Phase II/III Study Evaluating the Effect of IL-2 on Preservation of the CD4 T-Lymphocytes After Interruption of Antiretroviral Treatment in HIV-Infected Patients With CD4 T-Lymphocyte Count Greater Than 500 Cells/mm3 Who Received Antiretroviral Tx (ILIADE)

September 13, 2010 updated by: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

Phase II/III Study Evaluating the Effect of IL-2 on Preservation of the CD4 T-Lymphocytes After Interruption of Anti-Retroviral TX in HIV Infected Patients With CD4 T-Lymphocyte Count Greater Than 500 Cells/mm(3) Who Have Received Anti-Retroviral TX

This study will examine whether interleukin-2 (IL-2) given before the interruption of antiretroviral (ARV) treatment could significantly extend the period of time that a patient is temporarily not taking ARV treatment and also preserve CD4 counts above 350 cells per microliter. There will be an evaluation of the toxicity, or extremely harmful effects, of ARV, and the effect on quality of life.

The use of ARV medications has greatly improved the condition and mortality of HIV-infected patients. But when used long term, those medications have been associated with great toxicities and medication fatigue. As a result, patients may not adhere to ARV use, and resistance to viruses may grow. The CD4 molecule is on the surface of helper T-lymphocytes, or T-helper cells. It serves as the primary receptor for HIV-1 and HIV-2, allowing the virus to gain entry into its host. The CD4 count increases immediately in response to ARV, giving an estimate of the state of a patient's immune system. Thus, it is a strong marker of the immediate risk of an opportunistic infection, one that takes advantage of a person's weakened immune system. IL-2 is a molecule naturally produced by activated T cells. In patients with HIV, IL-2 treatment can increase CD4 counts but the clinical importance of this increase is not clear. This study will compare the decline in CD4 count, when ARV is interrupted, in two random groups of participants: (1) those who will receive three cycles of IL-2 (one every 8 weeks) in combination with ARV therapy for the first 24 weeks of the study before stopping ARV and (2) those who will receive ARV therapy without IL-2 for 24 weeks before stopping ARV.

Patients 18 years of age or older who have HIV-1 infection and who have been on ARV therapy for at least 1 year, and who currently have a CD4 count 500 cells per microliter or higher and never had a CD4 count of less than 200 cells per microliter and a viral load less than the limit of detection, may be eligible for this study.

Participants will undergo the following procedures and tests:

  • Physical examination.
  • Blood tests to measure blood lipids (fats), sugar, complete blood count including platelets, and chemistries.
  • Assessment of fat distribution.
  • Questionnaire about quality of life.

In addition, those participants who are randomly placed in the group receiving IL-2 and ARV will get an echocardiogram at the beginning of the study and at week 24. They will receive a starting dose of 6 million units of IL-2 as an injection under the skin twice a day. Each of the three IL-2 cycles will last 5 days. After the 24-week period, participants in both groups will stop taking ARV medications if their CD4 count is still equal to or greater than 500 cells per microliter. The study will continue into 120 weeks. Participants will be asked to continue to visit the clinic every 8 weeks for evaluation of their viral load and CD4 counts. Every 24 weeks, they will be asked to answer a questionnaire about their quality of life. Blood tests and other measurements will also be done as follow-up.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The use of antiretroviral (ARV) medications has greatly improved morbidity and mortality of HIV-infected patients but long-term use of these agents has been associated with significant toxicities and medication fatigue that can lead to problems with adherence and eventual development of virologic resistance. The spectrum of ARV toxicities is broad including the development of lipodystrophy syndrome with lipid abnormalities and glucose intolerance or diabetes, while increasing evidence suggests an increased risk of cardiovascular complications in ARV-treated HIV-infected individuals. Current PHHS treatment guidelines recommend deferring ARV treatment initiation in asymptomatic HIV-infected individuals with CD4 count greater than or equal to 350 cells/micro liter, and treatment initiation after the CD4 count is less than 350 cells/micro liter. Several patients who started antiretroviral therapy at higher CD4 counts (based on older treatment initiation guidelines) or have experienced significant immunologic reconstitution after ARV initiation, elect to interrupt antiretroviral therapy until their CD4 count reaches the level of current recommendations for therapy initiation (less than 350 cells/micro liter).

Studies to date suggest that baseline and nadir CD4 count are the best predictors of a longer duration of treatment interruption that may be more beneficial with respect to reversal or delay of long-term ARV-associated toxicity and improved quality of life. It is known that intermittent cycles of IL-2 administration can lead to expansion of the CD4 pool and prolong survival of CD4 T cells. In this study the hypothesis tested is that IL-2 given prior to ARV treatment interruption could significantly prolong the period of ARV treatment interruption with preservation of CD4 counts above 350 cells/micro liter, and that this prolongation will be beneficial with respect to antiretroviral related toxicity and quality of life.

