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Last Modified: 12/5/2008     First Published: 12/1/2001  
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Phase II Randomized Study of Tipifarnib in Pediatric Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Progressive Plexiform Neurofibromas

Alternate Title
Basic Trial Information
Objectives
Entry Criteria
Expected Enrollment
Outcomes
Outline
Trial Contact Information
Related Information
Registry Information

Alternate Title

Tipifarnib in Preventing Cancer in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1 and Progressive Plexiform Neurofibromas

Basic Trial Information

Phase
Type
Status
Age
Sponsor
Protocol IDs

Phase II


Prevention


Active


3 to 25


NCI


NCI-01-C-0222H
NCI-T99-0090, NCT00029354, T99-0090

Special Category: NIH Clinical Center trial, NCI Web site featured trial

Objectives

  1. Determine the effect of tipifarnib on the time to disease progression in pediatric patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 and progressive plexiform neurofibromas.
  2. Determine the objective response rate in patients treated with this regimen.
  3. Determine the toxic effects of this regimen in these patients.
  4. Assess the quality of life of patients treated with this regimen.
  5. Determine the circulating levels of nerve growth factor and correlate these levels with the development of clinical neurotoxicity in patients treated with this regimen.

Entry Criteria

Disease Characteristics:

  • Diagnosis of one of the following:
    • Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1)


    • Progressive plexiform neurofibromas
      • Neurofibromas that have grown along the length of a nerve and may involve multiple fascicles and branches (spinal neurofibromas involve 2 or more levels with connection between the levels or extending laterally along the nerve)


      • Potential to cause significant morbidity such as:
        • Head and neck lesions that could compromise airway or great vessels
        • Brachial or lumbar plexus lesions that could cause nerve compression and loss of function
        • Lesions that could result in major deformity (e.g., orbital lesions)
        • Lesions of the limb that cause limb hypertrophy or loss of function
        • Painful lesions






  • Meets at least 1 other diagnostic criteria for NF1
    • 6 or more cafe-au-lait spots (at least 0.5 cm in prepubertal patients or at least 1.5 cm in postpubertal patients)
    • Freckling in the axilla or groin
    • Optic glioma
    • 2 or more Lisch nodules
    • Distinctive bony lesion (dysplasia of the sphenoid bone or dysplasia or thinning of long bone cortex)
    • First-degree relative with NF1


  • Measurable plexiform neurofibromas
    • At least 3 cm in one dimension


  • Evidence of recurrent or progressive disease as documented by an increase in size or the presence of new plexiform neurofibromas on MRI


  • No evidence of an optic glioma, malignant glioma, malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, or other cancer requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy


  • Prior surgery for progressive plexiform neurofibroma allowed provided neurofibroma was incompletely resected and is measurable


  • Complete tumor resection not feasible or patient refused surgery


Prior/Concurrent Therapy:

Biologic therapy:

  • At least 1 week since prior filgrastim (G-CSF)
  • No concurrent anticancer immunotherapy

Chemotherapy:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • No more than 1 prior myelosuppressive chemotherapy regimen
  • At least 4 weeks since prior chemotherapy and recovered
  • No concurrent anticancer chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

  • No concurrent anticancer hormonal therapy

Radiotherapy:

  • See Disease Characteristics
  • At least 6 weeks since prior radiotherapy and recovered
  • No concurrent anticancer radiotherapy

Surgery:

  • See Disease Characteristics

Other:

  • No prior tipifarnib
  • At least 30 days since prior investigational agents
  • No concurrent proton pump inhibitors (e.g., omeprazole, lansoprazole, pantoprazole, rabeprazole, or esomeprazole)
  • No other concurrent investigational anticancer agents

Patient Characteristics:

Age:

  • 3 to 25

Performance status:

  • ECOG 0-2

Life expectancy:

  • At least 12 months

Hematopoietic:

  • Absolute granulocyte count at least 1,500/mm3
  • Hemoglobin at least 9.0 g/dL
  • Platelet count at least 150,000/mm3
  • Fibrinogen normal

