Conditions: Anaplastic Astrocytoma
Keywords: persistent anaplastic astrocytoma recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma adult anaplastic astrocytoma
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 27
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
RATIONALE: Current therapies for adults with anaplastic astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy provide very limited benefit to the patient. The anti-cancer properties of Antineoplaston therapy suggest that it may prove beneficial in the treatment of adults with anaplastic astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy.

PURPOSE: This study is being performed to determine the effects (good and bad) that Antineoplaston therapy has on adults with anaplastic astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy.

Detailed description:
OBJECTIVES:

* To determine the efficacy of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with anaplastic astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy, as measured by an objective response to therapy (complete response, partial response or stable disease).
* To determine the safety and tolerance of Antineoplaston therapy in patients with a anaplastic astrocytoma

OVERVIEW: This is a single arm, open-label study in which adults withanaplastic astrocytomas that have not responded to standard therapy receive gradually escalating doses of intravenous Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) until the maximum tolerated dose is reached. Treatment continues for at least 12 months in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. After 12 months, patients with a complete or partial response or with stable disease may continue treatment.

To determine objective response, tumor size is measured utilizing MRI scans, which are performed every 8 weeks for the first two years, every 3 months for the third and fourth years, every 6 months for the 5th and sixth years, and annually thereafter.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A total of 20-40 patients will be accrued to this study

Arms:
arm 1: Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal) by IV infusion every four hours for at least 12 months. Study subjects receive increasing dosages of Atengenal and Astugenal until the maximum tolerated dose is reached.

Interventions: intervention 1: Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Adults with an anaplastic astrocytoma that has not responded to standard therapy will receive Antineoplaston therapy (Atengenal + Astugenal).

The daily doses of A10 and AS2-1 are divided into six infusions, which are given at 4-hourly intervals. Each infusion starts with infusion of A10 and is immediately followed by infusion of AS2-1.

Protocol document: