Neurologie und Poliklinik Teil der Neurologischen Klinik
Neurologie und Poliklinik Teil der Neurologischen Klinik
Kliniken &… Kliniken Neurologische… Neurologie und… Forschung Neurooncology Neurooncology Clinical…

NEUROONCOLOGY CLINICAL TRIAL RESEARCH

Overview

A particular strength of our Neurooncology Clinical Trial Research Program is the conduct of innovative clinical trials providing our patients access to novel treatment concepts and the development of molecular and radiographic parameters to further improve stratification of patients (Kickingereder Lancet Oncol 2019). The program encompasses first-line und salvage therapy trials across multiple tumor entities with a focus on malignant gliomas. Trials are done at all stages, from first-in-human studies until phase III therapy optimization trials, uni-center and international multicenter trials. The focus lies on investigator-initiated concepts in collaboration with local (NCT/DKTK), national (Neurooncology Working Group of the German cancer Society/NOA) and international study groups (European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer). We also participate in pharmaceutical industry trials in order to provide a broad trial portfolio for our patients and to enable the center to join in the latest external developments. Members of our study team take internationally visible roles at all levels in international trial development. Importantly, the trial program is combined with interdisciplinary, comprehensive patient care for all neurooncology patients at an internationally recognized level and innovative translational research and biomarker development from tissue resources (together with the Institute of Neuropathology) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; together with the Department of Neuroradiology).

Owing to the relevance of angiogenesis to malignant gliomas, the department has contributed significantly to large international trial activities (Wick J Clin Oncol 2010; Chinot, Wick NEJM 2014; Batchelor J Clin Oncol 2014; Wick Neuro Oncol 2015; Wick Clin Cancer Res 2016; Wick NEJM 2017). The Neurooncology and Brain Tumor Immunology CCUs have joined forces to develop the preclinical basis and the first-in-human clinical trial (NOA-16) with a peptide-based vaccine that targets mutant IDH in grade II-IV gliomas. The trial is coordinated by members of the Neurooncology Clinical Trial Research Group in collaboration with the NCT Trial Center and builds a role model of optimal use of central infrastructure and de-central patient-focused trial resources. The currently active NOA-21 trials tests the concept randomized in the setting of alternative or combined checkpoint inhibition with avelumab. Within the framework of the DKFZ-Bayer Alliance, we have designed a trial concept for a novel inhibitor (BAY1436032), which has been jointly developed by the Heidelberg Neurooncology program (led by Andreas von Deimling and Stefan Pusch, Neuropathology) and Bayer. This international, multidisciplinary trial in multiple solid tumors with the commonality of an IDH1 mutation is conducted by the Neurooncology trial group thus broadening our expertise and providing new opportunities and challenges for further trial structure development.

The NCT Neuro MASTER Match (N2M2/NOA-20) is an example for an umbrella trial including patients with the highest need for therapeutic progress in a modern trials design, using high-end molecular characterization, individualized therapy assignment and modern statistical adaptive designs to make the next big step in glioblastoma clinical research. The trial is actve in 13 German NOA sites.

Recently, we focused on the development of immunotherapy also for patients with glioblastoma. GAPVAC was a successful international effort to show the feasibility and biological activity of a personalized multipeptide vaccine integrated into the standard of care (Hilf et al. Nature 2019). The present Vaximm trial is the second effort to show activity of an oral vaccine plus checkpoint inhibition in progressive glioblastoma.

The highlight topics for the future are the successful conduct of the new multicenter trials IMPROVE CODEL in anaplastic good prognosis gliomas and the N2M2 umbrella trial in newly diagnosed gliomas with unmethylated MGMT promotor (see figure). The scope - beyond the mere conduct of the intervention trial parts - will be the structured long-term follow up with a focus on patient-centered outcomes, the building of an integrated clinical data/tissue/imaging platform within the NCT Data ThereHouse and the co-development of patient-derived xenografts parallel to trials and structured routine treatments. The overall strategy of the department’s trial program will be the further improvement and harmonization of our trial infrastructure and procedures across different diseases as a prime trial site for collaboration partners.

