Imiquimod/Brain Tumor Initiating Cell (BTIC) Vaccine in Brain Stem Glioma
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01400672 |
Recruitment Status :
Terminated
(Treatment ineffective; Extreme toxicity)
First Posted : July 22, 2011
Last Update Posted : March 18, 2020
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This is a pilot/feasibility study. The study design represents a modification of current standard of care for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) (5580 cGY involved field radiation), with the final two doses of radiation given at intervals during the vaccination phase of treatment.
Patients between the ages of 3 years and 25 years diagnosed with Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) will be allowed to participate in the trial. Study enrollment will occur after the completion of conformal radiation therapy to a dose of 5580 cGy and the post radiation therapy (RT) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) shows no disease progression.
Three patients with glioblastoma multiforme, aged 16 years and older, will be entered first to confirm vaccine safety before enrolling DIPG patients.
Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma | Biological: Tumor Lysate Vaccine Drug: Imiquimod Radiation: Radiation therapy | Phase 1 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Actual Enrollment : | 8 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Imiquimod/BTIC Lysate-Based Vaccine Immunotherapy for Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma in Children and Young Adults |
Actual Study Start Date : | July 17, 2012 |
Actual Primary Completion Date : | March 7, 2016 |
Actual Study Completion Date : | October 8, 2018 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
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Experimental: DIPG Patients Receiving Vaccine
Patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) receiving radiation therapy, Tumor Lysate Vaccine (dose of 4 x 10^6 cells divided into 2 doses then every 4 weeks for up to 1 year) and Imiquimod (5% Aldara cream at a total dose of 12.5 mg) topically at each site prior to and 24 hours after vaccination.
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Biological: Tumor Lysate Vaccine
Vaccination is injected intradermally every 2 weeks for 4 doses, then every 4 weeks for up to 1 year. Patients will receive 1 mg protein divided into 2 doses at two separate subinguinal sites. Drug: Imiquimod Marketed as 5% Aldara cream topically applied; total of 12.5 mg divided between the two vaccination sites and reapplied at the vaccination sites 24 hours later.
Other Name: Aldara cream Radiation: Radiation therapy Initial course of radiation therapy is given over 6-7 weeks, 5580 cGy. At the time of the 3rd vaccination, an additional 180 cGy fractions will be delivered in single doses in a novel effort to induce NKG2D ligand upregulation (thereby "sensitizing" residual tumor to lymphocyte attack). The total radiation dose for each patient will be 5760 cGy. |
- Dose-limiting toxicity [ Time Frame: Within 24 hours of vaccination ]Determined as Grade 3 or 4 toxicity observation after dosing with BTIC vaccination. Toxicity will be graded using the NCI's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE 4.0) in terms of local, regional and systemic events.
- Time to Tumor Progression [ Time Frame: Study entry through 24 months after treatment ]
Imaging will include MRI, SPECT/MRI and perfusion MRI. FDG-PET imaging may be also be used Response criteria: Complete responses (CR) are those in which there is a disappearance of all enhancing tumor or tumor mass on consecutive MRI scans. Patients must be off steroids, and neurologically stable or improved.
Partial responses (PR) are those in which there is a ≥ 50% reduction in the size of the enhancing tumor or tumor mass on consecutive MRI scans. In addition, the patient must be neurologically stable.
- Drop-out rate [ Time Frame: 24 hours, 48 hours and 1 week after each vaccination ]Treatment feasibility will be based on the drop-out rate in absence of disease progression. Information will be presented in a tabular and descriptive manner

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
Ages Eligible for Study: | 3 Years and older (Child, Adult, Older Adult) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria
- Age 16 years or older patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) World Health Organization (WHO) grade III-IV with recurrent or progressive disease after standard therapy (enrollment plan 1).
- Age 3 years and older patients with diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Completion of standard radiation therapy (not to exceed 5580 cGy) with a post radiation therapy (RT) MRI that shows no disease progression when compared with pre-RT MRI. All patients must be treated with Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) or an equivalent conformal technique. Patients from an outside institution who are referred after the start of radiation therapy may complete initial radiation therapy at their home institution as long as dosage guidelines are met and the total dose does not exceed 5580 cGy at the time of study registration (enrollment plan 2 and 3).
- all patients regardless of diagnosis must be clinically stable and off or on low dose (no more than 0.1 mg/kg/day, maximum of 4 mg/day dexamethasone) corticosteroid for at least 1 week prior to study enrollment.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Pregnant or breast-feeding. Pregnancy testing will be performed on all menstruating females within 14 days prior to study enrollment.
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements
- Currently receiving any chemotherapy, investigational agents or registration on another therapy based trial or received chemotherapy with radiation therapy
- History of immune system abnormalities such as hyperimmunity (e.g., autoimmune diseases) and hypoimmunity (e.g., myelodysplastic disorders, marrow failures, AIDS, ongoing pregnancy, transplant immunosuppression)
- Any isolated laboratory abnormality suggestive of a serious autoimmune disease
- Any conditions that could potentially alter immune function (AIDS, multiple sclerosis, diabetes, renal failure)
- Receiving ongoing treatment with immunosuppressive drugs, excluding those patients requiring dexamethasone for treatment of tumor-related edema

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01400672
United States, Minnesota | |
Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota | |
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States, 55455 |
Principal Investigator: | Christopher Moertel, M.D. | Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota |
Responsible Party: | Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT01400672 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
2009LS136 1004M81213 ( Other Identifier: IRB, University of Minnesota ) |
First Posted: | July 22, 2011 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | March 18, 2020 |
Last Verified: | March 2020 |
Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma |
Glioma Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial Neuroectodermal Tumors Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Brain Stem Neoplasms Infratentorial Neoplasms Brain Neoplasms |
Central Nervous System Neoplasms Nervous System Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Brain Diseases Central Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Diseases Imiquimod Adjuvants, Immunologic Immunologic Factors Physiological Effects of Drugs Antineoplastic Agents Interferon Inducers |