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TerminatedNCT01071941Updated Jun 18, 2024

rRp450-Phase I Trial in Liver Metastases and Primary Liver Tumors

A Phase 1 interventional study of administration of rRp450 into the hepatic artery in Liver Metastases and Primary Liver Cancers, sponsored by Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD. Terminated at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-06-18.

Sponsored by Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD · Phase 1, Interventional, and Treatment

Why this study was terminated
Inadequate funding
Phase
Phase 1
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
15
Allocation
Not applicable
Ages
18 Years and older
Sex
All
01

Study summary

The purpose of this research study is to determine the safety of rRp450 and the highest dose of this agent that can be given to people safely. We are also looking to see how well the body tolerates the study agent, how the agent is absorbed by the liver cancers, how quickly the agent is eliminated from the body, and what kind of anti-cancer effect it may have. rRp450 is a type of gene therapy and a form of the Herpes simplex virus 1 (or HSV). HSV is a virus that usually causes cold sores of the mouth. In extremely rare circumstances, this virus can cause severe infections, such as an infection of the brain. rRp450 was developed from an HSV and specially altered to target and kill cancer cells.

Read the detailed description
  • Since we are looking for the highest dose of the study agent that can be administered safely without severe or unmanageable side effects in participants that have liver tumors, not everyone who participates in this research study will receive the same dose of the study drug. The dose the participant receives will depend on the number of participants who have been enrolled in the study before and how well they tolerated their doses.
  • Depending upon when the participant enrolls in this study, they will either receive a single injection of rRp450, or up to 4 weekly injections of rRp450. Participants in both groups will be monitored after the rRp450 injection in the hospital and in the clinic. As of July, 2013, because the first phase of the study has been completed, all participants from here forward will receive 4 weekly injections of rRp450
  • For the rRp450 injection, we will insert a small tube into the artery that supplies blood to the liver. rRp450 will be injected into this tube so it goes directly to the liver. Another tube is inserted into the blood vessel that drains blood from the liver. We will use this tube to take blood samples to monitor how the body absorbs and breaks down rRp450.
  • After the rRp450 injection, participants will be monitored closely for any side effects. Vital signs will be closely monitored before, during and after rRp450 injection. After the rRp450 injection, the tubes are removed.
  • The following tests and procedures are done before the rRp450 injection: determination of overall health condition, performance status evaluation, review of current medications and any side effects, physical exam and vital signs.
  • The following tests and procedures will be done during the injection of rRp450: vital signs, review of any side effects, research blood samples taken from a vein in your arm, and research blood samples taken from your liver vein.
  • The following tests and procedures will be done after rRp450 injection: 1 Hour after; blood tests: 6 and 12 hours after; blood tests, vital signs, routine blood tests, samples of saliva and swabs of the skin of the penis or vaginal secretions (hour 12 only): 24 hours after, Between days 4 to 7 and Between days 10 to 14; review of current medications and side effects, physical exam, vital signs, routine blood tests, swab samples of saliva, blood test to see if the body has produced antibodies against HSV-1 (only on day 4 to 7 and only for participants enrolled in the single injection group).
  • Liver and tumor biopsies will be performed about 6 days after the rRp450 injection.
  • Participants will be asked to return to the clinic 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and every 3 months thereafter after their last injection of study medication.
02

Conditions studied

  • Liver Metastases
  • Primary Liver Cancers

Keywords

  • rRp450
  • Herpes virus
  • Gene therapy
03

In context

Neoplasm Metastasis

3,517 studies on the registry are indexed under Neoplasm Metastasis; 885 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 15 is below the median of 54 across 2,767 interventional studies indexed under Neoplasm Metastasis.

Browse Neoplasm Metastasis studies →

Lead sponsor

This is the only study on the registry with Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD as lead sponsor.

