A Study of Zidovudine Plus Interleukin-2 in HIV-Infected Patients Who Have No Symptoms of Infection But Who Have Tender Lymph Nodes

October 28, 2021 updated by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Interleukin-2 Augmentation of Specific Anti-HIV Immune Responses: Phase I Trial of the Combination of 3'-Azido-3'-Deoxythymidine (Zidovudine) and Recombinant Interleukin-2 in Patients With Asymptomatic HIV Infection Associated With Lymphadenopathy (Walter Reed Stage II)

AMENDED: To investigate whether subcutaneous (SC) injection of IL-2 produces biological responses which parallel those observed with IV dosing. Original design: To evaluate the short-term effects of combined administration of zidovudine (AZT) and increasing doses of recombinant interleukin-2 (aldesleukin; IL-2) in patients infected with HIV, who have lymphadenopathy, but who are otherwise asymptomatic (no other symptoms). The first phase of this clinical trial will establish maximum tolerated dose ( MTD ). How quickly the drugs get into the blood and how long they remain there (pharmacokinetics) will also be studied at each dose as well as the effect on HIV.

Since AZT has no effect on cells that contain inactive virus (latently infected cells) and these cells may act as viral reservoirs, that a second agent that can destroy these infected cells would be useful in combination with AZT. The different activities of AZT and IL-2, as well as the non-overlapping nature of their mechanisms of action and toxicity, increase the theoretical benefits of combining AZT, a drug which has clinically significant activity in HIV-related disease but cannot eliminate infected cells, with IL-2, a drug which may enhance anti-HIV immunity, destroy chronically infected cells, and allow immune recognition of latently infected cells.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Since AZT has no effect on cells that contain inactive virus (latently infected cells) and these cells may act as viral reservoirs, that a second agent that can destroy these infected cells would be useful in combination with AZT. The different activities of AZT and IL-2, as well as the non-overlapping nature of their mechanisms of action and toxicity, increase the theoretical benefits of combining AZT, a drug which has clinically significant activity in HIV-related disease but cannot eliminate infected cells, with IL-2, a drug which may enhance anti-HIV immunity, destroy chronically infected cells, and allow immune recognition of latently infected cells.

Five patients who have already received and tolerated oral AZT for at least 8 weeks continue their AZT treatment and at the same time receive IL-2 on a schedule of 5 days on the drug, 2 days off the drug. The IL-2 is administered by 30-minute intravenous (IV) infusion according to this schedule for 4 weeks. The first week of IL-2 treatment is on an inpatient basis and the remaining 3 weeks are on an outpatient basis. Toxicity is monitored every week. Maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is defined as the maximum dose at which 3 out of 5 patients experience Grade 3 or above toxicity during the course of IL-2 administration. A second cohort of five patients will receive IV IL-2. If the MTD is not reached, five additional patients will receive IV IL-2. All five patients in a given cohort must complete a full 4-week course of IL-2 before subsequent patients are entered at the next higher dose level. After IV dosing is completed at these three levels, additional 5-patient cohorts receive subcutaneous (SC) IL-2 according to the same schedule. Each patient is restricted to one dosage group. Patients are treated and followed for a total of 24 weeks. Patients receive ibuprofen for fever and chills.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment

30

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

  • United States
    • North Carolina
      • Durham, North Carolina, United States, 27710
        • Duke Univ. Med. Ctr. Adult CRS

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 and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria

Concurrent Medication:

Allowed:

  • Necessary topical agents, including nystatin or clotrimazole, as well as acyclovir. Patients on medications without which the patient would be placed at significant risk (seizures, diabetic control, respiratory embarrassment) may continue only at the discretion of the study pharmacologist.

Patients must have:

  • Asymptomatic HIV infection associated with lymphadenopathy.
  • Walter Reed Stage II disease, with positive antibody to HIV confirmed by Western blot test.

Exclusion Criteria

Co-existing Condition:

Patients will be excluded from the study for the following:

  • Development of a disease requiring a drug which might potentiate toxicity of the study drugs or a drug likely to have antiretroviral effect.
  • Active opportunistic infection.
  • Major organ allograft.
  • Significant cardiac or pulmonary disease or central nervous system (CNS) lesions.

Concurrent Medication:

Excluded:

  • Ongoing therapy for an opportunistic infection.
  • Beta-blockers.
  • Antihypertensive medication other than diuretics.
  • All nonessential medication including pain medications.

Patients without interleukin 2 (IL-2) augmentable anti-HIV antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) or or cell-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) in vitro are excluded.

Prior Medication:

Excluded within 12 weeks of study entry:

  • Other antiretroviral agents (patients with CD4 counts of 400 - 500 per mm3 who are receiving AZT may continue to receive it until study treatment is initiated).
  • Immunomodulators.
  • Corticosteroids.
  • Other experimental therapy.
  • Antineoplastic chemotherapy.

Active drug or alcohol abuse.

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
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Investigators

  • Study Chair: K Weinhold

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)

February 1, 1995

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)

November 4, 2021

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 28, 2021

Last Verified

October 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ACTG 042
  • 11017 (Registry Identifier: DAIDS ES Registry Number)

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.

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