Clinical Trial Review, no. 3

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CIinicI Friil Flexriew #3

Lymphoma Treatment?
Two drugs, etoposide (Vepisid) and
cisplatin (Platinol) are being tested
in an important new study on treatments for CNS lymphoma. The
drugs are injected into an artery in
the side of the neck. Membranes
surrounding the brain keepoutmany
infectious agents and drugs, and
this treatment allows the drugs to
cross the blood-brain barrier (enter
the central nervous system) and
treat infection in the brain.
Earlier results of clinical trials, which
have been peer reviewed and published, are encouraging. Clinical
Trial Review will cover this study in
issue #4. For more information contact The Network.
Tat Inhibitors
One of the structural components
of the HIV virus is a unique gene
called tat. A researcher at Harvard
has shown that when tat is removed
from the HIV virus, the virus stops
reproducing. In theory, blocking
the tatgene could slowdown orstop
growth of the HIV virus. Or, if a
mutant HIV virus were created in
the lab without thetat gene, the
mutant would be able to target cells
that are already infected and perhaps turn off the growth signal that
prompts the HIV virus to reproduce.
Ro 24-7429, a drug which inhibits
thetat protein essential to HIVvirus
replication, is currently in trial. There
may be one or two spots available,
but only for individuals who are
p24 antigen positive. Call The Network to check on Study No. ACTG
213. Now is the time to get on
waiting lists at the four sites where
this study is taking place.

HIV TREATMENT: LESS THAN 50 T4 CELLS
Antivirals are medicines that work against the H IV virus or other viruses. The
first government-approved antiviral for H IV disease was AZT. Recently, ddl
was approved for people for whom AZT was no longer working. ddC, or
Hivid, was also recently approved for use in combination with AZT. These
drugs work by slowing the replication of the HIV virus inside the T4 cells.
There are still no definite answers as to the best combination of antiviral
drugs and at what point to take them.ACTG 193 examines combinations of
antiviral drugs and actively seeks volunteers with T4 cell counts of less than
50. You may already have used a combination of antiviral drugs such as
ddC and AZT in the past, but must stop whatever you are taking upon
entering the study. Participants will be randomized to receive either AZT
and ddl with placebo, AZT and ddC with placebo, or AZT alternating monthly
with ddl and placebo. You must be 13 or older, and cannot be pregnant or
nursing or on chemotherapy for tumors or cancer. Study sites includeBeth
Israel Medical Center in New York City and Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst,
NY. Contact The Network for more information.
Nutrition Study Open!
Oxandralone is an anabolic steroid which promotes cell growth and protein
retention. In PWAs, weight loss is often an indication that the body is losing
muscle and protein. Although fat may increase the total number of pounds
you weigh, the important type of weight you need is the weight that comes
from muscle mass. Network #215 will examine whether the drug Oxandralone can also be helpful in increasing and keeping on weight. The Oxandralone study at St. Luke's/Roosevelt will last 4 months. Follow up treatment will
be made available. Nutritional assessments will be performed during the
study as will measurements of food intake, muscle strength, quality of life,
and immune function. If you are interested in a trial that could lead to
improved therapy for malnutrition contact The Network.
Lymphoma Treatment........................9
Tat Inhibitors................................................... -.9
HIV Treatment: Less than 50 T4 Cells................9
Nutrition Study Open............................................ 9
Kapsosi's Sarcoma: TNP-470............................10
CMV Disease Treatment.......................aa...10
CM V Prevention..................................................10
HPMPC for CMV Disease.......................10
A Prevention Strategy: ACTG 193 & 204..............11
Mepron Approved.............................................. 11
MSL 109 for CMV Retinitis................................11
Oral DHPG..............................................11
Zovirax (Acyclovir) Price Cap........................11
Preventing MAC........................................ 12
Hyper icin................................................1 2

AIDS Treatment Data Network

February 1993

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