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CompletedNCT00001004Updated Nov 4, 2021

A Study of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Human Interferon-gamma in Patients With AIDS Related Complex

A Phase 2 interventional study of Tumor Necrosis Factor and Interferon gamma-1b in HIV Infections, sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). Completed at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years to 70 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2021-11-04.

Sponsored by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
30
Ages
18 Years to 70 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

To study the tolerance and toxicity of the combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon gamma (IFN-G) or as single agent TNF or IFN-G in HIV infected patients. To selectively monitor the immune system of AIDS related complex (ARC) patients who receive either combination therapy or TNF or IFN-G alone. To obtain information on the effectiveness of combination therapy or TNF or IFN-G alone against HIV in ARC patients.

Recombinant TNF and recombinant IFN-G have been shown to be effective against the virus which causes AIDS and ARC in some laboratory studies, but may increase virus replication in other laboratory studies. Previous studies in humans showed no increase in virus cultures and some decrease in measurements of virus. Extensive preclinical data show that TNF and IFN-G are more effective together than separately in laboratory and animal studies. As single agents, both TNF and IFN-G have modest effect against HIV. Studies have demonstrated that TNF and IFN-G, in combination, can not only inhibit HIV infection of previously uninfected cells, but also can selectively induce the destruction of acutely infected target cells.

Read the detailed description

Recombinant TNF and recombinant IFN-G have been shown to be effective against the virus which causes AIDS and ARC in some laboratory studies, but may increase virus replication in other laboratory studies. Previous studies in humans showed no increase in virus cultures and some decrease in measurements of virus. Extensive preclinical data show that TNF and IFN-G are more effective together than separately in laboratory and animal studies. As single agents, both TNF and IFN-G have modest effect against HIV. Studies have demonstrated that TNF and IFN-G, in combination, can not only inhibit HIV infection of previously uninfected cells, but also can selectively induce the destruction of acutely infected target cells.

Patients with ARC who are positive for HIV antibody are randomized to receive one of three treatment arms: (1) TNF alone by intramuscular injection (IM); (2) IFN-G alone by IM; (3) TNF plus IFN-G. Patients receive IM injections 3 times weekly for 4 months (16 weeks). Repeated physical examinations and laboratory tests are used to monitor patients' safety. Serial HIV cultures and core antigen assays are employed to obtain evidence of antiviral activity and serial T cell and skin tests are used to measure immunologic effect.

02

Conditions studied

  • HIV Infections

Keywords

  • Tumor Necrosis Factor
  • Interferon-gamma, Recombinant
  • HIV Antigens
  • Immunologic Surveillance
  • Drug Therapy, Combination
  • Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
  • AIDS-Related Complex
03

In context

HIV Infections

4,734 studies on the registry are indexed under HIV Infections; 244 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 30 is below the median of 80 across 3,489 interventional studies indexed under HIV Infections.

Browse HIV Infections studies →

Lead sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) is the lead sponsor of 2,446 studies on the registry; 179 are open to participants now.

Of its 405 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 302 (75%) have results posted.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years to 70 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Patients who have a primary diagnosis of AIDS related complex (ARC) including lymphadenopathy syndrome (LAS), who are positive for antibody, have a minimum of 3 months, and have one or more of the following symptoms for = or > 30 days:

  • Fever.
  • Night sweats.
  • Fatigue.
  • Oral thrush.
  • Hairy leukoplakia.
  • Diarrhea.
  • Weight loss \< 10 percent.
  • Patients must be able to sign a written form, which must be obtained prior to treatment.

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

  • Acetaminophen for temperature rise of > 38.5 degrees C - 650 mg by mouth every 4 hours on an as needed basis.

Severe rigors may be treated (or prevented) with meperidine 50 mg IV on an as needed basis in the absence of systolic hypotension \< 80 mm Hg.

Exclusion criteria

-

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients with the following are excluded:

  • cardiac disease - Class II, III, or IV.
  • Hemorrhagic diathesis (including hemophilia) or active bleeding disorder (e.g., genitourinary, gastrointestinal).
  • Clinically apparent vascular disease (including a prior history of pulmonary embolus, deep venous thrombosis, or peripheral arterial occlusive disease).

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

  • Medications required for the treatment of active cardiac disease including cardiac glycosides, antiarrhythmics and antianginal agents.
  • Anticoagulants.
  • Thrombolytic agents.
  • Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Ongoing therapy with vasodilators.
  • Aspirin.
  • .
  • Antihistamines.
  • Barbiturates.
  • Excluded within 4 weeks of study entry:
  • Antiviral chemotherapy.
  • Immunotherapy.
  • Excluded within 12 weeks of study entry:
  • Suramin.

Patients with the following are excluded:

  • AIDS-associated opportunistic infection.
  • Lipoprotein disorders.
  • Hemophilia.

Prior Medication:

Excluded:

  • Interferon gamma.
  • Tumor necrosis factor.
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(6)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.

Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.

Life expectancy

The study doctor’s estimate of how long someone is likely to live. Criteria use it so that people can stay in the study long enough for it to answer its question.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Clinically significant

Judged by the study doctor to matter for your health or for the study. It is a doctor’s decision, so ask the study team if you are unsure whether something counts.

NYHA class (heart failure)

The New York Heart Association’s four classes of how much heart failure limits physical activity.

I
No limits: ordinary activity causes no undue tiredness or breathlessness.
II
Slight limits: comfortable at rest, ordinary activity causes symptoms.
III
Marked limits: comfortable at rest, less than ordinary activity causes symptoms.
IV
Symptoms even at rest; any activity makes them worse.

Studies set their own limit — many outside heart failure leave out class III–IV, while heart failure studies may ask for a particular class. Check the class this study names.

Corticosteroids (steroids)

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.

Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double
Enrollment
30 participants
06

Study locations

1 site
  • Univ of Washington
    Seattle, Washington 98105, United States
07

References and documents

Publications

  • Agosti JM, Coombs R, Kidd PG, Paradise M, Sherwin S, Corey L. Randomized phase II trial of recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) and recombinant interferon-gamma (rIFN-gamma) in patients with ARC. Int Conf AIDS. 1989 Jun 4-9;5:558 (abstract no MCP101)
  • Agosti JM, Coombs RW, Collier AC, Paradise MA, Benedetti JK, Jaffe HS, Corey L. A randomized, double-blind, phase I/II trial of tumor necrosis factor and interferon-gamma for treatment of AIDS-related complex (Protocol 025 from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group). AIDS Res Hum Retroviruses. 1992 May;8(5):581-7. doi: 10.1089/aid.1992.8.581. PubMed 1515211 ↗
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 4, 2021, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT00001004
Responsible party
Sponsor
First posted
Aug 31, 2001
Completion
Feb 1990
Last update
Nov 4, 2021

Study contacts

Kaplan L
study chair
Corey L
study chair
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is completed, as verified in Oct 2021. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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Studies of the drug tested here: Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

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