degeneration. Retina. 2012 May;32(5):956-66. doi: 10.1097/IAE.0b013e31822a8d6a.

Drugs

Indications