Experimental cocktail targets Hard-to-Treat brain cancer
NCT ID NCT02203526
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 28, 2026 · Updated 8 times
Summary
This early-phase trial tests a combination of the targeted drug ibrutinib with several chemotherapy drugs (TEDDI-R) in people with primary CNS lymphoma, a rare and aggressive brain cancer. The study aims to find the safest dose of ibrutinib when used in this cocktail and to see how well the treatment shrinks tumors. It includes both patients whose cancer has returned and those who have not yet been treated.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- ibrutinib (a targeted drug) combined with chemotherapy (temozolomide, etoposide, doxil, dexamethasone, rituximab)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a more effective treatment option for primary CNS lymphoma, a rare brain cancer with poor outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 68 participants, so safety and dosing are still being figured out. The combination of multiple strong drugs may cause significant side effects, and it is not yet known if it will work better than existing treatments.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 1
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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68 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Aug 2014
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A government research agency
The lead sponsor is the US National Institutes of Health.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 120 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
* ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: * Patients must have histologically or cytologically confirmed primary central nervous system diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Patients with PCNSL that is only extracranial will not be eligible. Patients with relapsed or refractory disease, as well as untreated patients, are eligible. Untreated patients must not have high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) planned as part of frontline therapy to be eligible for the trial. * At least 2 weeks have passed since prior chemotherapy, biological therapy, radiation therapy, other investigational or anti-cancer therapy that is considered disease-directed. * Ibrutinib must be discontinued 7 days before (when possible) until 7 days after major surgery, and 3 days before (when possible) until 3 days after minor surgery. Thus, patients to be enrolled on an ibrutinib trial must have completed major surgery \>= 7 days before initiating treatment, and/or must have completed minor surgery \>= 3 days before initiating treatment. * Recovered from prior toxicities to Grade 0-1 at least 2 weeks prior to investigational therapy. * Age \>=18 years. Because no dosing or adverse event data are currently available on the use of ibrutinib and TEDDI-R in patients \<18 years of age, children are excluded from this study, but may be eligible for future pediatric trials. * ECOG performance status \<=2 (Karnofsky \>=60%) unless due to neurologic deficits caused by CNS lymphoma with the following exceptions: patients with ECOG PS = 4 where neurologic deficits are unlikely to resolve with tumor resolution and may cause clinical management problems are excluded. * Patients must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below, independent of growth factor or transfusion support. Patients should not receive growth factors or transfusions for at least 7 days prior to first dose of study drug with the exception of pegylated G-CSF (pegfilgrastim) and darbepoeitin which require at least 14 days prior to screening and randomization. * absolute neutrophil count \>= 750 cells/mcL (0.75 x 10(9)/L) * platelet count \>= 50,000 cells/mcL (50 X 10(9)/L) * Hemoglobin \> 8.0 g/dL * total bilirubin \<=1.5 x ULN (unless Gilbert's syndrome or disease infiltration of the liver is present) * AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) \<= 3.0 x institutional ULN * Serum Creatinine \<= 1.5 mg/dL OR creatinine clearance \>= 40 ml/min/1.73m\^2 unless lymphoma related. * Prothrombin time/INR (PT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) must be \<= 1.5 x the upper limit of the normal range (ULN); except if, in the opinion of the Investigator, the aPTT is elevated because of a positive Lupus Anticoagulant. * Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) \> 40% as assessed by echocardiogram * The effects of ibrutinib on the developing human fetus are unknown. For this reason and because tyrosine kinase inhibitors as well as other therapeutic agents used in this trial may be teratogenic, individuals of reproductive potential and individuals who can father children must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry. * Female patients who are of non-reproductive potential (i.e., post-menopausal by history - no menses for \>=1 year; OR history of hysterectomy; OR history of bilateral tubal ligation; OR history of bilateral oophorectomy). Female patients of childbearing potential must have a negative serum pregnancy test upon study entry. * Male and female patients must agree to use highly effective methods of birth control. A "highly effective method of birth control" is defined as a method that has a low failure rate (i.e., less than 1% per year) when used consistently and correctly and includes implants, injectables, birth control pills with two hormones, some intrauterine devices (IUDs). Male subject cannot use highly effective methods and are required to use barrier. The specific guidelines are as follows: * Individuals that bear children, must use a highly effective method of birth control and a barrier method, or sexual abstinence (which is defined as refraining from all aspects of sexual activity), while taking study treatment, as well as for 12 months after the last dose of rituximab. * Individuals who can father children must use a barrier method while on treatment with ibrutinib and for 3 months after the last dose of treatment to prevent pregnancy of your partner. Such individuals should donate sperm while you are taking the study drug and for 12 months after the last dose of rituximab. * Patient or appointed surrogate decision-maker or legally authorized representative must have ability to understand the purpose and risks of the study and willingness to provide a signed and dated informed consent form (ICF) and authorization to use protected health information (in accordance with national and local subject privacy regulations). