Gene therapy takes on deadly brain tumors in new trial

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * All patients must have biopsy proven recurrent anaplastic astrocytoma or glioblastoma multiforme without evidence of multifocal tumor or brainstem involvement. Multifocal disease does not exist if enhancing areas are connected by abnormal T2 FLAIR on the MRI scan. * Radiographic evidence of recurrence/progression by iRANO criteria * ≥ 3 weeks since any major surgery, completion of RT, or completion of all prior systemic anticancer therapy (adequately recovered from the acute toxicities of any prior therapy). * Life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks. * Patient can receive second treatment of HSV-tk after 6 months * Patients should have the following characteristics: recurrent glioblastoma or AA demonstrated by biopsy or imaging study, ECOG performance status of 0-1, has had prior surgery and radiotherapy /chemotherapy for the glioblastoma. * Patients with leptomeningeal disease may be considered for enrollment into the study. * No evidence of other active malignancy (except squamous or basal cell skin cancers). * Signed informed consent to participate in the study must be obtained from patients after they have been fully informed of the nature and potential risks of the study by the investigator (or his/her designee) with the aid of written information. * Willing to provide biopsies as required by the study. * WOCBP must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the administration of the first study treatment. Women must not be lactating. * WOCBP and men must practice an effective method of birth control * Patients must have adequate baseline organ function as assessed by the following laboratory values before initiating the protocol: * serum creatinine \< 1.5 mg/dL * T. bilirubin \< 2.5 mg/dL, ALT, AST, GGT and AP \< 2 x normal * Platelet count. \> 100,000/ml , ANC\> 1500/ml , Hgb\> 10 gm/dL * Normal partial thromboplastin time (PTT) and Pro-Thrombin Time (PT) * Non English speaking patients can participate in this study Exclusion Criteria * Prior treatment with immunomodulatory therapy, immunotherapy, and/or gene vector therapy in the past 3 months. * Any cytotoxic chemotherapy, RT, or immunotherapy or any investigational drug for this brain tumor within 3 weeks of study treatment start. * Evidence of multifocal disease, brainstem involvement * Patients on immunosuppressive drugs (other than steroids for brain edema). * In patients with leptomeningeal disease, no evidence of diffuse disease or spread to the spine. * In patients with leptomeningeal disease, no bulky leptomeningeal metastases with potential to obstruct CSF flow will not be enrolled. * Liver disease, such as cirrhosis or active/chronic hepatitis B or C. * History of or current alcohol misuse/abuse within the past 12 months. * Known or suspected allergy or hypersensitivity to any component of the proposed regimen (gene vector-HSV-tk, Valacyclovir). * Inability to swallow food or any condition of the upper gastrointestinal tract that precludes administration of oral medications (Valacyclovir). * No active malignancy except for non-melanoma skin cancer or in situ cervical cancer or treated cancer from which the patient has been continuously disease free for more than 5 years. * Pregnant or breastfeeding women or women/men able to conceive and unwilling to practice an effective method of birth control. WOCBP must have a negative serum pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the administration of the first study treatment. * Presence of active or suspected acute or chronic uncontrolled infection or history of immunocompromise, including a positive HIV test result. * Patients \< 18 years of age * Unwilling or unable to comply with the study protocol. * The presence of active CNS toxoplasmosis infection or Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy demonstrated on CT or MRI imaging. * The presence of active untreated cellulitis or untreated wound infections. Treated and resolving cellulitis and infections are not an exclusion criteria. * Active IV drug abuse or severe opioid abuse