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Predictive Factors for Efficacy of AST-120 Treatment in Diabetic Nephropathy: a Prospective Single-Arm, Open-Label, Multi-Center Study.
Hwang, YC, Kim, SW, Hur, KY, Cha, BS, Kim, IJ, Park, TS, Baik, SH, Yoon, KH, Lee, KW, Lee, IK, et al
Journal of Korean medical science. 2019;(15):e117
Abstract
BACKGROUND Removal of uremic toxins such as indoxyl sulfate by AST-120 is known to improve renal function and delay the initiation of dialysis in patients with advanced chronic kidney disease. However, it is unclear whether the addition of AST-120 to conventional treatments is effective in delaying the progression of renal dysfunction in patients with diabetic nephropathy. METHODS A total of 100 patients with type 2 diabetes and renal dysfunction (serum creatinine levels ranging from 1.5 to 3.0 mg/dL) were recruited from eight centers in Korea and treated with AST-120 (6 g/day) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was improvement in renal function measured as the gradient of the reciprocal serum creatinine level (1/sCr) over time (i.e., the ratio of 1/sCr time slope for post- to pre-AST-120 therapy). A response was defined as a ratio change of the regression coefficient of 1/sCr ≤ 0.90. RESULTS Renal function improved in 80.3% of patients (61/76) after 24 weeks of AST-120 treatment. There were no differences between responder and non-responder groups in baseline characteristics except for diastolic blood pressure (73.5 ± 9.5 mmHg in the responder group vs. 79.3 ± 11.1 mmHg in the non-responder group; P = 0.046). Serum lipid peroxidation level decreased significantly in the responder group (from 2.25 ± 0.56 μol/L to 1.91 ± 0.72 μol/L; P = 0.002) but not in the non-responder group. CONCLUSION The addition of AST-120 to conventional treatments may delay the progression of renal dysfunction in diabetic nephropathy. The antioxidant effect of AST-120 might contribute to improvement in renal function.
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The effects of AST-120 on chronic kidney disease progression in the United States of America: a post hoc subgroup analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Schulman, G, Berl, T, Beck, GJ, Remuzzi, G, Ritz, E, Shimizu, M, Shobu, Y, Kikuchi, M
BMC nephrology. 2016;(1):141
Abstract
BACKGROUND The orally administered spherical carbon adsorbent AST-120 is used on-label in Asian countries to slow renal disease progression in patients with progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently, two multinational, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 trials (Evaluating Prevention of Progression in Chronic Kidney Disease [EPPIC] trials) examined AST-120's efficacy in slowing CKD progression. This study assessed the efficacy of AST-120 in the subgroup of patients from the United States of America (USA) in the EPPIC trials. METHODS In the EPPIC trials, 2035 patients with moderate to severe CKD were studied, of which 583 were from the USA. The patients were randomly assigned to two groups of equal size that were treated with AST-120 or placebo (9 g/day). The primary end point was a composite of dialysis initiation, kidney transplantation, or serum creatinine doubling. RESULTS The Kaplan-Meier curve for the time to achieve the primary end point in the placebo-treated patients from the USA was similar to that projected before the study. The per protocol subgroup analysis of the population from the USA which included patients with compliance rates of ≥67 % revealed a significant difference between the treatment groups in the time to achieve the primary end point (Hazard Ratio, 0.74; 95 % Confidence Interval, 0.56-0.97). CONCLUSIONS This post hoc subgroup analysis of EPPIC study data suggests that treatment with AST-120 might delay the time to primary end point in CKD patients from the USA. A further randomized controlled trial in progressive CKD patients in the USA is necessary to confirm the beneficial effect of adding AST-120 to standard therapy regimens. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00500682 ; NCT00501046 .
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Randomized phase II trial of hypofractionated proton versus carbon ion radiation therapy in patients with sacrococcygeal chordoma-the ISAC trial protocol.
