Abass Alavi. A distinguished physician scientist and a pioneer in molecular imaging.

Abass Alavi is a world renowned physician-scientist and has made substantial contributions to development and translation of modern imaging techniques to the day-to-day practice of medicine. Among his accomplishments, the introduction of fluorine-18-fluorodeoxyglucose ((18)F-FDG )-positron emission tomography (PET) has truly revolutionized the field of medicine worldwide. The impact of using (18)F-FDG -PET along with computed tomography (CT) (and soon magnetic resonance imaging-MRI) in managing so many serious diseases and disorders is unparalleled by any other technique in recent history. He has received many awards for his outstanding contributions to the field of molecular imaging. Currently, he is actively involved in conducting research on a full time basis.

Phase I and pharmacokinetic study of COL-3 in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas.

COL-3 is a chemically modified tetracycline that targets multiple aspects of matrix metalloproteinase regulation. This phase I clinical trial was conducted to determine the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of COL-3 in adults with recurrent high-grade glioma, to describe the effects of enzyme-inducing antiseizure drugs (EIADs) on its pharmacokinetics, and to obtain preliminary evidence of activity. Adults with recurrent high-grade glioma were stratified by EIAD use. COL-3 was given orally daily without interruption until disease progression or treatment-related dose-limiting toxicity (DLT). Three patients in each EIAD group were evaluated at each dose level beginning with 25 mg/m(2)/day and escalated by 25 mg/m(2)/day. Toxicity, response, and pharmacokinetics were assessed. Thirty-three patients were evaluated. The MTD was 75 mg/m(2)/day in the -EIAD patients while one was not determined in +EIAD patients. The common toxicities observed were anemia, ataxia, diarrhea, hypokalemia, CNS hemorrhage, and myalgia. One partial response was observed. -EIAD patients tended to have a higher steady-state trough concentration that was apparent only at the 100 mg/m(2)/day dose level (P = 0.01). This study suggests that: (a) EIAD use does affect the pharmacokinetics of COL-3 at higher doses; and (b) there was not enough suggestion of single-agent activity to warrant further study in recurrent high-grade gliomas.

Phase II clinical and pharmacologic study of radiation therapy and carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) in adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme.

INTRODUCTION: Carboxyamido-triazole (CAI) is a synthetic inhibitor of non-voltage-gated calcium channels that reversibly inhibits angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation, and metastatic potential. This study examined the efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetics of oral CAI in the treatment of patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in an open-label, single arm non-randomized phase 2 trial. METHODS: Eligible patients with histologically confirmed GBM started CAI therapy (250 mg daily) on the first day of radiation (6000 cGy in 30 fractions) and continued until progression, unless side effects became intolerable. The primary outcome was survival compared to historical controls within the NABTT CNS Consortium database. Secondary outcomes included toxicity and pharmacokinetic parameters. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients were enrolled with a median Karnofsky performance status of 90 and age of 56 years. Forty-six (84%) of these patients had debulking surgeries and 52 have died. The median survival was 10.3 months (95% confidence interval (CI), 8.5-12.8) compared to 12.1 months (95% CI, 10.3-13.3) in the NABTT reference group (p = 0.97). Significant toxicities included 2 incidents of reversible vision loss. The mean CAI plasma concentration for patients taking enzyme inducing antiepileptic drugs (EIAED) was 1.35 +/-1.22 compared to 4.06 +/- 1.50 (p < 0.001) for subjects not taking these agents. Overall survival and grade > or = 3 toxicities were comparable by EIAED status. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that (1) CAI can be administered safely with concomitant cranial irradiation, (2) the pharmacokinetics of CAI are significantly affected by co-administration of EIAED, and (3) the survival of patients with newly diagnosed GBM was not improved with this novel agent, despite achieving adequate drug levels.

The effect of enzyme-inducing antiseizure drugs on the pharmacokinetics and tolerability of procarbazine hydrochloride.

