BackgroundThe prognosis of patients bearing high grade glioma remains dismal. Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) is well validated as a primary contributor of glioma initiation and progression. Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that recognizes the EGFR extracellular domain and reaches Central Nervous System tumors, in nonclinical and clinical setting. While it has similar activity when compared to other anti-EGFR antibodies, it does not induce skin toxicity or hypomagnesemia.MethodsA randomized, double blind, multicentric clinical trial was conducted in high grade glioma patients (41 anaplastic astrocytoma and 29 glioblastoma multiforme) that received radiotherapy plus nimotuzumab or placebo. Treatment and placebo groups were well-balanced for the most important prognostic variables. Patients received 6 weekly doses of 200 mg nimotuzumab or placebo together with irradiation as induction therapy. Maintenance treatment was given for 1 year with subsequent doses administered every 3 weeks. The objectives of this study were to assess the comparative overall survival, progression free survival, response rate, immunogenicity and safety.ResultsThe median cumulative dose was 3200 mg of nimotuzumab given over a median number of 16 doses. The combination of nimotuzumab and RT was well-tolerated. The most prevalent related adverse reactions included nausea, fever, tremors, anorexia and hepatic test alteration. No anti-idiotypic response was detected, confirming the antibody low immunogenicity. The mean and median survival time for subjects treated with nimotuzumab was 31.06 and 17.76 vs. 21.07 and 12.63 months for the control group.ConclusionsIn this randomized trial, nimotuzumab showed an excellent safety profile and significant survival benefit in combination with irradiation.Trial registrationCuban National Register for clinical trials (No. 1745) (http://registroclinico.sld.cu/ensayos).

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2515 Background: Despite remarkable advances in multimodal therapy, high grade glioma (HGG) patients still face a poor prognosis. EGFR is well validated as a primary contributor of HGG initiation and progression. Nimotuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody (mAbs) that recognizes the EGFR extracellular domain. While it has similar preclinical and clinical activity when compared to other anti-EGFR mAbs, it does not induce skin toxicity or hypomagnesemia. Methods: A randomized, double blind, multicentric clinical trial was conducted in 70 anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) patients that received radiotherapy (RT) plus nimotuzumab or placebo. Patients received 6 weekly doses of nimotuzumab or placebo together with radiotherapy. Treatment was maintained every 3 weeks, until completing 1 year of treatment. GBM patients did not receive temozolomide since the drug cannot be sold to Cuba. The objectives of this study were to assess the overall survival, progression free survival (PFS), response rate, immunogenicity and safety in both treatment groups. Results: Seventy patients were included in the study: 41 AA and 29 GBM. The median cumulative dose was 3600 mg of nimotuzumab and the median antibody number of doses was 16. The combination of nimotuzumab and radiotherapy was very safe. The most prevalent related adverse events included grade 1-2 nausea, fever, tremors and anorexia. There was no increasing toxicity with repeated drug exposure. No anti-idyotipic response was detected. The mean and median survival time for subjects treated with nimotuzumab and RT was 31.06 and 17.76 months while the mean and median survival time for controls was 21.07 and 12.63 months, respectively. For the evaluable patients of the AA stratum, the median survival time was 44.56 months (active drug) vs. 14.6 months (control). For the evaluable patients in the GBM cohort, the median survival time was 16.06 months (nimotuzumab arm) vs. 8.36 months (placebo arm). Median PFS was 18.23 vs. 6.25 months. Conclusions: In this randomized trial, nimotuzumab continues showing an excellent safety profile and positive efficacy results in patients with high grade glioma in combination with irradiation.

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