Uhl, M, Edler, L, Jensen, AD, Habl, G, Oelmann, J, Röder, F, Jäckel, O, Debus, J, Herfarth, K
Radiation oncology (London, England). 2014;:100
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordomas are relatively rare lesions of the bones. About 30% occur in the sacrococcygeal region. Surgical resection is still the standard treatment. Due to the size, proximity to neurovascular structures and the complex anatomy of the pelvis, a complete resection with adequate safety margin is difficult to perform. A radical resection with safety margins often leads to the loss of bladder and rectal function as well as motoric/sensoric dysfunction. The recurrence rate after surgery alone is comparatively high, such that adjuvant radiation therapy is very important for improving local control rates. Proton therapy is still the international standard in the treatment of chordomas. High-LET beams such as carbon ions theoretically offer biologic advantages in slow-growing tumors. Data of a Japanese study of patients with unresectable sacral chordoma showed comparable high control rates after hypofractionated carbon ion therapy only. METHODS AND DESIGN This clinical study is a prospective randomized, monocentric phase II trial. Patients with histologically confirmed sacrococcygeal chordoma will be randomized to either proton or carbon ion radiation therapy stratified regarding the clinical target volume. Target volume delineation will be carried out based on CT and MRI data. In each arm the PTV will receive 64 GyE in 16 fractions. The primary objective of this trial is safety and feasibility of hypofractionated irradiation in patients with sacrococygeal chordoma using protons or carbon ions in raster scan technique for primary or additive treatment after R2 resection. The evaluation is therefore based on the proportion of treatments without Grade 3-5 toxicity (CTCAE, version 4.0) up to 12 months after treatment and/or discontinuation of the treatment for any reason as primary endpoint. Local-progression free survival, overall survival and quality of life will be analyzed as secondary end points. DISCUSSION The aim of this study is to confirm the toxicity results of the Japanese data in raster scan technique and to compare it with the toxicity analysis of proton therapy given in the same fractionation. Using this data, a further randomized phase III trial is planned, comparing hypofractionated proton and carbon ion irradiation. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01811394.
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AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent) in the treatment of perianal fistulae in mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease: FHAST-1, a phase 3, multicenter, placebo-controlled study.
Reinisch, W, Travis, S, Hanauer, S, Wang, H, Shara, N, Harris, MS
Inflammatory bowel diseases. 2014;(5):872-81
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Abstract
BACKGROUND AST-120 (spherical carbon adsorbent) was previously reported to be effective for perianal fistula healing in Japanese patients with mild-to-moderate Crohn's disease. METHODS To evaluate the efficacy and safety of AST-120 in a Western population, a phase 3, multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, study (FHAST-1) was conducted in adult patients with at least 1 draining perianal fistula and a Crohn's disease activity index <400. Patients received either AST-120 or matching placebo at a dose of 2 g 3 times daily for 8 weeks. The primary endpoint was the proportion of patients with treatment success, defined as a 50% reduction in the number of draining fistulae, at both weeks 4 and 8. A multivariate model was generated to assess covariates for treatment success among baseline variables. RESULTS Two hundred forty-nine patients were randomized (AST-120; n = 122; placebo, n = 127). The proportions of patients achieving the primary endpoint were no different between treatment groups (13.9% versus 16.5%, P = 0.6). No differences in fistula response were noted at week 4 (23.0% versus 25.2%, P = 0.77) or week 8 (27.0 versus 34.6%, P = 0.22). Serum C-reactive protein concentrations >0.6 mg/dL and Crohn's disease activity index scores >151 at baseline were associated with a reduced likelihood of treatment success (odds ratio, 0.40; confidence interval, 0.19-0.87; P = 0.02; and odds ratio, 0.45; confidence interval, 0.21-0.97; P = 0.04, respectively). CONCLUSIONS In this largest placebo-controlled trial to date to evaluate the impact of a therapeutic agent on perianal fistulae in Crohn's disease, the efficacy of AST-120 could not be confirmed. An inverse relationship was observed between both inflammatory and clinical disease activity and fistula response.
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Uptake decrease of proliferative PET tracer 18FLT in bone marrow after carbon ion therapy in lung cancer.
Koizumi, M, Saga, T, Inubushi, M, Fukumura, T, Yoshikawa, K, Yamamoto, N, Nakajima, M, Sugane, T, Baba, M
Molecular imaging and biology. 2011;(3):577-582
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to investigate the change of 3'-[¹⁸F]fluoro-3'-deoxy-L: -thymidine (¹⁸FLT) uptake in normal bone marrow (BM) after inevitable radiation. PROCEDURES Twenty-one non-small cell lung cancer patients who received carbon ion radiotherapy (CIRT) were studied with ¹⁸FLT-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) at pre- and post-CIRT. Radiation dose was calculated by radiation planning. Irradiated BM was divided into three groups (<10% of maximum dose, 10-30%, and >30%). RESULTS ¹⁸FLT uptake clearly decreased at >10% irradiated areas and mildly decreased at <10% areas. ¹⁸FLT uptake was lowest just after CIRT, somewhat increased at 3 months, and remained unchanged for more than 1 year. There was no significant difference between 10-30% and >30% areas. CONCLUSION ¹⁸FLT revealed that BM function decreased by small dose such as <4.2-4.4 GyE/1 fraction of CIRT and is eradicated by >4.2-4.4 GyE/1 fraction.
