RCHOP Chemoimmunotherapy Preceded BY BBB Permeabilization by t-NGR Necrosis Factor

Summary

Patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) are treated with high-dose-methotrexate-based chemotherapy, which requires hospitalization and extensive expertise to manage related toxicity. Treatment with R-CHOP, the most commonly used combination against aggressive lymphomas, could overcome these difficulties, but CNS bioavailability of related drugs is poor due to their limited capability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) induces selective BBB permeabilization and enhances CNS access of anticancer drugs in animal models. The addition of NGR peptide improves biological properties of TNF, resulting in increased drug availability and antitumor synergistic effect, without increased toxicity. Thus, the addition of NGR-hTNF to R-CHOP may result in improved CNS drug availability and activity in patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL; this hypothesis is being tested in this ongoing phase II trial called "INGRID". This trial will consider HIV-negative patients (age 18-80 ys; ECOG PS ≤3) with relapsed/refractory PCNSL previously treated with high-dose-methotrexate-based chemotherapy± radiotherapy, and with measurable disease.

Timeline

Start

2016-01-27

Primary completion

2019-01-27

Completion

2020-01-27

Publications

• Background Ferreri AJ, Abrey LE, Blay JY, Borisch B, Hochman J, Neuwelt EA, Yahalom J, Zucca E, Cavalli F, Armitage J, Batchelor T. Summary statement on primary central nervous system lymphomas from the Eighth International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Lugano, Switzerland, June 12 to 15, 2002. J Clin Oncol. 2003 Jun 15;21(12):2407-14. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2003.01.135.
• Background Connell JJ, Chatain G, Cornelissen B, Vallis KA, Hamilton A, Seymour L, Anthony DC, Sibson NR. Selective permeabilization of the blood-brain barrier at sites of metastasis. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2013 Nov 6;105(21):1634-43. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djt276. Epub 2013 Oct 9.
• Background Curnis F, Sacchi A, Corti A. Improving chemotherapeutic drug penetration in tumors by vascular targeting and barrier alteration. J Clin Invest. 2002 Aug;110(4):475-82. doi: 10.1172/JCI15223.
• Background Corti A, Curnis F, Rossoni G, Marcucci F, Gregorc V. Peptide-mediated targeting of cytokines to tumor vasculature: the NGR-hTNF example. BioDrugs. 2013 Dec;27(6):591-603. doi: 10.1007/s40259-013-0048-z.
• Background Gregorc V, Santoro A, Bennicelli E, Punt CJ, Citterio G, Timmer-Bonte JN, Caligaris Cappio F, Lambiase A, Bordignon C, van Herpen CM. Phase Ib study of NGR-hTNF, a selective vascular targeting agent, administered at low doses in combination with doxorubicin to patients with advanced solid tumours. Br J Cancer. 2009 Jul 21;101(2):219-24. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6605162. Epub 2009 Jun 30.
• Background van Laarhoven HW, Gambarota G, Heerschap A, Lok J, Verhagen I, Corti A, Toma S, Gallo Stampino C, van der Kogel A, Punt CJ. Effects of the tumor vasculature targeting agent NGR-TNF on the tumor microenvironment in murine lymphomas. Invest New Drugs. 2006 Jan;24(1):27-36. doi: 10.1007/s10637-005-4540-2.
• Background Abrey LE, Batchelor TT, Ferreri AJ, Gospodarowicz M, Pulczynski EJ, Zucca E, Smith JR, Korfel A, Soussain C, DeAngelis LM, Neuwelt EA, O'Neill BP, Thiel E, Shenkier T, Graus F, van den Bent M, Seymour JF, Poortmans P, Armitage JO, Cavalli F; International Primary CNS Lymphoma Collaborative Group. Report of an international workshop to standardize baseline evaluation and response criteria for primary CNS lymphoma. J Clin Oncol. 2005 Aug 1;23(22):5034-43. doi: 10.1200/JCO.2005.13.524. Epub 2005 Jun 13.
• Background Reni M, Zaja F, Mason W, Perry J, Mazza E, Spina M, Bordonaro R, Ilariucci F, Faedi M, Corazzelli G, Manno P, Franceschi E, Pace A, Candela M, Abbadessa A, Stelitano C, Latte G, Ferreri AJ. Temozolomide as salvage treatment in primary brain lymphomas. Br J Cancer. 2007 Mar 26;96(6):864-7. doi: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603660. Epub 2007 Feb 27.

Drugs

Indications