Infusion of 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) Into the Fourth Ventricle in Patients With Recurrent Posterior Fossa Ependymoma (5-AZA)

Infusion of 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) Into the Fourth Ventricle or Resection Cavity in Children and Adults With Recurrent Posterior Fossa Ependymoma: A Phase I Study

This study seeks to determine the optimum dose frequency of 5-Azacytidin (5-AZA) infusions into the fourth ventricle of the brain. The study's primary objective is to establish the maximum tolerated dose for infusions of 5-Azacytidine into the fourth ventricle in patients with recurrent ependymoma. The study's secondary objective is to assess the antitumor activity of 5-Azacytidine infusions into the fourth ventricle based upon imaging studies and cytology.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Recurrent Ependymoma
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 1; Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 2; Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 3

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 3
• Phase: Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Texas
    • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
      • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 year to 80 years (Child, Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosis: Patients with histologically verified ependymoma, with recurrence or progression anywhere in the brain and/or spine. Patients are also eligible if they have refractory disease, which will be defined as residual tumor which has not been completely cleared despite prior treatments. To be eligible, patients' disease must have originated in the posterior fossa of the brain
• Patient must have either measurable or evaluable tumor as assessed by MRI of the brain and total spine
• An implanted catheter in the fourth ventricle or posterior fossa tumor cavity attached to a ventricular access device or agreement to have one placed.
• A minimum of 7 days between last dose of systemic chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy and first infusion of 5-AZA into fourth ventricle
• Life expectancy of at least 12 weeks in the opinion of the principal investigator
• Lansky score of 50 or greater if ≤16 years of age or Karnofsky score of 50 or greater if > 16 years of age
• Existing neurological deficits must have been stable for a minimum of 1 week prior to study enrollment
• Patients must have recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior anticancer chemotherapy
• Adequate bone marrow function defined by peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 500/μL, platelet count ≥ 50,000/μL (transfusion independent), and hemoglobin ≥ 9.0 gm/dL (may receive RBC transfusions)
• Patient or patient's legal representative, parent(s), or guardian able to provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

• Enrolled in another treatment protocol
• Has received another investigational or chemotherapy agent or radiation therapy within 7 days prior to 5-AZA infusion into the fourth ventricle
• Evidence of untreated infection
• Pregnant or lactating women

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Non-Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: group 1; 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 1: Enrolled patients will undergo surgical placement of a ventricular catheter into the fourth ventricle that will be attached to a subcutaneously placed reservoir. Patients will be divided into 3 dose groups and receive 8 weeks of intraventricular 5-AZA (12 mg) into the fourth ventricle. Patients in Group 1 will receive two 5-AZA infusions every week.	Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 1; 5-AZA (12 mg) will be prepared in preservative-free normal saline to a total volume of 1.2ml. 5-AZA will be infused over a minimum of 30 seconds. 5-AZA will be followed by a 1 ml preservative-free normal saline flush over a minimum of 30 seconds. Patients will receive two, three, or four 5-AZA infusions per week depending on the dosing algorithm (see below). We refer to these dosing schedules as dose 1, 2, or 3. Patients assigned to dose 1 will receive two 5-AZA infusions per week (typically Monday and Thursday but may be given on other days based upon logistical considerations) for 8 consecutive weeks.; Other Names: Vidaza
Experimental: group 2; 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 2: Enrolled patients will undergo surgical placement of a ventricular catheter into the fourth ventricle that will be attached to a subcutaneously placed reservoir. Patients will be divided into 3 dose groups and receive 8 weeks of intraventricular 5-AZA (12 mg) into the fourth ventricle. Patients in Group 2 will receive three 5-AZA infusions every week.	Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 2; 5-AZA (12 mg) will be prepared in preservative-free normal saline to a total volume of 1.2ml. 5-AZA will be infused over a minimum of 30 seconds. 5-AZA will be followed by a 1 ml preservative-free normal saline flush over a minimum of 30 seconds. Patients will receive two, three, or four 5-AZA infusions per week depending on the dosing algorithm (see below). We refer to these dosing schedules as dose 1, 2, or 3. Patients assigned to dose 2 will receive three 5-AZA infusions per week (typically Monday, Wednesday, and Friday but may be given on other days based upon logistical considerations) for 8 consecutive weeks.; Other Names: Vidaza
Experimental: group 3; 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 3: Enrolled patients will undergo surgical placement of a ventricular catheter into the fourth ventricle that will be attached to a subcutaneously placed reservoir. Patients will be divided into 3 dose groups and receive 8 weeks of intraventricular 5-AZA (12 mg) into the fourth ventricle. Patients in Group 3 will receive four 5-AZA infusions every week.	Drug: 5-Azacytidine (5-AZA) group 3; 5-AZA (12 mg) will be prepared in preservative-free normal saline to a total volume of 1.2ml. 5-AZA will be infused over a minimum of 30 seconds. 5-AZA will be followed by a 1 ml preservative-free normal saline flush over a minimum of 30 seconds. Patients will receive two, three, or four 5-AZA infusions per week depending on the dosing algorithm (see below). We refer to these dosing schedules as dose 1, 2, or 3. Patients assigned to dose 3 will receive four 5-AZA infusions per week (on any 4 weekdays based upon logistical considerations) for 8 consecutive weeks.; Other Names: Vidaza

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants who experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT)	Dose-limiting toxicity will be defined as any of the following events: New neurological deficit (grade 3 or higher) probably or definitely attributed to intraventricular 5-azacytidine infusions. New adverse event involving any organ probably or definitely attributed to intraventricular 5-azacytidine infusions with the specific exclusion of: Grade 3 or higher nausea and vomiting < 3 days duration and grade 3 or higher headache < 3 days duration.	8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of participants with disease progression as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)	The PI and radiologist will determine Response to treatment according to the following three categories. Disease progression corresponds with the "Progressive Disease" category. Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all non-target lesions. Stable Disease (SD) / Incomplete Response (IR): The persistence of one or more non-target lesions. Progressive Disease (PD): The appearance of one or more new lesions and/or unequivocal progression of existing non-target lesions.	1 day after surgery to remove tumor (which is about 1 week before the first infusion)
Number of participants with disease progression as assessed by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)	The PI and radiologist will determine Response to treatment according to the following three categories. Disease progression corresponds with the "Progressive Disease" category. Complete Response (CR): Disappearance of all non-target lesions. Stable Disease (SD) / Incomplete Response (IR): The persistence of one or more non-target lesions. Progressive Disease (PD): The appearance of one or more new lesions and/or unequivocal progression of existing non-target lesions.	8 weeks after first infusion

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: David I Sandberg, MD, The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Lang F, Liu Y, Chou FJ, Yang C. Genotoxic therapy and resistance mechanism in gliomas. Pharmacol Ther. 2021 Dec;228:107922. doi: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107922. Epub 2021 Jun 23.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): February 8, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): November 24, 2020
• Study Completion (Actual): November 24, 2020

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 19, 2018
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 19, 2018
• First Posted (Actual): June 28, 2018

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 8, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 4, 2025
• Last Verified: April 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Pathologic Processes; Neoplasms; Disease Attributes; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Glioma; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Recurrence; Ependymoma; Antineoplastic Agents; Molecular Mechanisms of Pharmacological Action; Enzyme Inhibitors; Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; Antimetabolites; Decitabine; Azacitidine
• Other Study ID Numbers: HSC-MS-18-0309

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: Yes
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No