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NCT Number: NCT05590689

Radiodynamic Therapy (RDT) With Gliolan in Patients With First Recurrence of Brain Tumor

The investigational drug 5-ALA (known under the trade name Gliolan®) is an approved drug for the surgical removal of malignant glioma (WHO grade III and IV). In this trial, the drug is being tested outside of its actual approval as a radiosensitizer in combination with conventional radiotherapy for first-time recurrence (relapse) of malignant glioma. In this clinical trial, the investigational drug 5-ALA is being used for the first time in a multiple dose escalation regimen in combination with radiotherapy following surgical removal of a recurrent malignant glioma in humans. The investigational drug, 5-ALA, has been used as a single dose to date as a standard of care for visualization of malignant tissue in the surgical removal of gliomas.

The planned clinical trial will first and foremost investigate how well repeated administration of the investigational drug 5-ALA is tolerated in combination with radiotherapy. At the same time, the design of the trial serves to optimize this novel therapeutic procedure with regard to the frequency of administration of the investigational drug 5-ALA in combination with radiotherapy for future clinical trials.

As a secondary objective, the efficacy of additional 5-ALA administration will also be investigated.

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Key information

Age range

18 year–75 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1 / Phase 2

Primary location

University Hospital Münster, Klinik für Neurochirurgie

Münster, 48149, Germany

Location status: Recruiting

Location contact

Hans Theodor Eich, Prof. Dr.

SUB_INVESTIGATOR

Walter Stummer, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

Walter Stummer, Prof. Dr.

PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Written patient consent after comprehensive information
  • Age >/= 18 years
  • Recurrence of supratentorial glioblastoma after initial resection and adjuvant therapy (e.g. radio-chemotherapy, targeted therapies, antiangiogenic therapies as determined by the tumor board) (with planned second resection cohort 0 and 1), second or third recurrences permitted
  • Clinically indicated further radiotherapy as per decision of the tumor board as part of therapy for recurrence
  • Histological verification of recurrent glioblastoma independent of methylated MGMT promotor status when alkylating chemotherapy failed at this time.
  • Karnofsky Performance Score ≥ 60
  • For female and male patients and their female partners of childbearing/reproductive potential(*): Willingness to apply highly effective contraception (Pearl index <1) during the entire study (and for at least 6 months after the first application of 5-ALA). Such methods include:
  • combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: I. oral II. intravaginal III. transdermal
  • progestogen only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation: I. oral II. injectable III. implantable
  • intrauterine device (IUD)
  • intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS)
  • bilateral tubal occlusion
  • vasectomised partner
  • male patients have to use a condom
  • sexual abstinence
  • Pre-menopausal(*) female patients with childbearing potential: a negative pregnancy test must be obtained max. 72h prior to treatment start
  • Adequate liver function: bilirubin < 1.5 times above upper limit of normal range (ULN), alanine transaminase (ALT/SGPT) and aspartate transaminase (AST/SGOT) < 3 times ULN. In the case of documented or suspected Gilbert's disease bilirubin < 3 times ULN.
  • Adequate renal function: creatinine < 3 times above ULN; eGFR >/= 60 ml/min, Blood clotting: INR/Quick/PT and PTT within acceptable limits according to the investigator.

(*) Definition: A man is considered of reproductive potential after puberty unless permanently sterile by bilateral orchidectomy. A woman is considered of childbearing potential (WOCBP), i.e. fertile, following menarche and until becoming post-menopausal unless permanently sterile. Permanent sterilisation methods include hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy and bilateral oophorectomy. A post-menopausal state is defined as no menses for 12 months without an alternative medical cause. A high follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) level in the postmenopausal range may be used to confirm a post-menopausal state in women not using hormonal contraception or hormonal replacement therapy. However in the absence of 12 months of amenorrhea, a single FSH measurement is insufficient.

