Intracerebral infusion of an EGFR-targeted toxin in recurrent malignant brain tumors.

The purpose of this study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), and intracerebral distribution of a recombinant toxin (TP-38) targeting the epidermal growth factor receptor in patients with recurrent malignant brain tumors using the intracerebral infusion technique of convection-enhanced delivery (CED). Twenty patients were enrolled and stratified for dose escalation by the presence of residual tumor from 25 to 100 ng/ml in a 40-ml infusion volume. In the last eight patients, coinfusion of (123)I-albumin was performed to monitor distribution within the brain. The MTD was not reached in this study. Dose escalation was stopped at 100 ng/ml due to inconsistent drug delivery as evidenced by imaging the coinfused (123)I-albumin. Two DLTs were seen, and both were neurologic. Median survival after TP-38 was 28 weeks (95% confidence interval, 26.5-102.8). Of 15 patients treated with residual disease, two (13.3%) demonstrated radiographic responses, including one patient with glioblastoma multiforme who had a nearly complete response and remains alive >260 weeks after therapy. Coinfusion of (123)I-albumin demonstrated that high concentrations of the infusate could be delivered >4 cm from the catheter tip. However, only 3 of 16 (19%) catheters produced intraparenchymal infusate distribution, while the majority leaked infusate into the cerebrospinal fluid spaces. Intracerebral CED of TP-38 was well tolerated and produced some durable radiographic responses at doses

Duke Scholars

Author John Howard Sampson Neurosurgery

Author Allan Howard Friedman Neurosurgery

Author Henry Seth Friedman Neurosurgery, Neuro-Oncology

Author James Emmett Herndon II Biostatistics & Bioinformatics, Division of Biostatistics

Author Roger Edwin McLendon Pathology

Author James Michael Provenzale Radiology, Neuroradiology

Author Terence Z. Wong Radiology, Nuclear Medicine

Author Michael Rod Zalutsky Radiology

Author Darell Doty Bigner Neurosurgery