PURPOSE: Procarbazine hydrochloride (PCB) is one of the few anticancer drugs with activity against high-grade gliomas. This study was conducted to determine if the maximum tolerated dose and pharmacokinetics of PCB are affected by the concurrent use of enzyme-inducing antiseizure drugs (EIASD). EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: Adults with recurrent high-grade glioma were divided into cohorts who were (+) and were not (-) taking EIASDs. PCB was given orally for 5 consecutive days each month. Six patients were evaluated at each dose level beginning with 200 mg/m2/d and escalated using the modified continual reassessment method. Toxicity and response were assessed. Pharmacokinetic studies were done with a new electrospray ionization mass spectrometry assay. RESULTS: Forty-nine patients were evaluated. The maximum tolerated dose was 393 mg/m2/d for the +EIASD group and the highest dose evaluated in -EIASD patients was 334 mg/m2/d. Myelosuppression was the primary dose-limiting toxicity. Significant hepatic dysfunction occurred in three patients in the +EIASD cohort. Four partial responses (8%) and no complete responses were observed. PCB exhibited linear pharmacokinetics with no significant differences between the two cohorts. A marked increase in peak PCB levels was noted on day 5 relative to day 1, which was not attributable to drug accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggests that (a) EIASD use does not significantly affect the pharmacokinetics of PCB; (b) changes in the peak plasma concentration of PCB, consistent with decreased apparent oral clearance due to autoinhibition of hepatic metabolism, occur with daily dosing; and (c) severe hepatic dysfunction may accompany this administration schedule.

Phase 2 trial of copper depletion and penicillamine as antiangiogenesis therapy of glioblastoma.

Penicillamine is an oral agent used to treat intracerebral copper overload in Wilson's disease. Copper is a known regulator of angiogenesis; copper reduction inhibits experimental glioma growth and invasiveness. This study examined the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of creating a copper deficiency in human glioblastoma multiforme. Forty eligible patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme began radiation therapy (6000 cGy in 30 fractions) in conjunction with a low-copper diet and escalating doses of penicillamine. Serum copper was measured at baseline and monthly. The primary end point of this study was overall survival compared to historical controls within the NABTT CNS Consortium database. The 25 males and 15 females who were enrolled had a median age of 54 years and a median Karnofsky performance status of 90. Surgical resection was performed in 83% of these patients. Normal serum copper levels at baseline (median, 130 microg/dl; range, 50-227 microg/dl) fell to the target range of <50 microg/dl (median, 42 microg/dl; range, 12-118 microg/dl) after two months. Penicillamine-induced hypocupremia was well tolerated for months. Drug-related myelosuppression, elevated liver function tests, and skin rash rapidly reversed with copper repletion. Median survival was 11.3 months, and progression-free survival was 7.1 months. Achievement of hypocupremia did not significantly increase survival. Although serum copper was effectively reduced by diet and penicillamine, this antiangiogenesis strategy did not improve survival in patients with glioblastoma multiforme.

Efficacy and toxicity of the antisense oligonucleotide aprinocarsen directed against protein kinase C-alpha delivered as a 21-day continuous intravenous infusion in patients with recurrent high-grade astrocytomas.

Protein kinase C alpha (PKC-alpha) is a cytoplasmic serine threonine kinase involved in regulating cell differentiation and proliferation. Aprinocarsen is an antisense oligonucleotide against PKC-alpha that reduces PKC-alphain human cell lines and inhibits a human glioblastoma tumor cell line in athymic mice. In this phase 2 study, aprinocarsen was administered to patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas by continuous intravenous infusion (2.0 mg/kg/day for 21 days per month). Twenty-one patients entered this trial. Their median age was 46 years (range, 28-68 years), median Karnofsky performance status was 80 (range, 60-100), median tumor volume was 58 cm3 (range, 16-254 cm3), and histology included glioblastoma multiforme (n = 16), anaplastic oligodendroglioma (n = 4), and anaplastic astrocytoma (n = 1). The number of prior chemotherapy regimens included none (n = 3), one (n = 10), and two (n = 8). No tumor responses were observed. Patients on this therapy rapidly developed symptoms of increased intracranial pressure with increased edema, enhancement, and mass effect on neuroimaging. The median time to progression was 36 days, and median survival was 3.4 months. The observed toxicities were mild, reversible, and uncommon (grade 3 thrombocytopenia [n = 3] and grade 4 AST [n = 1]), and no coagulopathy or CNS bleeding resulted from this therapy. Plasma concentrations of aprinocarsen during the infusion exhibited significant interpatient variability (mean = 1.06 mug/ml; range, 0.34-6.08 mug/ml). This is the first study to use an antisense oligonucleotide or a specific PKC-alpha inhibitor in patients with high-grade gliomas. No clinical benefit was seen. The rapid deterioration seen in these patients could result from tumor growth or an effect of aprinocarsen on bloodbrain barrier integrity.