Virotherapy and Natural History Study of KHSV-Associated Multricentric Castleman s Disease With Correlates of Disease Activity
NCT ID: NCT00092222
Last Updated: 2025-12-26
Study Results
The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.
Basic Information
Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.
ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
PHASE2
75 participants
INTERVENTIONAL
2004-10-28
2026-10-01
Brief Summary
Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.
Participants ages 18 and older may be eligible for this study. Participation entails more drawing of blood and having repeated tumor biopsies than if patients received treatment in a non-research setting. Researchers would like to learn more about the relationship of KSHV and Castleman s disease symptoms, and they want to obtain at least three biopsies in this study.
There are some side effects of experimental therapy that participants may take for KSHV-MCD. Zidovudine, or Retrovir , is used at a high dose. It is given orally or through a vein, four times daily, for 7 days or longer. Zidovudine can cause nausea, vomiting, decreased bone marrow function, and decreased blood counts. Combined with valganciclovir, or Valcyte , it is likely to be more toxic to bone marrow. Valganciclovir can cause problems with bone marrow function, leading to low blood counts, sterility, and defects in a fetus. Combined with zidovudine, valganciclovir may cause more toxicity to the bone marrow. It is given twice daily for 7 days or longer. Bortezomib, or Velcade , is given for a few seconds by a rapid push through a needle into the vein. It is given twice weekly for four doses and then stopped for 1 week. Bortezomib can sometimes cause low blood pressure; it also can cause gastrointestinal problems and a low blood platelet count. Rituximab and liposomal doxorubicin are drugs given by a catheter into a vein. Interferon-alpha is given by injection into the skin. Those drugs are not experimental, but their use in Castleman s disease is experimental.
Some participants may be treated with a combination of chemotherapy followed by interferon-alpha. Interferon-alpha is infected into the skin by a needle. The natural form of interferon is produced by the body and helps to control viral infections. KSHV decreases the effect of the body s interferon, and the researchers want to see if giving higher doses of interferon will help to control KSHV infection.
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan, for research purposes only, may be done up to three times a year. A radioactive sugar molecule called fluorodeoxyglucose, or FDG, is used. It is believed that activated lymphocytes that may be found in participants disease might use more FDG because these cells burn more glucose fuel.
This study may or may not have a direct benefit for participants. However, detailed assessments made throughout the study may provide information to help the doctors treat KSHV-MCD better.
...
Detailed Description
Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.
* Multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD) is a rare but lethal Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) associated lymphoproliferative disorder with a median survival of 2 years. It occurs more often in HIV-infected individuals than those without HIV infection. The poor prognosis is not fully explained by the underlying HIV, as the HIV-negative cases appear to have no survival advantage over the HIV-positive cohort. The disease has no defined standard treatment and has not been prospectively studied in a comprehensive manner.
* KSHV-MCD may provide a model for the development of targeted oncolytic virotherapy or other pathogenesis-based approaches to viral-associated malignancies. In KSHV-MCD, viral encoded tyrosine kinase genes appear to be possible targets to exploit in a virotherapy approach. Specific viral encoded genes appear to convert zidovudine and ganciclovir (or valganciclovir) into toxic phosphorylated moieties within the KSHV-infected tumor cells, to specifically target the KSHV-infected cells thus leading to specific cell death. If successful, this could have direct therapeutic benefit to participants and also provide a model for further development of this approach in other tumors.
Objectives
-To study and describe the natural history of KSHV-MCD.
Eligibility
* Age greater than or equal to 18 years
* Biopsy proven KSHV-associated MCD
Design
* Natural History study
* Inclusion of treatment as needed, with guidelines for preliminary investigation of a variety of specific treatments of interest
* High-dose zidovudine and ganciclovir
* High-dose zidovudine and ganciclovir and bortezomib
* Sirolimus
* Rituximab with liposomal doxorubicin followed by interferon-alpha
* Rituximab with EPOCH chemotherapy
Conditions
See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.
Keywords
Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.
Study Design
Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.
NON_RANDOMIZED
PARALLEL
TREATMENT
NONE
Study Groups
Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.
Active Treament 3
Patients not responding to high- dose zidovudine and valganciclovir alone may be treated with botezomib plus high- dose zidovudine and valganciclovir
Zidovudine
Cycle 1: Zidovudine 600 mg PO QID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting;600 mg PO q6hours x 7-21 (Intravenous zidovudine 300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted) days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 600 mg PO QID x 7 days in outpatient setting; 600 mg PO q 6 hours x 7 days (300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted)
Bortezomib
1.3 mg/m2 IV days 1, 4, 8, and 11. Cycle length is 21 days.