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

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
18 Years and older
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

  • 18 years of age or more and able to understand and sign a written informed consent form
  • Histologically confirmed diagnosis of cancer with liver metastases, or histologically confirmed primary liver cancer (e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma, cholangiocarcinoma, or gallbladder carcinoma). Subjects may have extrahepatic spread of malignancy, except they may not have brain metastases. Subjects with a history of more than one invasive malignancy remain eligible for this study, but in these instances, a liver biopsy is required to document the histology of the liver tumor. An exception to this criterion is made for basal cell carcinoma.
  • Subjects must have primary or metastatic liver malignancies which are surgically unresectable, and exhausted all standard therapeutic options
  • Patients with hepatocellular carcinoma must have received sorafenib as one of the standard treatment options prior to being enrolled into the study
  • No liver surgery (including radiofrequency ablation), chemotherapy (including bevacizumab), immunotherapy, or liver radiotherapy within 4 weeks of enrollment.
  • ECOG performance status 0, 1 or 2 and life expectancy of greater than 12 weeks based on the investigator's clinical judgment.
  • Serum hematology and chemistry test results as outlined in the protocol.
  • Tumor volume occupies less than 50% of liver by volume as assessed by CT scan or MRI scan within 4 weeks of treatment
  • Negative pregnancy test (serum or urine) in premenopausal women
  • Prior exposure to HSV-1 as determined by blood test

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical or pathological diagnosis of cirrhosis, hemachromatosis, or heptic fibrosis
  • Ascites or complete occlusion of main portal vein
  • Hepatitis C infection, chronic infection with hepatitis B, infection with HIV, or evidence of hepatic insufficiency
  • Inability to practice contraception with condoms as prescribed by the protocol
  • Active infection requiring treatment with systemic antibiotics or systemic anti-fungal agents
  • Being treated with immunosuppressive agents such as systemic corticosteroids or cyclosporine
  • Unstable angina, symptomatic congestive heart failure, serious uncontrolled cardiac arrhythmia, or need for antiarrythmic medication for which inability to take an oral preparation of regular medication for 48 hours would represent an unacceptable risk.
  • Known existing uncontrolled coagulopathy, hemorrhagic disorder, or inability to discontinue coumadin or plavix for 5 days prior to each treatment (except for prophylaxis against portacath-associated thrombosis, which does not require cessation of therapy).
  • History of seizures
  • Allergy to acyclovir or inability to receive contract for CT and MRI scans
  • Prior liver resection of greater than 2 anatomic segments as defined by Couinaud (subjects that have undergone prior liver wedge excisions or segmental resections are not excluded on this basis alone).
05

Study design

Phase
Phase 1
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Not applicable
Intervention model
Single group
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
15 participants (actual)

Study arms

  • Experimental
    Group 1

    The first subjects will receive a single infusion of rRp450. Subsequent subjects will receive rRp450 as four doses administered every 1-2 weeks.

    Biological: administration of rRp450 into the hepatic artery

Interventions

  • Biologicaladministration of rRp450 into the hepatic artery

    Administration of rRp450 into the hepatic artery either as a single infusion, or as four infusions administered every one to two weeks.

    Also known as: rRp450

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Evaluate the safety and tolerability of rRp450 administered into the hepatic artery as a single dose.

    Time frame: 3 years

  2. Evaluate the safety and tolerability of rRp450 administered into the hepatic artery as four doses administered every 1-2 weeks.

    Time frame: 3 years

  3. Determine the dose-limiting toxicities and maximum dose of rRp450 that can be safely administered into the hepatic artery when administered weekly for four doses.

    Time frame: 3 years

  4. Characterize rRp450 pharmacokinetics and viral shedding.

    Time frame: 3 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Assess the relationship between systemic rRp450 levels and clinical toxicity.

    Time frame: 3 years

  2. Evaluate tumor biopsies for rRp450 replication, tumor response and immune cell infiltrates.

    Time frame: 3 years

  3. Correlate radiographic and pathologic assessments of tumor response.

    Time frame: 3 years

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Massachusetts General Hospital
    Boston, Massachusetts 02115, United States
08

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Jun 18, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
09

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT01071941
Lead sponsor
Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD
Collaborators
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Responsible party
Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD (Chief, Surgical Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Feb 19, 2010
Start date
Oct 2010
Primary completion
Jun 2024
Completion
Jun 2024
Last update
Jun 18, 2024

Study contacts

Kenneth K. Tanabe, MD
principal investigator · Massachusetts General Hospital

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

Not currently enrolling

This study is terminated, as verified in Jun 2024. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.

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