Targeting Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor: A Phase 2 and Pharmacodynamic Study of Sitagliptin in Patients With Progressive Grade 4 Gliomas
The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether treating glioblastoma patients with sitagliptin can improve immune response against the tumor by targeting specific immune cells called myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that suppress your body's natural immune response against cancer. Sitagliptin is an investigational drug for this condition that works by inhibiting an enzyme called dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4), which MDSCs rely on to enter the brain and function. While sitagliptin is FDA-approved for diabetes treatment, its use in glioblastoma is investigational (experimental).
• Participants must have histologically or cytologically confirmed WHO grade 4 glioma (including tumors with molecularly defined grade 4 astrocytoma) for whom a clinically-indicated tumor resection is planned.
• Participants must not have received sitagliptin or other gliptins.
• Participants must, in the opinion of the investigator be able to tolerate a pre-operative dexamethasone dose of 4 mg/d or the equivalent dose of an alternate glucocorticoid.
• Age \>18 years
• Karnofsky performance status ≥ 60%
• Participants must have adequate organ function and laboratory parameters within 21 days of study entry as defined below:
‣ Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl
⁃ Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,500/mcL
⁃ Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mcL
⁃ Total bilirubin \< 1.5x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
⁃ AST (SGOT) ≤ 3x institutional ULN
⁃ ALT (SGPT) ≤ 3x institutional ULN
⁃ Calculated creatinine clearance \> 50 mL/min or creatinine \< 1.5x institutional upper limit of normal (ULN)
⁃ Prothrombin time/international normalized ratio (PT/INR) \< 1.4 for participants not on warfarin.
• Participants on full-dose anticoagulants (e.g., warfarin or LMW heparin) must meet both of the following criteria:
‣ No active bleeding or pathological condition that carries a high risk of bleeding (e.g., tumor involving major vessels or known varices)
⁃ In-range INR (between 2 and 3) on a stable dose of oral anticoagulant or on a stable dose of low molecular weight heparin.
• Women of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test within 21 days of study entry. Women of childbearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception (hormonal or barrier method of birth control; abstinence) prior to study entry, for the duration of study participation, and through 30 days after the last dose of study drug. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while taking part in this study, she should inform her treating physician immediately. Men of reproductive potential treated or enrolled on this protocol must also agree to use adequate contraception prior to the study, for the duration of study participation, and through 30 days after the last dose of study drug.
• Participants must be able to swallow whole tablets.
⁃ Participants must have the following minimum intervals from prior treatments:
∙ surgery - 4 weeks
‣ nitrosoureas - 6 weeks
‣ cytotoxic chemotherapy - standard intervals depending on the most recent regimen. E.g., for temozolomide 23 days after most recent dose.
‣ For drugs not listed, the research nurse, treating investigator, and principal investigator will decide on the appropriate interval.
‣ Investigational therapy or non-cytotoxic therapy - 2 weeks.
‣ For bevacizumab - 4 weeks from expected date of protocol surgery
⁃ Participants positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) are allowed on study (note: HIV testing is not required), but HIV-positive participants must have:
∙ An undetectable viral load within 6 months of registration.
‣ A stable regimen of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART)
‣ No requirement for concurrent antibiotics or antifungal agents for the prevention of opportunistic infections
⁃ For participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For participants with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load Note: Known positive test for HCV ribonucleic acid (HCV RNA) indicating acute or chronic infection would make the patient ineligible unless the viral load becomes undetectable on suppressive therapy.
⁃ For participants with evidence of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy, if indicated.
⁃ Note: A known positive test for HBV surface antigen (HBV sAg) indicating acute or chronic infection would make the patient ineligible unless the viral load becomes undetectable on suppressive therapy. Participants who are immune to hepatitis B (anti-Hepatitis B surface antibody positive) are eligible (e.g., participants immunized against hepatitis B)
⁃ Patient must be deemed by investigator to be a candidate for post-operative chemotherapy.
⁃ Participants must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document.