Hepatic:

  • Bilirubin normal unless due to Gilbert's syndrome
  • SGPT no greater than 2 times upper limit of normal
  • No significant hepatic dysfunction

Renal:

  • Creatinine normal for age

    OR

  • Creatinine clearance at least 70 mL/min

Cardiovascular:

  • No significant cardiac dysfunction

Pulmonary:

  • No significant pulmonary dysfunction

Other:

  • Not pregnant or nursing
  • Negative pregnancy test
  • Fertile patients must use effective contraception
  • No clinically significant unrelated systemic illness that would preclude study participation
  • No serious infections
  • No significant organ dysfunction
  • No metal implanted prostheses (e.g., vascular clamps or pacemakers) that would contraindicate an MRI

Expected Enrollment

63

A total of 63 patients will be accrued for this study.

Outcomes

Primary Outcome(s)

Time to progression at 6 and 12 months

Outline

This is a randomized, cross-over, double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study. Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

  • Arm I: Patients receive oral tipifarnib every 12 hours on days 1-21. Courses repeat every 28 days in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.


  • Arm II: Patients receive oral placebo every 12 hours on days 1-21. Courses repeat as in arm I.


After documentation of disease progression, patients on both arms cross over to the other arm and (after a 2-week washout period) receive treatment as above in the absence of further disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.

Quality of life is assessed at baseline, prior to courses 4, 7, and 10, and then after every 6 courses thereafter.

Trial Contact Information

Trial Lead Organizations

NCI - Center for Cancer Research

Brigitte Widemann, MD, Protocol chair
Ph: 301-496-7387

Trial Sites

U.S.A.
Alabama
  Birmingham
 Lurleen Wallace Comprehensive Cancer at University of Alabama - Birmingham
 Clinical Trials Office - Lurleen Wallace Comprehensive Cancer
Ph: 205-934-0309
California
  Los Angeles
 Hospital for Sick Children
 Douglas Hyder, MD
Ph: 323-669-2121
Maryland
  Baltimore
 Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins
 Clinical Trials Office - Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at John Hopkins
Ph: 410-955-8804
 Email: jhcccro@jhmi.edu
  Bethesda
 Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center - NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office
 Clinical Trials Office - Warren Grant Magnusen Clinical Center - NCI Clinical Trials Referral Office
Ph: 888-NCI-1937
Missouri
  Saint Louis
 Siteman Cancer Center at Barnes-Jewish Hospital - Saint Louis
 Arie Perry, MD
Ph: 314-362-7426
800-600-3606
 Email: aperry@pathbox.Wustl.edu
 David Gutmann, MD, PhD
Ph: 314-632-7379
800-600-3606
 M. Watson, MD, PhD
Ph: 314-454-7919
800-600-3606
 Michael DeBaun, MD, PhD, MPH
Ph: 314-286-1186
800-600-3606
Pennsylvania
  Philadelphia
 Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
 Jean Belasco, MD
Ph: 215-590-2800

Related Information

Featured trial article

Registry Information
Official Title A Phase II Randomized, Cross-Over, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Trial Of The Farnesyltransferase Inhibitor R115777 In Pediatric Patients With Neurofibromatosis Type I And Progressive Plexiform Neurofibromas
Trial Start Date 2001-07-05
Trial Completion Date 2004-02-05 (estimated)
Registered in ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00029354
Date Submitted to PDQ 2001-07-24
Information Last Verified 2005-05-05
NCI Grant/Contract Number CM17101

Note: The purpose of most clinical trials listed in this database is to test new cancer treatments, or new methods of diagnosing, screening, or preventing cancer. Because all potentially harmful side effects are not known before a trial is conducted, dose and schedule modifications may be required for participants if they develop side effects from the treatment or test. The therapy or test described in this clinical trial is intended for use by clinical oncologists in carefully structured settings, and may not prove to be more effective than standard treatment. A responsible investigator associated with this clinical trial should be consulted before using this protocol.

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