Overview

Primary brain tumors are typically treated by surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, either individually or in combination. Present therapies are inadequate, as evidenced by the low 5-year survival rate for brain cancer patients, with median survival at approximately 12 months. Glioma is the most common form of primary brain cancer, afflicting approximately 7,000 patients in the United States each year. These highly malignant cancers remain a significant unmet clinical need in oncology. GBM often has a high expression of EFGR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor), which is associated with poor prognosis. Several methods of inhibiting this receptor have been tested, including monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, and tyrosine kinase inhibitors. The investigators hypothesize that in patients with recurring GBM, intracranial superselective intra-arterial infusion of Cetuximab (CTX), at a dose of 250mg/m2 in conjunction with hypofractionated radiation, will be safe and efficacious and prevent tumor progression in patients with recurrent, residual GBM.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Male or female patients of ≥18 years of age
• Patients with a documented histologic diagnosis of relapsed or refractory glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) or anaplastic oligoastrocytoma (AOA)
• Patients with pathology confirmed histologic EGFR overexpression
• Patients must have at least one confirmed and evaluable tumor site.∗

  *A confirmed tumor site is one in which is biopsy-proven

• Patients must have a Karnofsky performance status ≥60% and an expected survival of ≥ three months.
• No chemotherapy for two weeks prior to treatment under this research protocol and no external beam radiation for eight weeks prior to treatment under this research protocol
• Patients must have adequate hematologic reserve with WBC≥3000/mm3, absolute neutrophils ≥1500/mm3 and platelets ≥100,000/ mm3. Patients who are on Coumadin must have a platelet count of ≥150,000/ mm3
• Pre-enrollment chemistry parameters must show: bilirubin<1.5X the institutional upper limit of normal (IUNL); AST or ALT<2.5X IUNL and creatinine<1.5X IUNL
• Pre-enrollment coagulation parameters (PT and PTT) must be ≤1.5X the IUNL
• Patients must agree to use a medically effective method of contraception during and for a period of three months after the treatment period. A pregnancy test will be performed on each premenopausal female of childbearing potential immediately prior to entry into the research study
• Patients must be able to understand and give written informed consent. Informed consent must be obtained at the time of patient screening

Exclusion Criteria:

• Women who are pregnant or lactating.
• Women of childbearing potential and fertile men will be informed of the potential unknown risk of conception while participating in this research trial and will be advised that they must use effective contraception during and for a period of three months after the treatment period
• Patients with significant intercurrent medical or psychiatric conditions that would place them at increased risk or affect their ability to receive or comply with treatment or post-treatment clinical monitoring
• Patients with radiological evidence of leptomeningeal disease
• Patients with history of allergic reaction to CTX
• Patients who completed chemo/RT less than 6 months prior to enrollment
• Patients who have not failed standard Stupp protocol