Exclusion criteria

  • Patient unable to undergo imaging by MRI, PET or contrast-enhanced CT for whatever reason (e.g. pace-maker)
  • Pregnant and breastfeeding women
  • Past medical history of diseases with poor prognosis, e.g., severe coronary heart disease, heart failure (NYHA III/IV), severe and poorly controlled diabetes, immune deficiency, residual deficits after stroke, severe mental retardation or other serious concomitant systemic disorders incompatible with the study (at the discretion of the investigator)
  • Any active infection (at the discretion of the investigator)
  • Hypersensitivity against porphyrins
  • Known diagnosis of porphyria
  • Participation in another clinical trial with therapeutic intervention or use of any other therapeutic interventional agent other than the standard therapy since diagnosis of glioblastoma
  • Known intolerance to study medication
  • Pre-treatment with other potentially phototoxic or photosensitizing substances (e.g. tetracyclines, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, hypericin extracts, products containing St. John's wort ) during the 2 weeks preceding RDT

Treatment and study plan

GLIOLAN

Drug

A repetitive dose of Gliolan will be administrated in combination with radiotherapy (radiodynamic therapy)

Other names: 5-Aminolevulinic acid

Radiodynamic therapy

Radiation

Radiotherapy will be performed in combination with Gliolan administration

Primary outcomes

  1. Maximum tolerated dose (MTD)

    Time frame: 6 weeks after last R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    In the resent study we will investigate the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) of the combination of 5-ALA and radiation. MTD is defined as the highest number of RDT that does not cause unacceptable side effects, i.e. at which no more than 1 of 6 patients suffers a dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). DLT describes side effects of a drug that are serious enough to prevent an increase of dose (NCI dictionary of cancer terms). In the present study it is defined as any ≥ Gr.3 hematological toxicity, any ≥ Gr.3 neurological toxicity and any ≥ Gr.3 non-hematological toxicity occurring during the 6 week observation period, that does not resolve to pre-treatment baseline or ≤ Gr. 2 within 3 weeks, either spontaneously or with adequate treatment.

    To detect any relevant DLT the following aspects are monitored:

    • Toxicological safety of repeat doses of 5-ALA
    • Neurological safety of RDT
    • Dermatological safety of RDT
    • Assess all new AEs CTCAE grade 2 or higher

Secondary outcomes

  1. Overall survival rate (OSR)

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Percentage of patients who are alive 6 months after first R(D)T

  2. progression-free survival rate (PFS)

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Percentage of patients without tumor progression 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

  3. event-free survival rate (EFS)

    Time frame: 6 months after inclusion

    Percentage of patients without suffering any disease related event such as DLT or progression until 6 months after inclusion

  4. concentration changes of immunhistochemistry marker (e.g. Caspase-3, IBA1, H&E, EvG, P53, Ki 67, gammaH2AX)

    Time frame: during surgery

    analytic results of pharma-radio-dynamic tissue changes. Tissue samples collected during surgery of cohort 0 and 1

Other outcomes

  1. concentration changes of CPI and CPIII

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes as one combined sum parameter

  2. concentration changes of radiobiological marker CD3

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes

  3. concentration changes of radiobiological marker CD4

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes

  4. concentration changes of radiobiological marker CD8

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes

  5. concentration changes of radiobiological marker C19

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes

  6. concentration changes of radiobiological marker for total leucocyte count

    Time frame: 6 months after first R(D)T in adjuvant phase

    Analytic results for concentration changes

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Hans Theodor Eich, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49 251 8347384

Walter Stummer, Prof. Dr.

CONTACT

[email protected]

+49 251 8347472

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Universität Münster

Other

Collaborators

  • photonamic GmbH & Co. KG

Registry information

Official study title

Phase I/II Dose Escalation Trial of Radiodynamic Therapy (RDT) With 5-Aminolevulinic Acid in Patients With First Recurrence of Glioblastoma

Acronym: ALA-RDTinGBM

Important dates

Study start
2022
Primary completion
2028
Study completion
2028
First posted
Oct 21, 2022
Registry last updated
Jun 23, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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