Topotecan Episcleral Plaque for Treatment of Retinoblastoma (STEP-RB)
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ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04428879 |
Recruitment Status :
Recruiting
First Posted : June 11, 2020
Last Update Posted : May 20, 2021
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Condition or disease | Intervention/treatment | Phase |
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Retinoblastoma | Drug: Topotecan Episcleral Plaque | Phase 1 |
Study Type : | Interventional (Clinical Trial) |
Estimated Enrollment : | 30 participants |
Allocation: | N/A |
Intervention Model: | Single Group Assignment |
Masking: | None (Open Label) |
Primary Purpose: | Treatment |
Official Title: | Phase I Sustained-Release Topotecan Episcleral Plaque (Chemoplaque) for Retinoblastoma |
Actual Study Start Date : | June 16, 2020 |
Estimated Primary Completion Date : | October 15, 2025 |
Estimated Study Completion Date : | October 15, 2030 |

Arm | Intervention/treatment |
---|---|
Experimental: Phase I single arm trial |
Drug: Topotecan Episcleral Plaque
Sustained Release Episcleral Topotecan Plaques (Chemoplaques) are glued to bare, dry sclera of the eye under conjunctiva and Tenon's capsule. A rolling six dose interpatient escalation schema will be employed. Chemoplaques with 0.6 mg and 0.9 mg of topotecan HCl formulation are available. Patients will receive 1 or 2 Chemoplaques per eye, to deliver 5 escalating doses: 0.6, 0.9, 1.2 [2x0.6], 1.5 [0.6+0.9] or 1.8 [2x0.9] mg. The prescribed dose will escalate or de-escalate by 0.3 mg at each level, and no patient will receive more than 1.8 mg of topotecan hydrochloride due to the physical limitations if the devices available. The planned removal is 42 days ± 7, unless dose limiting toxicity is observed, in which case the plaque is removed as soon as possible. The observation period for the purposes of dose-escalation will be 63 days (i.e. 21 days following Chemoplaque removal on day 42).
Other Names:
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- Maximum Tolerated Dose and Recommended Phase 2 Dose of topotecan hydrochloride administered as a Chemoplaque to pediatric patients with active Retinoblastoma. [ Time Frame: 9 weeks ]Inter-Patient Escalation in the rolling six phase 1 trial design will determine Maximum Tolerated Dose and Recommended Phase 2 Dose. Dose level assignment is based on the number of participants currently enrolled in the cohort, the number of dose limiting toxicities observed, and the number of participants at risk for developing a dose limiting toxicity (i.e., participants enrolled but who are not yet assessable for toxicity).
- Tumor response to the Chemoplaque as secondary therapy in eye(s) with active retinoblastoma after completion of primary standard of care treatment. [ Time Frame: 9 weeks ]Tumor response will be characterized as (i) complete regression, (ii) very good (iii) partial regression, (iv) partial regression, (v) stable disease or (vi) progressive disease determined by evaluating number of tumour sites, appearance and tumour size.

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Ages Eligible for Study: | up to 17 Years (Child) |
Sexes Eligible for Study: | All |
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: | No |
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age. Participants must be <18 years of age.
- Diagnosis and Treatment. Participants must have: (i) active residual or recurrent intraocular retinoblastoma following completion of first-line therapy (chemotherapy, systemic or intra-arterial, focal therapy or brachytherapy), or (ii) unilateral Group B, C, D or cT1b, cT2 retinoblastoma at diagnosis with no previous treatment.
- One eye will be the Study Eye. When participants have two eyes with retinoblastoma, the eye with worst disease or best vision potential will be designated the Study Eye. There will only be one eye per child treated in this Phase I study, since treatment of two eyes would double the systemic dose of drug. The Non-study eye will be treated by standard of care, with only focal therapy during the Study Period, if required.
- Disease status. Study eye must have vision potential and no clinical features suggestive of high risk of extraocular extension.
- Performance status. Lansky play score ≥ 50 if <16 years of age; Karnofsky performance scale of ≥ 50 if ≥16 years of age (Appendix I)
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Organ function:
- Adequate bone marrow function and platelet count
- Adequate renal function
- Adequate liver function
- Pregnancy prevention. Females of reproductive potential must agree to the use of highly effective contraception during study participation and for an additional 40 days after the end of the Chemoplaque administration
- Informed consent. All participants and/or their parents or legally authorized representatives must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent. Assent, where appropriate, will also be obtained.
Exclusion Criteria:
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Disease status. Participants known to have any of the following are excluded:
- clinical or EUA evidence of extraocular extension
- known metastatic disease status and intercurrent illness
- existing clinical and neuroimaging showing suspicion of, or definitive,
- Allergy. Participants with reported allergy to topotecan, camptothecin or derivatives thereof.
- Concomitant treatment. Participants may not receive chemotherapy or other focal retinoblastoma therapy or any other investigational agent within 3 weeks of the placement and removal of the Chemoplaque, nor while the Chemoplaque is in situ.
- Uncontrolled intercurrent illness. Participants with known uncontrolled intercurrent illness that, in the investigator's opinion, would put the participant at undue risk or limit compliance with the study requirements.
- Febrile illness. Participants with clinically significant febrile illness (as determined by the investigator) within one week prior to initiation of protocol therapy.
- Pregnancy and lactation. Females of reproductive potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 72 hours prior to initiation of protocol therapy. Due to the unknown but potential risk for adverse events (AEs) in nursing infants secondary to treatment of the mother with the study agents, breastfeeding must be discontinued if the mother is treated on study.
- Compliance. Any condition of diagnosis that could in the opinion of the Principal Investigator or delegate interfere with the participant's ability to comply with the study instruction, might confound the interpretation of the study results, or put the participant at risk.

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): NCT04428879
Contact: Kaitlyn Flegg | 416-813-7654 ext 203297 | kaitlyn.flegg@sickkids.ca | |
Contact: Aiman Siddiqi | 416-813-7654 ext 228928 | aiman.siddiqi@sickkids.ca |
Canada, Ontario | |
The Hospital for Sick Children | Recruiting |
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M5G1X8 | |
Contact: Brenda Gallie, MD, FRCSC |
Principal Investigator: | Brenda Gallie | The Hospital for Sick Children |
Responsible Party: | Brenda Gallie, Head, Retinoblastoma Program, The Hospital for Sick Children |
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: | NCT04428879 |
Other Study ID Numbers: |
1000064742 |
First Posted: | June 11, 2020 Key Record Dates |
Last Update Posted: | May 20, 2021 |
Last Verified: | May 2021 |
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement: | |
Plan to Share IPD: | No |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: | Yes |
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: | No |
Product Manufactured in and Exported from the U.S.: | Yes |
Retinal Neoplasms Neoplasms Eye Neoplasms Eye Diseases, Hereditary |
Eye Diseases Retinal Diseases Topotecan |
Retinoblastoma Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial Neuroectodermal Tumors Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Retinal Neoplasms Eye Neoplasms |
Neoplasms by Site Eye Diseases, Hereditary Eye Diseases Retinal Diseases Topotecan Topoisomerase I Inhibitors Topoisomerase Inhibitors Enzyme Inhibitors Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action Antineoplastic Agents |