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Phase i study evaluating the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with carbon ion radiotherapy: the PROMETHEUS-01 trial.
Combs, SE, Habermehl, D, Ganten, T, Schmidt, J, Edler, L, Burkholder, I, Jäkel, O, Haberer, T, Debus, J
BMC cancer. 2011;:67
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment options for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are often limited. In most cases, they are not amenable to local therapies including surgery or radiofrequency ablation. The multi-kinase inhibitor sorafenib has shown to increase overall survival in this patient group for about 3 months.Radiation therapy is a treatment alternative, however, high local doses are required for long-term local control. However, due to the relatively low radiation tolerance of liver normal tissue, even using stereotactic techniques, delivery of sufficient doses for successful local tumor control has not be achieved to date.Carbon ions offer physical and biological characteristics. Due to their inverted dose profile and the high local dose deposition within the Bragg peak precise dose application and sparing of normal tissue is possible. Moreover, in comparison to photons, carbon ions offer an increased relative biological effectiveness (RBE), which can be calculated between 2 and 3 depending on the HCC cell line as well as the endpoint analyzed.Japanese Data on the evaluation of carbon ion radiation therapy showed promising results for patients with HCC. METHODS/DESIGN In the current Phase I-PROMETHEUS-01-Study, carbon ion radiotherapy will be evaluated for patients with advanced HCC. The study will be performed as a dose-escalation study evaluating the optimal carbon ion dose with respect to toxicity and tumor control.Primary endpoint is toxicity, secondary endpoint is progression-free survival and response. DISCUSSION The Prometheus-01 trial ist the first trial evaluating carbon ion radiotherapy delivered by intensity-modulated rasterscanning for the treatment of HCC. Within this Phase I dose escalation study, the optimal dose of carbon ion radiotherapy will be determined. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT 01167374.
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Treatment of patients with atypical meningiomas Simpson grade 4 and 5 with a carbon ion boost in combination with postoperative photon radiotherapy: the MARCIE trial.
Combs, SE, Edler, L, Burkholder, I, Rieken, S, Habermehl, D, Jäkel, O, Haberer, T, Unterberg, A, Wick, W, Debus, J, et al
BMC cancer. 2010;:615
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment standard for patients with atypical or anaplastic meningioma is neurosurgical resection. With this approach, local control ranges between 50% and 70%, depending on resection status. A series or smaller studies has shown that postoperative radiotherapy in this patient population can increase progression-free survival, which translates into increased overall survival. However, meningiomas are known to be radioresistant tumors, and radiation doses of 60 Gy or higher have been shown to be necessary for tumor control. Carbon ions offer physical and biological characteristics. Due to their inverted dose profile and the high local dose deposition within the Bragg peak precise dose application and sparing of normal tissue is possible. Moreover, in comparison to photons, carbon ions offer an increased relative biological effectiveness (RBE), which can be calculated between 2 and 5 depending on the cell line as well as the endpoint analyzed.First data obtained within the Phase I/II trial performed at GSI in Darmstadt on carbon ion radiotherapy for patients with high-risk meningiomas has shown safety, and treatment results are promising. METHODS/DESIGN The Phase II-MARCIE-Study will evaluate a carbon ion boost applied to the macroscopic tumor in conjunction with photon radiotherapy in patients with atypical meningiomas after incomplete resection or biopsy.Primary endpoint is progression-free survival, secondary endpoints are overall survival, safety and toxicity. DISCUSSION Based on published data on the treatment of atypical meningiomas with carbon ions at GSI, the present study will evaluate this treatment concept in a larger patient population and will compare outcome to current standard photon treatment. TRIAL REGISTRATION NCT01166321.
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Randomised trial of proton vs. carbon ion radiation therapy in patients with chordoma of the skull base, clinical phase III study HIT-1-Study.
Nikoghosyan, AV, Karapanagiotou-Schenkel, I, Münter, MW, Jensen, AD, Combs, SE, Debus, J
BMC cancer. 2010;:607
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chordomas of the skull base are relative rare lesions of the bones. Surgical resection is the primary treatment standard, though complete resection is nearly impossible due to close proximity to critical and hence also dose limiting organs for radiation therapy. Level of recurrence after surgery alone is comparatively high, so adjuvant radiation therapy is very important for the improvement of local control rates. Proton therapy is the gold standard in the treatment of skull base chordomas. However, high-LET beams such as carbon ions theoretically offer biologic advantages by enhanced biologic effectiveness in slow-growing tumors. METHODS/DESIGN This clinical study is a prospective randomised phase III trial. The trial will be carried out at Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapie centre (HIT) and is a monocentric study.Patients with skull base chordoma will be randomised to either proton or carbon ion radiation therapy. As a standard, patients will undergo non-invasive, rigid immobilization and target volume delineation will be carried out based on CT and MRI data. The biologically isoeffective target dose to the PTV in carbon ion treatment (accelerated dose) will be 63 Gy E ± 5% and 72 Gy E ± 5% (standard dose) in proton therapy respectively. Local-progression free survival (LPFS) will be analysed as primary end point. Toxicity and overall survival are the secondary end points. Additional examined parameters are patterns of recurrence, prognostic factors and plan quality analysis. DISCUSSION Up until now it was impossible to compare two different particle therapies, i.e. protons and carbon ions directly at the same facility.The aim of this study is to find out, whether the biological advantages of carbon ion therapy can also be clinically confirmed and translated into the better local control rates in the treatment of skull base chordomas. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01182779.
