A Study on the Effect of Chemotherapy Combined With Anti-HIV Drugs in HIV-Positive Patients

Effect of Cytoreductive Chemotherapy Combined With Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy on Lymph Node HIV DNA in HIV-Infected Subjects

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety of anti-HIV drugs combined with low-dose chemotherapy (consisting of cyclophosphamide [CTX]) in HIV-positive patients. This study examines whether this combination therapy can reduce the number of HIV-infected cells hidden in the lymph nodes and blood.

Current anti-HIV drug treatments can greatly reduce the levels of HIV in the human body. However, HIV can hide in certain immune cells and escape the drugs' effects. Chemotherapy using CTX destroys these immune cells. When used with standard anti-HIV drug treatments, CTX may be able to speed up the elimination of HIV-infected cells.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

HAART is a potent suppressor of plasma and lymph node HIV RNA. However, studies suggest that HAART cannot significantly diminish reservoirs of chronically HIV-infected cells. Strategies designed to eradicate all HIV infection should seek to actively target these reservoirs. CTX administration has been shown to eliminate a large number of lymphoid tissue T cells and macrophages, appearing to actively target chronically HIV-infected cells. As lymphoid organs are repopulated following initial depletion with CTX, HAART may protect repopulating cells from becoming HIV-infected, resulting in a net additional removal of the HIV-infected lymphoid reservoir.

In Step 1 of this 2-step protocol, all patients receive a HAART regimen of nelfinavir (NFV) plus stavudine (d4T) plus lamivudine (3TC). Patients who achieve an acceptable virologic response, defined as 2 consecutive HIV RNA determinations below 500 copies/ml at least 2 weeks apart between Weeks 4 and 16 of Step 1 [AS PER AMENDMENT 10/30/98: defined as 2 consecutive plasma HIV RNA determinations below 50 copies/ml by the Roche Ultrasensitive assay within a 4-week period between Weeks 4 and 24], are randomized to Arm A or B of Step 2. In Arm A, patients receive NFV plus d4T plus 3TC. In Arm B, patients receive NFV plus d4T plus 3TC plus 3 escalating doses of CTX at 6-week intervals. Patients in both arms are followed for at least 52 weeks following randomization to Step 2. During this time, patients undergo blood tests and lymph node biopsies to measure HIV DNA and RNA levels and to characterize the T cell population. Additionally, patients undergo a chest CT of the thymus before randomization to Step 2 and at Week 52 of Step 2. Cerebrospinal fluid may be obtained at Week 52 to determine the amount of HIV RNA and DNA present. [AS PER AMENDMENT 10/30/98: G-CSF is given after the first dose of CTX, at the discretion of the investigator, and after the second and third doses, for up to 14 days, until the absolute neutrophil count is 10,000 cells/mm3. Also, CTX doses may be modified based on pharmacokinetic study results.]

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

10

Phase

  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

    • North Carolina
      • Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 275997215
        • Univ of North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
        • Duke Univ Med Ctr

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years to 50 years (Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible for this study if you:

  • Are HIV-positive.
  • Have a CD4 count above 300 cells/mm3 within 30 days of study entry.
  • Have an HIV viral load between 10,000 and 200,000 copies/ml.
  • Are between the ages of 18 and 50.
  • Agree to practice abstinence or to use a barrier method of birth control during the study (such as condoms).

Exclusion Criteria

You may not be eligible for this study if you:

  • Have had cancer requiring chemotherapy or radiotherapy or certain nervous system diseases.
  • Are sensitive to E. coli-derived proteins.
  • Have an active AIDS-defining illness.
  • Require certain medications.
  • Are pregnant or breast-feeding.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Investigators

  • Study Chair: John A. Bartlett, MD, Duke Univ Med Ctr

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Completion (Actual)

October 1, 2001

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 2, 1999

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 30, 2001

First Posted (Estimate)

August 31, 2001

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 29, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 27, 2021

Last Verified

October 1, 2021

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on HIV Infections

Clinical Trials on Lamivudine

3
Subscribe