Valganciclovir
Cycle 1: Valganciclovir 900 mg PO BID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7-21 days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 900 mg PO BID x 7 days for outpatients; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7 days (Intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg may be substituted) for inpatients
Active Treatment 1
Single agent sirolimus for patients where targeted oncolytic virotherapy seems suboptimal
Sirolimus
Maximum daily dose of 40 mg given as a single agent on 21 day cycle.
Active Treatment 2
EPOCH chemotherapy with rituximab may be utilized to rescue such patients, with the intent of stabilizing suchpatients
Etoposide
Etoposide 50 mg/m2 /day continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle. A maximum of 6 cycles of R-EPOCH-R will be administered except in exceptional circumstances.
Rituximab
Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV day 1, shall be administered prior to Doxil injection. When combined with EPOCH chemotherapy, Rituximab will be given on days 1 and 5.
Doxorubicin
10 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.
Vincristine
0.4 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclophosphamide: if CD4 \< 100 cells/mm3, 187 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) if CD4 greater than or equal to 100 cells/mm3, 375 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) of 21 day cycle.
Filgrastim (G-CSF)
Filgrastim 300 micrograms subcutaneous daily beginning day 6 until absolute neutrophil count recovery 5000 cells/mm3 (Pegfilgrastim may be substituted with PI approval, at the recommended dose of one 6mg syringe)
Prednisone
Prednisone 60 mg/m2/day PO x 5 days (days 1-5)of 21 day cycle.
Active Treatment 4
Rituximab with liposomal doxorubicin (R-Dox) followed by consolidation or lmaintenancel therapy with dose escalating interferon-alpha
Interferon-alpha
Ages 18 and over: Initial dose of 7.5 million units subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days; subsequent dosesincrease dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 45 million units subcutaneous three times weekly; Ages 12-17: Initial dose of 5 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days Subsequent doses: Increase dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 30 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly
Rituximab
Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV day 1, shall be administered prior to Doxil injection. When combined with EPOCH chemotherapy, Rituximab will be given on days 1 and 5.
Liposomal Doxorubicin
21 day cycle; 20 mg/m2 Liposomal Doxorubicin given on day 1 and shall be administered after completion of Rituximab infusion from 2 to 6 cycles.
Active Treatment 5
High dose zidovudin and valganciclovir
Zidovudine
Cycle 1: Zidovudine 600 mg PO QID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting;600 mg PO q6hours x 7-21 (Intravenous zidovudine 300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted) days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 600 mg PO QID x 7 days in outpatient setting; 600 mg PO q 6 hours x 7 days (300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted)
Valganciclovir
Cycle 1: Valganciclovir 900 mg PO BID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7-21 days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 900 mg PO BID x 7 days for outpatients; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7 days (Intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg may be substituted) for inpatients
Natural History
Observation Only
Observation Only
Observation of symptoms
Interventions
Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.
Etoposide
Etoposide 50 mg/m2 /day continuous intravenous infusion (CIVI) over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle. A maximum of 6 cycles of R-EPOCH-R will be administered except in exceptional circumstances.
Interferon-alpha
Ages 18 and over: Initial dose of 7.5 million units subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days; subsequent dosesincrease dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 45 million units subcutaneous three times weekly; Ages 12-17: Initial dose of 5 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly x 14 days Subsequent doses: Increase dose as tolerated each 14 days to a maximum of 30 million units/m2 subcutaneous, three times weekly
Rituximab
Rituximab 375 mg/m2 IV day 1, shall be administered prior to Doxil injection. When combined with EPOCH chemotherapy, Rituximab will be given on days 1 and 5.
Zidovudine
Cycle 1: Zidovudine 600 mg PO QID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting;600 mg PO q6hours x 7-21 (Intravenous zidovudine 300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted) days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 600 mg PO QID x 7 days in outpatient setting; 600 mg PO q 6 hours x 7 days (300 mg q 6 hours may be substituted)
Liposomal Doxorubicin
21 day cycle; 20 mg/m2 Liposomal Doxorubicin given on day 1 and shall be administered after completion of Rituximab infusion from 2 to 6 cycles.
Bortezomib
1.3 mg/m2 IV days 1, 4, 8, and 11. Cycle length is 21 days.
Valganciclovir
Cycle 1: Valganciclovir 900 mg PO BID x 7-21 days in outpatient setting; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7-21 days for inpatients; Cycle 2 and beyond: 900 mg PO BID x 7 days for outpatients; 900 mg PO q 12 hours x 7 days (Intravenous ganciclovir 5 mg/kg may be substituted) for inpatients
Doxorubicin
10 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.
Vincristine
0.4 mg/m2 /day CIVI over 24 hours x 4 days (days 1-4) of 21 day cycle.
Cyclophosphamide
Cyclophosphamide: if CD4 \< 100 cells/mm3, 187 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) if CD4 greater than or equal to 100 cells/mm3, 375 mg/m2 IV (Day 5) of 21 day cycle.