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: * Prior exposure to a BTK inhibitor. * History of allergic reactions attributed to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to ibrutinib or other agents used in study. * Patients who are allergic to isavuconazole or any of its ingredients. * Patients who received a strong cytochrome P450 (CYP) 3A inhibitor or inducer within 7 days prior to the first dose of protocol anti-fungal prophylaxis, or patients who require continuous treatment with a strong CYP3A inhibitor/inducer (i.e., with the exception of any medication to be specifically studied in this protocol). * Because the lists of these agents are constantly changing, it is important to regularly consult a frequently-updated list; medical reference texts such as the Physicians' Desk Reference may also provide this information. As part of the enrollment/informed consent procedures, the patient will be counseled on the risk of interactions with other agents, and what to do if new medications need to be prescribed or if the patient is considering a new over-the-counter medicine or herbal product. * HIV positive patients will be excluded because of their increased susceptibility to fungal infections which outweighs the potential benefit of participation. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection or an infection requiring systemic antibiotics, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. Recent infections requiring systemic treatment need to have completed therapy \>14 days before the first dose of study drug. * Pregnant and nursing individuals are excluded from this study. Pregnant individuals are excluded in this study because ibrutinib is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor with the potential for teratogenic or abortifacient effects. Because there is an unknown but potential risk for adverse events in nursing infants secondary to treatment of with a nursing participant ibrutinib, nursing should be discontinued if the mother is treated with ibrutinib. * Uncontrolled Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia or ITP resulting in (or as evidenced by) declining platelet or Hgb levels within the 4 weeks prior to first dose of study drug. * Presence of transfusion-dependent thrombocytopenia. * History of prior malignancy, with the exception of the following: * Malignancy treated with curative intent and with no evidence of active disease present for more than 3 years prior to Screening and felt to be at low risk for recurrence by treating physician * Adequately treated non-melanomatous skin cancer or lentigo maligna melanoma without current evidence of disease * Adequately treated carcinoma in situ without current evidence of disease. * Currently active clinically significant cardiovascular disease such as uncontrolled arrhythmia, congestive heart failure, or Class 3 or 4 congestive heart failure as defined by the New York Heart Association Functional Classification, or history of myocardial infarction unstable angina, or acute coronary syndrome within 6 months prior to enrollment in the study. * Unable to swallow capsules, or disease significantly affecting gastrointestinal function or resection of the stomach or small bowel, or symptomatic inflammatory bowel disease or ulcerative colitis, or partial or complete bowel obstruction. * Serologic status reflecting active hepatitis B or C infection. Patients that are positive for hepatitis B core antibody, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), or hepatitis C antibody must have a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) prior to enrollment. Those who are PCR positive will be excluded. Those with a negative PCR for hepatitis B will be treated with antivirals designed to prevent hepatitis B reactivation (e.g., entecavir) and have monitoring for hepatitis B reactivation with PCR. * History of stroke or intracranial hemorrhage within 6 months prior to enrollment. * Any life-threatening illness, medical condition, or organ system dysfunction that, in the Investigator's opinion, could compromise the patient's safety, or put the study at undue risk. Patients with suspicious radiologic evidence of aspergillosis infection (i.e., Chest CT and/or Brain MRI) will not be eligible unless confirmatory laboratory testing of Beta-D glucan and aspergillus antigen are negative. * Concomitant use of warfarin or other vitamin K antagonists within the last 7 days. * Concurrent systemic immunosuppressant therapy other than corticosteroids (e.g., cyclosporine A, tacrolimus, etc.) within 28 days of the first dose of study drug. * Vaccinated with live, attenuated vaccines within 4 weeks of first dose of study drug. * Unresolved toxicities from prior anti-cancer therapy, defined as having not resolved to grade \<=1, or to the levels dictated in the inclusion/exclusion criteria with the exception of alopecia. * Known bleeding disorders (e.g., von Willebrand's disease) or hemophilia. * Major surgery within 7 days of first dose of study drug. * Unwilling or unable to participate in all required study evaluations and procedures. * Currently active, clinically significant hepatic impairment (\>= moderate hepatic impairment according to the NCI/Child Pugh classification)
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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National Institutes of Health Clinical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20892, United States
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