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Randomised trial of proton vs. carbon ion radiation therapy in patients with low and intermediate grade chondrosarcoma of the skull base, clinical phase III study.
Nikoghosyan, AV, Rauch, G, Münter, MW, Jensen, AD, Combs, SE, Kieser, M, Debus, J
BMC cancer. 2010;:606
Abstract
BACKGROUND Low and intermediate grade chondrosarcomas are relative rare bone tumours. About 5-12% of all chondrosarcomas are localized in base of skull region. Low grade chondrosarcoma has a low incidence of distant metastasis but is potentially lethal disease. Therefore, local therapy is of crucial importance in the treatment of skull base chondrosarcomas. Surgical resection is the primary treatment standard. Unfortunately the late diagnosis and diagnosis at the extensive stage are common due to the slow and asymptomatic growth of the lesions. Consequently, complete resection is hindered due to close proximity to critical and hence dose limiting organs such as optic nerves, chiasm and brainstem. Adjuvant or additional radiation therapy is very important for the improvement of local control rates in the primary treatment. Proton therapy is the gold standard in the treatment of skull base chondrosarcomas. However, high-LET (linear energy transfer) beams such as carbon ions theoretically offer advantages by enhanced biologic effectiveness in slow-growing tumours. METHODS/DESIGN The study is a prospective randomised active-controlled clinical phase III trial. The trial will be carried out at Heidelberger Ionenstrahl-Therapie (HIT) centre as monocentric trial. Patients with skull base chondrosarcomas will be randomised to either proton or carbon ion radiation therapy. As a standard, patients will undergo non-invasive, rigid immobilization and target volume definition will be carried out based on CT and MRI data. The biologically isoeffective target dose to the PTV (planning target volume) in carbon ion treatment will be 60 Gy E ± 5% and 70 Gy E ± 5% (standard dose) in proton therapy respectively. The 5 year local-progression free survival (LPFS) rate will be analysed as primary end point. Overall survival, progression free and metastasis free survival, patterns of recurrence, local control rate and morbidity are the secondary end points. DISCUSSION Up to now it was impossible to compare two different particle therapies, i.e. protons and carbon ions, directly at the same facility in connection with the treatment of low grade skull base chondrosarcomas.This trial is a phase III study to demonstrate that carbon ion radiotherapy (experimental treatment) is not relevantly inferior and at least as good as proton radiotherapy (standard treatment) with respect to 5 year LPFS in the treatment of chondrosarcomas. Additionally, we expect less toxicity in the carbon ion treatment arm. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01182753.
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Combined treatment of malignant salivary gland tumours with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) and carbon ions: COSMIC.
Jensen, AD, Nikoghosyan, A, Windemuth-Kieselbach, C, Debus, J, Münter, MW
BMC cancer. 2010;:546
Abstract
BACKGROUND Local control in malignant salivary gland tumours is dose dependent. High local control rates in adenoid cystic carcinomas could be achieved by highly conformal radiotherapy techniques and particle (neutron/carbon ion) therapy. Considering high doses are needed to achieve local control, all malignant salivary gland tumours probably profit from the use of particle therapy, which in case of carbon ion treatment, has been shown to be accompanied by only mild side-effects. METHODS/DESIGN The COSMIC trial is a prospective, mono-centric, phase II trial evaluating toxicity (primary endpoint: mucositis ≥ CTCAE°3) and efficacy (secondary endpoint: local control, disease-free survival) in the combined treatment with IMRT and carbon ion boost in 54 patients with histologically proved (≥R1-resected, inoperable or Pn+) salivary gland malignancies. Patients receive 24 GyE carbon ions (8 fractions) and IMRT (50 Gy at 2.0 Gy/fraction). DISCUSSION The primary objective of COSMIC is to evaluate toxicity and feasibility of the proposed treatment in all salivary gland malignancies. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical trial identifier NCT 01154270.