A Safety Study of Fingolimod With Radiation and Temozolomide in Newly Diagnosed High Grade Glioma

Study Summary

A recent prospective multicenter study by Dr. Grossman demonstrated that 40% of patients with high grade glioma undergoing radiation and chemotherapy developed severe and persistent lymphopenia (CD4 counts \<200 cells/mm3). This lymphopenia lasted for twelve months following radiation treatment and on multivariate analysis was associated with shorter survival. Our group has data that strongly suggests that this lymphopenia is secondary to the inadvertent radiation of circulating lymphocytes as they pass through the radiation beam. Investigators propose the use of FDA approved for multiple sclerosis, fingolimod to signal lymphocytes to leave the circulation prior to the initiation of radiation. It is a functional antagonist of the sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) pathway and prevents lymphocyte egress from secondary lymphoid organs. Oral fingolimod will be given 1 week prior to the initiation of concurrent radiation and temozolomide and will be discontinued immediately upon completion of the six weeks of therapy. The primary objective is to evaluate if fingolimod can be safely combined with radiation and temozolomide. Secondary endpoint is total lymphocyte counts (TLC) for the proposed study participants. Investigators expect that patients receiving radiation and temozolomide plus fingolimod have a recovery of lymphocyte counts to 80% of baseline within four months, reference to historical control in which sustained lymphopenia lasted for twelve months.

Primary Outcome

Incidence of greater than or equal to Grade III infections attributable to fingolimod-induced lymphopenia defined by the NIH/NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE)

Interventions

• DRUG Fingolimod