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Lenox Hill first on East Coast to implant novel glioblastoma brain tumor into abdomen
Clinical trial looks to elicit patient's immune system response to fight cancerous brain tumor
Neurosurgeons at Northwell Health's Lenox Hill Hospital and researchers at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research are among the first in the nation to enroll and dose a patient in Imvax, Inc.'s Phase 2b glioblastoma trial. The trial aims to elicit an immune response against glioblastoma, a cancerous tumor, by temporarily implanting a patient's removed brain tumor into their abdominal muscles.
The trial's local lead investigator, John Boockvar, MD, the vice chair of neurosurgery and director of the Brain Tumor Center at Lenox Hill Hospital and professor at the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, was the first on the east coast to perform the three-part surgery. The patient is a 57-year-old male who has been diagnosed with high-grade glioma. He is among the first of a proposed 93 participants across 25 centers to participate in the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled Phase 2b clinical trial of Imvax’s IGV-001 in newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients.
A novel glioblastoma treatment
In the first of three separate surgeries, the patient's tumor was removed from the brain and then sent to Imvax for processing. Researchers then combined the tumor with Imvax’s IMV-001, a synthetic gene-regulating material that is meant to dampen a protein that is involved in the proliferation and survival of glioblastoma cells. The treated tumor is then placed in implantable biodiffusion chambers and exposed to radiation prior to being returned to Lenox Hill for surgical implantation in the patient’s abdomen. The trial’s goal is to assess whether the treatment can safely and effectively induce a broad and durable immune response against the patient’s own glioblastoma tumor cells.
“Much like the idea of vaccines, this trial is meant to study the potential efficacy and harness a patient’s own immune system to fight disease, and in this case, a deadly brain tumor,” said Dr. Boockvar. “Glioblastoma treatments vary, with no one size-fits-all-approach. I am encouraged by the potential this novel treatment gives to patients seeking care for this serious condition.”
Chris' Story: A Journey with Glioblastoma
Chris Amundsen was given three-to-six months to live following his glioblastoma diagnosis. Clinical trials led by John Boockvar, MD, gave him more time — and his family hope.
Phase 1 results tracked 45 trial participants and concluded the treatment was well tolerated and suggested an immune response. Furthermore, data gleaned from the first study reflect improvements in progression-free survival, which also translates to a sustained, meaningful quality of life. It was observed that the ten patients who received the highest exposure of IGV-001 in the Phase 1b study lived the longest, an average of 38.2 months.
“Dr. Boockvar has dedicated his career to launching clinical trials to identify new therapies for glioblastoma,” said Kevin J. Tracey, MD, president and CEO of the Feinstein Institutes, and Karches Family Distinguished Chair in Medical Research. "Progress in these trials proceeds one patient at a time, so the participation of every individual patient is a step closer to a future cure.”
What is glioblastoma?
Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of cancer arising from cells that comprise the supportive tissue of the brain called astrocytes. Tumors are typically formed in the brain's cerebral hemispheres, although they can be found anywhere in the brain or spinal cord. The disease is highly malignant because cells rapidly reproduce and are supported by a large network of blood vessels.
Lenox Hill Hospital's neurosurgery program is renowned for exceptional outcomes and world-class care. US News and World Report ranked it the 22nd best hospital for neurosurgery and neurology in 2022-2023. The hospital is also number 28 on Newsweek's World Best Specialized Hospitals list for neurosurgery in 2023. Eight of the team's neurosurgeons are recognized by Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
Additionally, the trial will be conducted at North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) and led by Michael Schulder, MD, director of the Brain Tumor Center at North Shore University Hospital and the Feinstein Institutes’ Institute of Molecular Medicine.
John Boockvar, MD, leads a clinical trial, currently in its initial phase, investigating the use of fatty tissue from the gut to circumvent the blood-brain barrier and enhance the efficacy of chemotherapy.
With the new technology, LHH can produce 3-D models of the spine to give the surgeon a clear understanding of the specific patient’s anatomy.
The neuroplastic option is available to patients who have previously undergone neurosurgery and those who elect to include a neuroplastic reconstruction component as a part of an upcoming neurosurgical operation.