Team

Wiss. Mitarbeiter/-innen

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

  • Wick W, Platten M, Meisner C, Felsberg J, Tabatabai G, Simon M, Nikkhah G, Papsdorf K, Steinbach JP, Sabel M, Combs SE, Vesper M, Braun C, Meixensberger J, Ketter R, Mayer-Steinacker R, Reifenberger G, Weller M, for the Neurooncology Working Group (NOA) of the German Cancer Society Chemotherapy versus radiotherapy for malignant astrocytoma in the elderly. Lancet Oncol. 2012 Jul;13(7):707-15.
  • Chinot OL, Wick W, Mason W, Henriksson R, Saran F, Nishikawa R, Carpentier AF, Hoang-Xuan K, Kavan P, Cernea D, Brandes AA, Hilton M, Abrey L, Cloughesy T. Bevacizumab Plus Radiotherapy/Temozolomide for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2014 Feb 20;370(8):709-22
  • Wick W, Fricke H, Junge K, Kobyakov G, Martens T, Heese O, Wiestler B, Schliesser MG, von Deimling A, Pichler J, Vetlova E, Harting I, Debus J, Hartmann C, Kunz C, Platten M, Bendszus M, Combs SE. A phase II, randomised, study of weekly APG101 + reirradiation versus reirradiation in progressive glioblastoma. Clin Cancer Res. 2014 Dec 15;20(24):6304-13.
  • Weller M, Tabatabai G, Kästner B, Felsberg J, Steinbach JP, Wick A, Schnell O, Hau P, Herrlinger U, Sabel MC, Wirsching HG, Ketter R, Bähr O, Platten M, Tonn JC, Schlegel U, Marosi C, Goldbrunner R, Stupp R, Homicsko K, Pichler J, Nikkhah G, Meixensberger J, Vajkoczy P, Kollias S, Hüsing J, Reifenberger G, Wick W; DIRECTOR Study Group. MGMT Promoter Methylation Is a Strong Prognostic Biomarker for Benefit from Dose-Intensified Temozolomide Rechallenge in Progressive Glioblastoma: The DIRECTOR Trial. Clin Cancer Res. 2015 May 1;21(9):2057-64.
  • Wick W, Gorlia T, Bady P, Platten M, van den Bent MJ, Taphoorn MJ, Steuve J, Brandes AA, Hamou MF, Wick A, Kosch M, Weller M, Stupp R, Roth P, Golfinopoulos V, Frenel JS, Campone M, Ricard D, Marosi C, Villa S, Weyerbrock A, Hopkins K, Homicsko K, Lhermitte B, Pesce G, Hegi ME. Phase II Study of Radiotherapy and Temsirolimus versus Radiochemotherapy with Temozolomide in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma without MGMT Promoter Hypermethylation (EORTC 26082). Clin Cancer Res. 2016 Oct 1;22(19):4797-4806.
  • Wick W, Gorlia T, Bendszus M, Taphoorn M, Sahm F, Harting I, Brandes AA, Taal, W, Domont J, Idbaih A, Campone M, Clement PM, Stupp R, Fabbro M, Le Rhun E, Dubois F, Weller M, von Deimling A, Golfinopoulos V, Bromberg JC, Platten M, Klein M, van den Bent MJ. EORTC 26101 trial of lomustine with or without bevacizumab in progressive glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2017 Nov 16;377(20):1954-1963.
  • Perry JR, Laperriere N, O'Callaghan CJ, Brandes AA, Menten J, Phillips C, Fay M, Nishikawa R, Cairncross JG, Roa W, Osoba D, Rossiter JP, Sahgal A, Hirte H, Laigle-Donadey F, Franceschi E, Chinot O, Golfinopoulos V, Fariselli L, Wick A, Feuvret L, Back M, Tills M, Winch C, Baumert BG, Wick W, Ding K, Mason WP; Trial Investigators. Short-Course Radiation plus Temozolomide in Elderly Patients with Glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2017 Mar 16;376(11):1027-1037.
  • Wick W, Dettmer S, Berberich A, Kessler T, Karapanagiotou-Schenkel I, Wick A, Winkler F, Pfaff E, Brors B, Debus J, Unterberg A, Bendszus M, Herold-Mende C, Eisenmenger A, von Deimling A, Jones DTW, Pfister SM, Sahm F, Platten M. N2M2 (NOA-20) phase I/II trial of molecularly matched targeted therapies plus radiotherapy in patients with newly diagnosed non-MGMT hypermethylated glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol. 2019 Jan 1;21(1):95-105.
  • Hilf N, Kuttruff-Coqui S, Frenzel K, Bukur V, Stevanović S, Gouttefangeas C, Platten M, Tabatabai G, Dutoit V, van der Burg SH, Thor Straten P, Martínez-Ricarte F, Ponsati B, Okada H, Lassen U, Admon A, Ottensmeier CH, Ulges A, Kreiter S, von Deimling A, Skardelly M, Migliorini D, Kroep JR, Idorn M, Rodon J, Piró J, Poulsen HS, Shraibman B, McCann K, Mendrzyk R, Löwer M, Stieglbauer M, Britten CM, Capper D, Welters MJP, Sahuquillo J, Kiesel K, Derhovanessian E, Rusch E, Bunse L, Song C, Heesch S, Wagner C, Kemmer-Brück A, Ludwig J, Castle JC, Schoor O, Tadmor AD, Green E, Fritsche J, Meyer M, Pawlowski N, Dorner S, Hoffgaard F, Rössler B, Maurer D, Weinschenk T, Reinhardt C, Huber C, Rammensee HG, Singh-Jasuja H, Sahin U, Dietrich PY, Wick W. Actively personalized vaccination trial for newly diagnosed glioblastoma. Nature. 2019 Jan;565(7738):240-245.
  • Kickingereder P, Isensee F, Tursunova I, Petersen J, Neuberger U, Bonekamp D, Brugnara G, Schell M, Kessler T, Foltyn M, Harting I, Sahm F, Prager M, Nowosielski M, Wick A, Nolden M, Radbruch A, Debus J, Schlemmer HP, Heiland S, Platten M, von Deimling A, van den Bent MJ, Gorlia T, Wick W, Bendszus M, Maier-Hein KH. Automated quantitative tumour response assessment of MRI in neuro-oncology with artificial neural networks: a multicentre, retrospective study. Lancet Oncol. 2019 May;20(5):728-740.