Astrocytoma clinical trials at UC Davis

This phase I/II trial tests the safety, side effects and best dose of selinexor given in combination with the usual chemotherapy (temozolomide) and compares the effect of this combination therapy vs. the usual chemotherapy alone (temozolomide) in treating patients with glioblastoma that has come back (recurrent). Selinexor is in a class of medications called selective inhibitors of nuclear export (SINE). It works by blocking a protein called CRM1, which may keep cancer cells from growing and may kill them. Temozolomide is in a class of medications called alkylating agents. It works by damaging the cell's DNA and may kill tumor cells and slow down or stop tumor growth. Giving selinexor in combination with usual chemotherapy (temozolomide) may shrink or stabilize the tumor better than the usual chemotherapy with temozolomide alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.

This phase I trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of triapine in combination with radiation therapy in treating patients with glioblastoma or astrocytoma that has come back after a period of improvement (recurrent). Triapine may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Giving triapine in combination with radiation therapy may be safe, tolerable, and/or effective in treating patients with recurrent glioblastoma or astrocytoma.

This phase II trial studies the effect of immunotherapy drugs (ipilimumab and nivolumab) in treating patients with glioma that has come back (recurrent) and carries a high number of mutations (mutational burden). Cancer is caused by changes (mutations) to genes that control the way cells function. Tumors with high number of mutations may respond well to immunotherapy. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies such as ipilimumab and nivolumab may help the body's immune system attack the cancer and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Giving ipilimumab and nivolumab may lower the chance of recurrent glioblastoma with high number of mutations from growing or spreading compared to usual care (surgery or chemotherapy).

This randomized phase II trial studies how well dose-escalated photon intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) or proton beam radiation therapy works compared with standard-dose radiation therapy when given with temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays and other types of radiation to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. Drugs, such as temozolomide, may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is not yet known whether dose-escalated photon IMRT or proton beam radiation therapy is more effective than standard-dose radiation therapy with temozolomide in treating glioblastoma.

In summary, standard of care postoperative chemoradiation for patients with newly diagnosed GBM does not routinely provide durable local control or prolonged overall survival. As discussed above it seems unlikely that patient outcomes will be significantly improved with radiation dose escalation given at the time of the EBRT boost. However, as most failures are local, improving LC could potentially improve the OS of patients. To do this, we propose a shift in the traditional radiation paradigm. This study will assess the feasibility and tolerability of adding GT radiation therapy as an upfront boost at the time of maximum safe resection, along with the backbone of the current standard of care approach, concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide +/- TTF, for patients with newly diagnosed GBM. GT, a novel brain brachytherapy device utilizing Cs-131 embedded in bioresorbable collagen tiles, offers a more sophisticated carrier and a shorter half-life radioisotope, Cs-131. Use of this device allows for radiation initiation at an earlier time point and a more rapid dose delivery and possibly more effective tumor control particularly for rapidly proliferating tumors such as GBM. Two prospective studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of re-irradiation with GT in patients with recurrent GBM. The overarching goal of this single-arm, open label phase 4 study is to determine the feasibility and tolerability of treating patients with GammaTile in combination with the Stupp Protocol and how to proceed with testing this treatment in a future, larger, randomized clinical study. The aims of the study are to demonstrate that the use of GammaTile at the time of surgery is well tolerated and does not delay the start of the Stupp protocol. Efficacy outcomes (e.g., LC, OS, PFS) will also be described.

This phase II trial studies how well olaparib works in treating patients with glioma, cholangiocarcinoma, or solid tumors with IDH1 or IDH2 mutations that has spread from where it first started (primary site) to other places in the body (metastatic) and that does not respond to treatment (refractory). Olaparib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth.

Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells or by stopping them from dividing. It is not yet known whether giving radiation with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide versus radiation with adjuvant PCV is more effective in treating anaplastic glioma or low grade glioma.

This randomized phase II/III trial studies how well temozolomide and veliparib work compared to temozolomide alone in treating patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Veliparib may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. It is not yet known whether temozolomide is more effective with or without veliparib in treating glioblastoma multiforme.

This phase II trial studies the best dose and effect of tocilizumab in combination with atezolizumab and stereotactic radiation therapy in treating glioblastoma patients whose tumor has come back after initial treatment (recurrent). Tocilizumab is a monoclonal antibody that binds to receptors for a protein called interleukin-6 (IL-6), which is made by white blood cells and other cells in the body as well as certain types of cancer. This may help lower the body's immune response and reduce inflammation. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies, such as atezolizumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. Fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy uses special equipment to precisely deliver multiple, smaller doses of radiation spread over several treatment sessions to the tumor. The goal of this study is to change a tumor that is unresponsive to cancer therapy into a more responsive one. Therapy with fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy in combination with tocilizumab may suppress the inhibitory effect of immune cells surrounding the tumor and consequently allow an immunotherapy treatment by atezolizumab to activate the immune response against the tumor. Combination therapy with tocilizumab, atezolizumab and fractionated stereotactic radiation therapy may shrink or stabilize the cancer better than radiation therapy alone in patients with recurrent glioblastoma.