Conditions: Glioblastoma Multiforme Glioma
Keywords: Glioblastoma Multiforme Glioma Thalidomide Thalomid CPT-11 Irinotecan malignant glioma
Allocation: NA | Intervention model: SINGLE_GROUP
Enrollment: 78
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
Objectives:

1.1 To determine the efficacy, as measured by 6 month progression-free survival, of therapy with thalidomide combined with CPT-11 in the treatment of patients with recurrent and/or progressive malignant gliomas.

1.2 To determine the rate of measureable clinical response in patients treated with Thalidomide and CPT-11.

1.3 To determine Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), overall survival and unexpected toxicity of Thalidomide and CPT-11 used in recurrent malignant gliomas.

1.4 To determine changes in dynamic magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a surrogate marker for treatment effect.

Detailed description:
Thalidomide is a drug that interferes with the growth of blood vessels. Thalidomide may help to decrease the blood supply in the tumor and make it unable to grow. CPT-11 is a drug that was designed to stop cancer cells from dividing.

All participants will take thalidomide capsules by mouth every evening at bedtime. You will begin with 1 capsule every night for the first week then increase to 2 capsules every night for a week and then 3 capsules a night for the third week. After that, you will increase the dose to 4 capsules each night for the rest of the study. The dosages may be adjusted if you experience any severe side effects.

In addition to thalidomide, you will receive treatment with CPT-11 through a continuous injection into a vein over 90 minutes once a week for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks of rest from the drug. This 6 week period is called a course of therapy. The courses of therapy will be repeated as long as the disease is responding to treatment for up to 2 years.

THIS IS AN INVESTIGATIONAL STUDY. Both drugs are commercially available. Thalidomide and CPT-11 are FDA approved for the treatment of some cancers. The combination of these drugs is investigational.

Up to 78 participants will take part in this study. All will be enrolled at M. D. Anderson.

Arms:
arm 1: Oral Thalidomide 100 mg daily for 8 weeks + CPT-11 125 mg/m\^2 by vein weekly over 90 minutes for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks rest.

Interventions: intervention 1: Thalidomide intervention 2: CPT-11 intervention 3: MRI Scan intervention 4: Quantitative Sensory Tests (QST)
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: 100 mg PO (by mouth) daily for 8 weeks intervention 2: 125 mg/m\^2 by vein weekly over 90 minutes for 4 weeks, followed by 2 weeks rest intervention 3: Dynamic MRI scan with dye injection through vein, every 6 weeks intervention 4: QST, every 12 weeks, to check for any nerve problems that may be present before starting treatment; by touching a small machine tests are done on feeling of touch, vibration, and temperature.

Protocol document: