NIH Clinical Research Studies

Protocol Number: 06-D-0206

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

Title:
Open-Label, Dose-Escalation Study Evaluating the Safety of a Single Administration of AdhAQP1, an Adenoviral Vector Encoding Human Aquaporin-1 to One Parotid Salivary Gland in Individuals with Irradiation-Induced Parotid Salivary Hypofunction
Number:
06-D-0206
Summary:
This study will examine whether the experimental drug AdhAQP1 can increase salivary flow in patients whose parotid glands have been exposed to therapeutic radiation for treatment of head and neck cancer. Radiation may damage the parotid glands (salivary glands located under the skin in front of the ear), leading to dry mouth, infections, excessive tooth decay, mouth sores, difficulty swallowing and pain. AdhAQP1 contains the human aquaporin-1 gene, which codes for a protein that works to transport water across cells, and a virus that normally can cause colds in humans, but is modified to render it ineffective. In animal experiments, AdhAQP1 has increased saliva production for a short time.

Patients between 18 years of age or older who received radiation treatment for head and neck cancer at least 5 years before enrolling in this study, who have no evidence of recurrent tumor, who have dry mouth and who secrete abnormally low levels of saliva from the parotid glands may be eligible for this study. Candidates are screened with a medical history, physical examination, blood, urine and saliva tests, electrocardiogram (EKG), chest x-ray, MRI exam, gallium scan (a nuclear medicine test to look for inflammation in the salivary glands), technetium pertechnetate scan (a nuclear medicine test to examine salivary gland function), parotid sialogram (x-ray of parotid gland), PET and CT scans to look for signs of tumor and a skin biopsy to collect skin cells for use in immunological tests.

Participants have a salt and sugar solution infused through a catheter (plastic tube) into both parotid glands. After 10 minutes, the solution drains into the mouth and is swallowed. Saliva is collected from the parotid glands at 6 and 24 hours after administration of the salt and sugar solution. Ten to 14 days later, patients are admitted to the NIH Clinical Center for up to 4 days for the following tests and procedures:

-On the first day, administration, through a catheter, of the study drug AdhAQP1 into one parotid gland.

-Monitoring over the next 3 days for changes in patients' ability to produce saliva. This includes medical examinations and several blood, urine and saliva collections.

-Technetium scan on day 2.

-Gallium scan on day 2.

Patients return to NIH for follow-up visits at 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after the AdhAQP1 infusion and then 3, 4, 5, 6 and 12 months for a medical examination and blood, urine and saliva collections. Gallium, technetium and MRI scans are repeated at several of the follow-up visits, and sialograms are done at 6 and 12 months. Chest x-ray and EKG are repeated at 4 and 6 months.

Sponsoring Institute:
National Institute of Dental And Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
Recruitment Detail
Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled
Gender: Male & Female
Referral Letter Required: Yes
Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:
INCLUSION CRITERIA:

-Age 18 years of age or older.

-Capable of providing informed consent.

-History of radiation therapy for head and neck cancer, having received greater than 45Gy to the parotid gland(s) due to primary or neck radiation.

-Abnormal parotid gland function in the targeted parotid gland as judged by absence of unstimulated parotid salivary flow and a stimulated parotid salivary flow in the targeted parotid gland less than 0.2 mL/min/gland after 2 percent citrate stimulation.

-Abnormal (99m)TcO4 scintiscan (reduced or absent uptake of (99m)TcO4) for the targeted parotid gland in the following circumstance: A (99m)TcO4 scintiscan will only be performed and used to determine eligibility if the isotope is available. If the isotope is not available, this inclusion criterion is not applicable.

-Abnormal sialograms (an altered ductal network with sialectasis) for the targeted parotid gland.

-No current evidence of malignancy by otolaryngology assessment, including a clinical history, nasopharyngolaryngoscopy, and negative CT or PET scan.

-Must be disease-free for at least 5 years, with the disease-free interval calculated from date of last cancer treatment (i.e. date of last radiation, chemotherapy or surgery) to date of pre-dose screening.

-Willingness to practice appropriate birth control methods (preferably "barrier" contraception, i.e., condoms, diaphragm) until AdhAQP1 is no longer detectable in their serum or saliva. Women who cannot bear children (post menopausal or due to a surgical intervention) will be asked to practice barrier birth control methods until AdhAQP1 is no longer detectable in their serum or saliva.

-Able to stay at the NIH hospital for the period of time necessary to complete each on-site phase of the protocol.

-No history of allergies to any medications or agents to be used in this protocol.

-On stable doses of medications (greater than or equal to 2 months from the pre-dose screening visit) for any underlying medical conditions.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

-Pregnant or lactating women. Women of childbearing potential are required to have a negative serum pregnancy test at screening and a negative urine pregnancy test within 24 hours of treatment.

-Any experimental therapy within 3 month of planned AdhAQP1 administration (Day 1).

-Any active respiratory tract infection in the 3 weeks prior to planned AdhAQP1 administration (Day 1).

-Active infection that requires the use of intravenous antibiotics and does not resolve at least 1 week before planned AdhAQP1 administration (Day 1).

-Evidence of active substance or alcohol abuse or history of substance or alcohol abuse within two years of screening.

-Uncontrolled ischemic heart disease: unstable angina, evidence of active ischemic heart disease on ECG, congestive heart failure (left ventricular ejection fraction less than 45 percent on MUGA or echo) or cardiomyopathy.

-Asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease requiring regular inhaled or systemic corticosteroids.

-Individuals taking prescription medications (anti-cholinergics, anti-depressants) likely to result in salivary hypofunction.

-Individuals with a history of autoimmune diseases affecting salivary glands, including Sjogren's syndrome, lupus, scleroderma, type 1 diabetes, sarcoidosis, amyloidosis, and chronic graft versus host disease.

-Use of systemic immunosuppressive medications, e.g., corticosteroids. Topical corticosteroids are allowed.

-History of a second malignancy, within past 3 years, with the exception of adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin or in situ carcinoma of the cervix.

-Active hepatitis B, hepatitis C or HIV infection.

-WBC less than 3000/microL or ANC less than 1500/microL or Hgb less than 10.0 g/dL or platelets less than 100,000/microL or absolute lymphocyte count less than or equal to 500//microL.

-ALT and/or AST greater than 1.5x upper limit of normal (ULN) or alkaline phosphatase greater than 1.5x ULN.

-Serum creatinine greater than 2 mg/dL.

-Individuals who are active smokers.

-Individuals who consume more than 1 alcoholic beverage/day

-Individuals who have an allergy to iodine or shellfish and thus are unable to have sialographic evaluations.

-Individuals whose parotid ducts is not clinically accessible on screening sialography evaluations.

-Individuals who on sialography have a distal stenosis in the taregeted parotid gland that would impede vector delivery.

-Individuals who likely would require use of a general anesthetic for ultrasound-guided core needle biopsy (applicable only for participants in dose cohorts 2-5).

-Significant concurrent or recently diagnosed (less than 2 months from Day 1) medical condition that, in the opinion of the Medically Responsible Investigator, could affect the participant's ability to tolerate or complete the study.

-Live vaccines within 4 weeks of first infusion.

-Previous participation in a rAd5 vector gene transfer study.

Special Instructions:
Currently Not Provided
Keywords:
Adenovirus
Aquaporin-1
Gene Transfer
Radiation-Induced Salivary Hypofunction
Salivary Gland
Xerostomia
Recruitment Keyword(s):
Salivary Dysfunction
Hyposalivation
Condition(s):
Parotid Salivary Dysfunction
Investigational Drug(s):
AdhAQP1
Investigational Device(s):
None
Intervention(s):
Genetic: Gene Transfer
Drug: AdhAQP1
Supporting Site:
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Contact(s):
Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):
Baum BJ, Wellner RB, Zheng C. Gene transfer to salivary glands. Int Rev Cytol. 2002;213:93-146.

Zufferey R, Aebischer P. Salivary glands and gene therapy: the mouth waters. Gene Ther. 2004 Oct;11(19):1425-6.

Baum BJ, Voutetakis A, Wang J. Salivary glands: novel target sites for gene therapeutics. Trends Mol Med. 2004 Dec;10(12):585-90.

Active Accrual, Protocols Recruiting New Patients

If you have:


Command Menu Bar

Search The Studies | Help | Questions |
Clinical Center Home | NIH Home


Clinical Center LogoNational Institutes of Health Clinical Center Bethesda, Maryland 20892. Last update: 01/30/2009
Search The Studies Help Questions