Finding studies
Finding studies
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Lead
University of Alabama at Birmingham
C134 is a genetically engineered herpes simplex virus or "HSV" (the virus that usually causes cold sores and rarely, a severe infection of the brain). It has been known that viruses may kill tumor cells. When tumor cells are mixed with certain viruses in the laboratory, the tumor cells die. The DNA of the (HSV) virus has been modified so that tumor cells may be killed when infected by C134. The changes made to the virus (HSV) should help prevent the (C134) virus from infecting normal brain tissue. Extensive testing in both mice and monkeys has demonstrated that C134 is not able to cause HSV when injected directly into the brain. C134 may also be able to help kill tumor cells because it can prevent tumor cells from killing it more effectively than other, similar viruses can. This allows it to infect and kill more brain tumor cells. C134 has been tested in more than ten patients previously. The virus has had only two instances of known significant toxicities. In one patients with extensive disease present on both sides of the brain, the virus traveled throughout the brain and as a result, caused extensive inflammation that required treatment with an antiviral drug. The patient recovered partially, but eventually succumbed to their tumor. A second patient developed an infection of the retina (back of the eye) apparently as a result of the virus migrating to that area from the site of inoculation in the occipital lobe. Based on these findings the investigators have amended the protocol to protect future patients from these toxicities as follows: 1) The dose of the virus being administered has been lowered; 2) patients with enhancing tumor on both sides of the brain are not eligible for the trial and 3) patients with disease in the occipital lobe which has connections to the retina are not eligible for the trial Based on laboratory testing, the investigators believe multiple doses of C134 viral therapy in cases such as the patients, could potentially benefit from repeat treatment as this has been seen in preclinical studies, since the patients have received C134, the patients are thus eligible for retreatment under this protocol.
Age
18–any
Sex
ALL
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
