everolimus (rad001) therapy for epilepsy in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (tsc)

Conditions: Epilepsy; Tuberous Sclerosis Complex

Summary: the goal of this study is to learn if the study drug rad001 can reduced the number of epileptic seizures, and can be taken safety by people who have epilepsy associated with tuberous sclerosis complex.

tuberous sclerosis complex (tsc) is a genetic disorder with an incidence at birth of 1 in 6000. this disorder is characterized by the development of benign tumors in multiple organ systems, including the brain. the primary neurological manifestations of tsc are epilepsy, mental retardation and autism. epilepsy is most common, occurring in 80-90% of patients, and often the seizures are severe, unremitting, and uncontrolled by current anticonvulsant medications. it is generally accepted that the seizures arise from cortical and subcortical tubers and surrounding tissue in the brain. these tubers are caused by mutations in the tumor suppressor genes tsc1 or tsc2. the protein products of these genes, hamartin and tuberin, act as negative regulators of the pi3k/pkb(akt)/mtor signaling pathway that regulates cell growth and proliferation everolimus is an immunosuppressant drug that also inhibits mtor signaling and is capable of reversing aberrant mtor-dependent effects that occur when hamartin or tuberin are absent or defective. thus, we hypothesize that drugs like everolimus may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of refractory epilepsy in patients with tsc.

Eligibility criteria:
inclusion criteria: * male or female individuals aged two years and older. * history of epilepsy and at least eight reported seizures in previous 30 days prior to informed consent * failure of two or more approved antiepileptic drug therapies * clinically definite diagnosis of tuberous sclerosis (modified gomez criteria or positive genetic test) * parents/caregivers are english-speaking (primary or secondary language acceptable) * if female and of child bearing potential, documentation of negative pregnancy test at time of informed consent. sexually active pre-menopausal female or male patients must use adequate contraceptive measures, excluding use of estrogen-containing birth control contraceptive regimen while on study medication. prior hysterectomy, tubal ligation, complete abstinence, barrier methods which include both a cervical diaphragm and spermicidal jelly, intrauterine devices (iud), progesterone based contraceptives, or vasectomy in partner are all acceptable forms of contraception * adequate bone marrow function as shown by anc ≥ 1.5 x 109/l, platelets ≥ 100 x 109/l, and hb \>9 g/dl * adequate liver function as shown by serum bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (uln), alt and ast ≤ 2.5x uln, inr and ptt ≤1.5. (anticoagulation is allowed if target inr ≤ 1.5 on a stable dose of warfarin or on a stable dose of lmw heparin for \>2 weeks at time of randomization.) * adequate renal function as shown by a serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x uln * fasting serum cholesterol ≤300 mg/dl or ≤7.75 mmol/l and fasting triglycerides ≤ 2.5 x uln. note: in case one or both of these thresholds are exceeded, the patient can only be included after initiation of appropriate lipid lowering medication exclusion criteria: * significant hematological or hepatic abnormality (i.e., transaminase levels \> 2.5 x uln or serum bilirubin \>1.5 x uln, hemoglobin \< 9 g/dl, platelets \< \< 100 x 109/l , absolute neutrophil count \< 1.5 x 109/l) * patients currently receiving anticancer therapies or who have received anticancer therapies within 4 weeks of the start of study drug (including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, antibody based therapy, etc.) * patients, who have had a major surgery or significant traumatic injury within 4 weeks of start of study drug, patients who have not recovered from the side effects of any major surgery (defined as requiring general anesthesia) or patients that may require major surgery during the course of the study * prior treatment with any investigational drug within the preceding 4 weeks prior to informed consent * patients receiving chronic, systemic treatment with corticosteroids or another immunosuppressive agent. topical or inhaled corticosteroids are allowed * patients should not receive immunization with attenuated live vaccines within one week of informed consent or during study period * patients with coexisting malignancies within past 3 years, except for adequately treated carcinoma of the cervix or basal or squamous cell carcinomas of the skin * uncontrolled brain or leptomeningeal metastases, including patients who continue to require glucocorticoids for brain or leptomeningeal metastases * patients who have any severe and/or uncontrolled medical conditions or other conditions that could affect their participation in the study such as: * symptomatic congestive heart failure of new york heart association class iii or iv, unstable angina pectoris, symptomatic congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction within 6 months of start of study drug, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia or any other clinically significant cardiac disease * severely impaired lung function defined as spirometry and dlco that is 50% of the normal predicted value and/or 02 saturation that is 88% or less at rest on room air and/or requirement for continuous supplemental o2 * uncontrolled diabetes as defined by fasting serum glucose \>1.5 x uln * active (acute or chronic) or uncontrolled severe infections * liver disease such as cirrhosis, chronic active hepatitis or chronic persistent hepatitis * a known history of hiv seropositivity * impairment of gastrointestinal function or gastrointestinal disease that may significantly alter the absorption of everolimus (e.g., ulcerative disease, uncontrolled nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, malabsorption syndrome or small bowel resection) * patients with an active, bleeding diathesis * female patients who are pregnant or breast feeding, or adults of reproductive potential who are not using effective birth control methods. * patients who have received prior treatment with an mtor inhibitor (sirolimus, temsirolimus, everolimus). * patients with a known hypersensitivity to rad001 (everolimus) or other rapamycin (sirolimus, temsirolimus) or to its excipients * history of noncompliance to medical regimens

Keywords: epilepsy tuberous sclerosis complex everolimus rad001 mammalian target of rapamycin (mtor)