Filgrastim (G-CSF)
Filgrastim 300 micrograms subcutaneous daily beginning day 6 until absolute neutrophil count recovery 5000 cells/mm3 (Pegfilgrastim may be substituted with PI approval, at the recommended dose of one 6mg syringe)
Prednisone
Prednisone 60 mg/m2/day PO x 5 days (days 1-5)of 21 day cycle.
Sirolimus
Maximum daily dose of 40 mg given as a single agent on 21 day cycle.
Observation Only
Observation of symptoms
Eligibility Criteria
Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.
Inclusion Criteria
Biopsy proven KSHV-associated MCD, confirmed in the Laboratory of Pathology, CCR.
Willing to give informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
Presence of another malignancy requiring current treatment that would preclude the use of all of the study treatments or the ability to monitor the natural history of MCD untreated.
Pregnant women are excluded from this study as certain of the study agents have the potential for teratogenic effects
Any condition or set of circumstances that in the opinion of the investigators would make participation in this study unsafe or otherwise inappropriate for a given individual.
18 Years
ALL
No
Sponsors
Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
NIH
Responsible Party
Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.
Principal Investigators
Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.
Robert Yarchoan, M.D.
Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Locations
Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.
National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, United States
Countries
Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.
References
Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.
Oksenhendler E, Carcelain G, Aoki Y, Boulanger E, Maillard A, Clauvel JP, Agbalika F. High levels of human herpesvirus 8 viral load, human interleukin-6, interleukin-10, and C reactive protein correlate with exacerbation of multicentric castleman disease in HIV-infected patients. Blood. 2000 Sep 15;96(6):2069-73.
Gaidano G, Capello D, Pastore C, Antinori A, Gloghini A, Carbone A, Larocca LM, Saglio G. Analysis of human herpesvirus type 8 infection in AIDS-related and AIDS-unrelated primary central nervous system lymphoma. J Infect Dis. 1997 May;175(5):1193-7. doi: 10.1086/593456.
Oksenhendler E, Duarte M, Soulier J, Cacoub P, Welker Y, Cadranel J, Cazals-Hatem D, Autran B, Clauvel JP, Raphael M. Multicentric Castleman's disease in HIV infection: a clinical and pathological study of 20 patients. AIDS. 1996 Jan;10(1):61-7.
Lage SL, Ramaswami R, Rocco JM, Rupert A, Davis DA, Lurain K, Manion M, Whitby D, Yarchoan R, Sereti I. Inflammasome activation in patients with Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated diseases. Blood. 2024 Oct 3;144(14):1496-1507. doi: 10.1182/blood.2024024144.
Ramaswami R, Lurain K, Polizzotto MN, Ekwede I, Waldon K, Steinberg SM, Mangusan R, Widell A, Rupert A, George J, Goncalves PH, Marshall VA, Whitby D, Wang HW, Pittaluga S, Jaffe ES, Little RF, Uldrick TS, Yarchoan R. Characteristics and outcomes of KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease with or without other KSHV diseases. Blood Adv. 2021 Mar 23;5(6):1660-1670. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020004058.
Uldrick TS, Polizzotto MN, Aleman K, Wyvill KM, Marshall V, Whitby D, Wang V, Pittaluga S, O'Mahony D, Steinberg SM, Little RF, Yarchoan R. Rituximab plus liposomal doxorubicin in HIV-infected patients with KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease. Blood. 2014 Dec 4;124(24):3544-52. doi: 10.1182/blood-2014-07-586800. Epub 2014 Oct 20.
Polizzotto MN, Uldrick TS, Wang V, Aleman K, Wyvill KM, Marshall V, Pittaluga S, O'Mahony D, Whitby D, Tosato G, Steinberg SM, Little RF, Yarchoan R. Human and viral interleukin-6 and other cytokines in Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated multicentric Castleman disease. Blood. 2013 Dec 19;122(26):4189-98. doi: 10.1182/blood-2013-08-519959. Epub 2013 Oct 30.
Uldrick TS, Polizzotto MN, Aleman K, O'Mahony D, Wyvill KM, Wang V, Marshall V, Pittaluga S, Steinberg SM, Tosato G, Whitby D, Little RF, Yarchoan R. High-dose zidovudine plus valganciclovir for Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus-associated multicentric Castleman disease: a pilot study of virus-activated cytotoxic therapy. Blood. 2011 Jun 30;117(26):6977-86. doi: 10.1182/blood-2010-11-317610. Epub 2011 Apr 12.
Related Links
Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.
NIH Clinical Center Detailed Web Page
Other Identifiers
Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.
04-C-0275
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: secondary_id
040275
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: org_study_id
NCT00099073
Identifier Type: -
Identifier Source: nct_alias