Natural Progesterone for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma

This early phase I trial identifies the best dose, possible benefits and/or side effects of natural progesterone in treating patients with glioblastoma that has come back (recurrent). Progesterone is a type of hormone made by the body that plays a role in the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Progesterone may help control tumor growth and spread in patients with glioblastoma.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine that the pharmacokinetics of natural progesterone given to recurrent glioblastoma \[GBM\] patients by subcutaneous injection is consistent with previous determinations made given subcutaneously using the aqueous formulation of progesterone.

II. To determine the safety of administering daily subcutaneous natural progesterone for the treatment of patients with recurrent GBMs.

III. To determine the rate of stable disease (SD) or better (partial response \[PR\] or complete response \[CR\]) at 8 weeks in eligible patients with recurrent GBM treated with daily subcutaneous natural progesterone.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine and compare the progression free survival of eligible patients with recurrent GBM compared with matched historical controls treated with a range of standard therapies.

II. To determine and compare the overall survival of eligible patients with recurrent GBM compared with matched historical controls treated with a range of standard therapies.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVES:

I. To determine whether progesterone receptor levels within the tumor correlates with response to daily subcutaneous natural progesterone.

II. To determine if other intrinsic tumor factors (mutations and genomic loss/gains) correlates with response to daily subcutaneous natural progesterone.

III. To determine if the absolute values or changes in the level of serum biomarkers correlates with response to daily subcutaneous natural progesterone.

IV. To determine the quality-of-life (QOL) by validated instruments of eligible patients with recurrent GBM treated with daily subcutaneous natural progesterone and assess whether this differs from historical controls.

OUTLINE:

Patients receive progesterone subcutaneously (SC) once daily (QD) for up to 24 weeks in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must have pathologic confirmation of a glioblastoma or gliosarcoma diagnosis at initial surgery or second or later surgery
* Patients may have had up to two previous salvage agents administered for treatment of recurrent GBM (may be at 1st, 2nd or 3rd recurrence)
* Patients must be \>= 18 years of age
* Patients must be able to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for disease follow up
* Recurrent GBM must consist of a minimum of 1 cm\^3 of contrast enhancing disease on high resolution T1 post-contrast sequence as defined on pre-treatment MRI obtained within 14 days of initiating therapy
* White blood cell (WBC) \>= 3,000/uL (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1,500/uL (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Platelet count of \>= 75,000/uL (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Hemoglobin \>= 9.0 gm/dl (=\< 14 days prior to registration) (transfusion is allowed to reach minimum level)
* Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) /alanine aminotransferase (ALT) =\< 2.0 x upper limit of normal (UNL) (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Bilirubin =\< 2 x UNL (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Creatinine =\< 1.5 mg/dL (=\< 14 days prior to registration)
* Patients must have a life expectancy of \>= 12 weeks
* Patients must have a Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) \>= 60
* Patients who are women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test documented =\< 14 days prior to registration and agree to use adequate barrier contraceptive methods or abstinence for duration of study
* Patients must be able to understand and provide written informed consent
* Both men and women, and members of all races and ethnic groups are eligible for this trial. Subjects will be approximately representative of the demographics of the referral base for the participating institutions
* Patient must not have a known allergy to progesterone
* In females, no active vaginal bleeding
* Patients may not be enrolled on any other therapeutic trial for which they are receiving an anti-tumor therapy

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with pacemakers, aneurysm clips, neurostimulators, cochlear implants, metal in ocular structures, history of being a steel worker, or other incompatible implants which makes MRI safety an issue are excluded
* Patients that have any significant medical illnesses that in the investigator's opinion cannot be adequately controlled with appropriate therapy or would compromise the patient's ability to tolerate this therapy are excluded
* Patients with a history of severe hepatic dysfunction of disease are excluded
* Patients with a history of idiopathic jaundice, severe pruritus and pemphigoid gestationis during pregnancy are excluded
* Patients with a history of breast or genital tract cancer are excluded
* Patients with a history of any other invasive cancer (except non-melanoma skin cancer and excluding carcinoma in-situ), unless in complete remission and off all therapy for that disease for \>= 3 years, are ineligible
* Patients with an active infection or serious intercurrent medical illness are ineligible
* Patients who received any other in anti-tumor agents (including investigational ones) must be off therapy for 4 weeks prior to initiating progesterone on study
* Patient receiving anti-coagulation therapy are excluded
* Patient with active or recent (within 6 months) thromboembolic disease are excluded
* Patient with current ongoing therapy with estrogen/progesterone (including hormonal contraceptives) are excluded. Would need to stop this form of birth control at least 7 days prior to initiation of therapy to be eligible