Pediatric Trial of Indoximod With Chemotherapy and Radiation for Relapsed Brain Tumors or Newly Diagnosed DIPG

Last updated: March 5, 2025
Sponsor: Theodore S. Johnson
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

2

Condition

Brain Cancer

Brain Tumor

Gliomas

Treatment

Indoximod

Temozolomide

Full-dose Radiation

Clinical Study ID

NCT04049669
GCC1949
R01CA229646
  • Ages 3-21
  • All Genders

Study Summary

Indoximod was developed to inhibit the IDO (indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) enzymatic pathway, which is important in the natural regulation of immune responses. This potent immune suppressive mechanism has been implicated in regulating immune responses in settings as diverse as infection, tissue/organ transplant, autoimmunity, and cancer. By inhibiting the IDO pathway, we hypothesize that indoximod will improve antitumor immune responses and thereby slow the growth of tumors.

The central clinical hypothesis for the GCC1949 study is that inhibiting the pivotal IDO pathway by adding indoximod immunotherapy during chemotherapy and/or radiation is a potent approach for breaking immune tolerance to pediatric tumors that will improve outcomes, relative to standard therapy alone.

This is an NCI-funded (R01 CA229646, MPI: Johnson and Munn) open-label phase 2 trial using indoximod-based combination chemo-radio-immunotherapy for treatment of patients age 3 to 21 years who have progressive brain cancer (glioblastoma, medulloblastoma, or ependymoma), or newly-diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Statistical analysis will stratify patients based on whether their treatment plan includes up-front radiation (or proton) therapy in combination with indoximod. Central review of tissue diagnosis from prior surgery is required, except non-biopsied DIPG. This study will use the "immune-adapted Response Assessment for Neuro-Oncology" (iRANO) criteria for measurement of outcomes. Planned enrollment is up to 140 patients.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

Inclusion Criteria:

Diagnosis:

  • Progressive disease with histologically proven initial diagnosis of glioblastoma,medulloblastoma, or ependymoma; With confirmation of progression by either MRI orCSF analysis; Measureable disease is not required for study entry; Patients withprogressive disease must have been previously treated with therapeutic radiation aspart of treatment for the initial brain cancer diagnosis or for a prior relapse.

  • Newly diagnosed DIPG (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma) with no prior therapy (including no prior radiation); Biopsy is not required for DIPG.

  • Central review of tissue diagnosis is required, except non-biopsied DIPG; Archivaltumor tissue must be located and available prior to study entry.

  • Patients with metastatic disease are eligible.

Lansky or Karnofsky performance status score must be ≥ 50%.

Adequate renal function: creatinine ≤ 1.5-times upper limit of age-adjusted normal.

Adequate liver function:

  • ALT ≤ 5-times upper limit of normal.

  • Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5-times upper limit of normal.

Adequate Bone marrow function:

  • Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 750/mcL.

  • Platelets ≥ 75,000/mcL (transfusion independent).

  • Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL (transfusion independent).

Central nervous system: seizure disorders must be well controlled on antiepileptic medication.

Prior therapy

  • DIPG patients must not have been treated with any prior radiation or medicaltherapy.

  • Patients previously treated with indoximod are excluded.

  • Patients previously treated with any other immunotherapy agent, including otherIDO-targeted drugs, are eligible for enrollment.

  • Patients previously treated with chemotherapy drugs included in this protocol areeligible for enrollment.

Patients must be 14 days from the administration of any investigational agent or prior cytotoxic therapy with the following exceptions:

  • Temozolomide dosed at or above 150 mg/m2 (allowed, but must be at least 21 days fromthe last dose of temozolomide).

  • Must be 28 days from administration of antibody-based therapies (e.g., bevacizumab),tumor-directed vaccines, or cellular immune therapies (e.g., T cells, NK cells,etc).

  • Must be 56 days from administration of tumor-directed therapies using infectiousagents (e.g., viruses, bacteria, etc).

Pregnant women are excluded from this study, where pregnancy is confirmed by a positive urine or serum hCG laboratory test.

Patients must be able to swallow pills.

.

Exclusion

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients who cannot swallow indoximod pills are excluded.

Patients previously treated with indoximod are excluded.

Patients with DIPG who have been treated with any prior radiation or medical therapy are excluded.

Midline glioma that does not include significant brain stem involvement is not considered DIPG for enrollment purposes, and is excluded.

Patients with active systemic infection requiring treatment, including any HIV infection or toxoplasmosis, are excluded.

Patients with active autoimmune disease that requires systemic therapy are excluded.

Pregnant women are excluded

Study Design

Total Participants: 140
Treatment Group(s): 7
Primary Treatment: Indoximod
Phase: 2
Study Start date:
October 02, 2019
Estimated Completion Date:
October 02, 2027

Study Description

Disease-specific Cohorts :

Cohort 1A, 1B (closed to enrollment): relapsed or refractory glioblastoma

Cohort 2A, 2B: relapsed or refractory medulloblastoma

Cohort 3A, 3B, 3C: relapsed or refractory ependymoma

Cohort 4C (closed to enrollment): newly-diagnosed DIPG (must have no prior radiation or other therapy)

.

Radiation (or proton) plan sub-cohorts:

Sub-cohort A: for patients not eligible for re-irradiation

Sub-cohort B: for patients who are eligible for partial re-irradiation

Sub-cohort C: for patients who are eligible for full-dose radiation (All newly diagnosed DIPG patients and some relapsed ependymoma patients)

Connect with a study center

  • Emory University, Children's Heathcare of Atlanta

    Atlanta, Georgia 30342
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Augusta University, Georgia Cancer Center

    Augusta, Georgia 30912
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

  • Emory University, Children's Heathcare of Atlanta

    Druid Hills, Georgia 30322
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    Boston, Massachusetts 02215
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

    Cincinnati, Ohio 45229
    United States

    Site Not Available

  • MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas 77030
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.