The study will have two parts: during the first part (24 weeks) patients will be randomized 1:1 to either receive three cycles or IL-2 with their ARV therapy or ARV therapy alone. In the second part (week 24 to week 120), all participants will interrupt therapy and restart when CD4 is less than 350 cells/micro liter. The main comparison will be at week 72, when the proportion of patients from the two groups who remain off drugs and have a CD4 greater than 350 cells/micro liter will be compared. At regular intervals (every 24 weeks) lipodystrophy measurements and quality of life questionnaires will be evaluated.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

148

Phase

  • Phase 2

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

  • France
      • Créteil, France
        • Hospital Henri Mondor
  • United States
    • Maryland
      • Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20892
        • National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, 9000 Rockville Pike

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:

Age greater than or equal to 18 years.

HIV-1 infection confirmed by ELISA and Western Blot before screening.

Category A or B HIV-1 infection.

Antiretroviral treatment:

  • started at least 12 months prior to screening visit;
  • stable and continuous for at least 12 weeks prior to screening visit;
  • modified no more than once for virologic failure.

IL-2 naive

CD-4(+) T-lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 500 cells/mm(3) in the twelve weeks prior to screening (historical) and at screening.

Nadir CD4(+) T-lymphocyte count greater than or equal to 200 cells/mm(3) prior to screening visit (that is, no measurement whose values may be less than 200/mm(3) since diagnosis of the HIV infection.

Plasma HIV RNA less than 50 copies/ml in the 12 weeks preceding screening (historical, less than limit of detection if different method and/or cut off used) and at screening.

For women of child-bearing age: use of effective contraception (hormonal such as birth control pill or injections, intrauterine device, surgical sterilization and/or mechanical barrier methods such as diaphragm or condoms); for all participants agreement to fully comply with prevention of transmission recommendations during periods of viremia if sexually active (latex condoms with or without additional barrier methods).

Desire to interrupt antiretroviral therapy.

Ability to sign informed consent (no later than W-2).

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

Previous treatment with IL-2.

Combined treatment with interferon, other interleukins, anti-HIV vaccines, systemic (not topical or inhaled) corticosteroids and hydroxyurea within the previous 12 weeks.

Diagnosis of AIDS.

Acute infection in the 14 days preceding inclusion.

Pregnant, lactating woman desiring conception or not using contraception.

Hemoglobin less than 10 g/dl; neutrophils less than 1,000/mm(3); platelets less than 50,000/mm(3); creatinine greater than 1.5 times the upper limit of normal (N); bilirubin greater than 3N; AST or ALT greater than 3 N.

Progressive disease of malignant, psychiatric, cardiac, pulmonary, thyroid, renal or neurological (peripheral or central) origin or severe disorders of hemostasis.

Severe uncontrolled hypertension.

Previous or progressive pathology contraindicating the administration of IL-2.

History of extensive psoriasis, Crohn's disease or auto-immune disease involving severe complications.

HTLV-1 infection (ELISA positive).

Hepatitis B virus co-infection treated with lamivudine or tenofovir or adefovir.

Since atazanavir use can be associated with higher bilirubin levels (mostly indirect) in the absence of clinical consequences, subjects on atazanavir with bilirubin up to 4.5 times N may be allowed to participate if the levels have been stable and after approval by the PI or the PI designated covering physician.

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
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Interleukin 2 group
HAART (standard of care) and three cycles of IL-2
Drug: Interleukin 2
Three cycles of IL-2 (6 MUI bid during 5 days = one cycle)
Other Names:
  • IL-2
  • Interleukin-2
  • aldesleukin
Drug: HAART
HAART from week 0 to week 24
Other Names:
  • Antiretroviral treatment
Drug: Treatment interruption
HAART is interrupted from week 24 in both arms
Active Comparator: Control group
HAART alone
Drug: HAART
HAART from week 0 to week 24
Other Names:
  • Antiretroviral treatment
Drug: Treatment interruption
HAART is interrupted from week 24 in both arms

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Proportion of Patients Without Failure of Strategy From Week 0 to Week 72
Time Frame: week 72

A failure of strategy is defined on the first occurrence of one of the following events:

  • CD4 T-lymphocyte count becomes < 350 cells/mm3 between Wk0 and Wk72 (count confirmed by a 2nd measurement after 2-4 weeks
  • Planned interruption of therapy at Wk24 cannot be done for any reason;
  • Anti-retroviral treatment is restarted between Wk24 and Wk72 for any reason
  • Subject experiences clinical progression of HIV infection to a stage C AIDS diagnosis (appendix I)
  • Subject expires between Wk0 and Wk72 (whatever the cause of death)
  • Subject is lost to follow up
week 72

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Changes in CD4 Counts at Week 72
Time Frame: week 72
week 72
AIDS Events
Time Frame: Overall study
AIDS defined events according to CDC classification
Overall study

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)

Collaborators

ANRS, Emerging Infectious Diseases

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Yves Lévy, PHD, CHU Henri Mondor Créteil, FRANCE
  • Study Chair: Irini Sereti, MD, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)

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 Start

October 1, 2003

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2007

Study Completion (Actual)

December 1, 2007

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

November 3, 2003

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 3, 2003

First Posted (Estimate)

November 4, 2003

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimate)

October 5, 2010

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 13, 2010

Last Verified

September 1, 2010

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 040018
  • 04-I-0018 (Other Identifier: NIAID)
  • ANRS 118 ILIADE (Other Identifier: ANRS)

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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