Recruiting
Phase 2

Anti-CMV Therapy

Sponsor:

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Code:

NCT07383649

Conditions

Brain Cancer Metastatic

CMV Viremia

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Valganciclovir

Study Details

Brief summary:

This is a phase II trial with an initial safety lead-in evaluating the efficacy, safety, neurocognitive, and quality-of-life outcomes of anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) therapy and standard-of-care (SOC) in patients with anti-human cytomegalovirus (HCMV)-reactivated brain metastases. Male and female patients, aged ≥18 years, who have metastatic breast cancer with progressive brain metastases and CMV viremia (> 250 copies/ml) or positive CMV IgG or IgM will be eligible to participate in the trial.

Patients can proceed with SRS as long as at least 1 lesion which is 2 cm or less in a noncritical area in the brain is spared as per the discretion of treating neurosurgeon/radiation oncologist. At least 10 patients will be enrolled in the initial safety lead-in followed by the Phase II trial which will include 18 patients.

Anti-HCMV therapy, oral Valganciclovir will be given to patients at 900 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. After the induction period, the maintenance will be continued with valganciclovir at 450 mg twice daily for 4 weeks (28 days).

Conditions

Brain Cancer Metastatic

CMV Viremia

Study ID

NCT07383649

Start date

Jul 14, 2026

Status verified date

Aug, 2026

Completion date

May, 2030

Anticipated

Primary completion date

May, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 18+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female aged >18 years at the time of consent
2. Breast cancer with progressive brain metastases supra and/or infratentorial. Patients can proceed with SRS as long as at least 1 lesion which is 2 cm or less in a noncritical area in the brain is spared as per the discretion of treating neurosurgeon/radiation oncologist.
3. At least one non irradiated, untreated progressive brain metastases site
4. Serum HCMV DNA by real time PCR > 250 copies/ml or positive CMV Ig G or Ig M.
5. Capable of giving signed informed consent which includes compliance with the requirements and restrictions listed in the informed consent form and in this protocol. If the patient is unable to consent for any reason a legally authorized guardian may provide consent on their behalf. Written informed consent and any locally required authorization (e.g., Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) will be obtained from the patient prior to performing any protocol-related procedures, including screening evaluations.
6. Metastatic breast cancer who has systemically no evidence of disease, complete remission, partial remission, stable or progressive disease
7. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score of 0-2
8. Adequate hematology without ongoing transfusion support (hemoglobin > 9 g/dl, absolute neutrophil count (ANC) > 1500 per mm3 , platelets > 100,000 per mm3)
9. Adequate renal and hepatic function (creatinine clearance \[CrCL\] > 60 mL/min, bilirubin x:≤1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN), aspartate aminotransferase \[AST\] and alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\] ≤ 2.5 x ULN and serum albumin ≥ 3 g/dl.
10. Other CMV treatment if clinically indicated per physician's choice
11. Evidence of postmenopausal status or negative serum pregnancy test for premenopausal female patients. Negative serum β-human chorionic gonadotropin pregnancy test within 7 days prior to the first dose of study treatment for premenopausal patients. Women will be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months without an alternative medical cause.

The following age-specific requirements apply:
12. Women <50 years of age would be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of exogenous hormonal treatments and if they have luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone levels in the postmenopausal range for the institution or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy or hysterectomy).
13. Women ≥50 years of age would be considered postmenopausal if they have been amenorrheic for 12 months or more following cessation of all exogenous hormonal treatments, had radiation-induced menopause with last menses >1 year ago, had chemotherapy-induced menopause with last menses >1 year ago, or underwent surgical sterilization (bilateral oophorectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, or hysterectomy).
14. Patient is willing and able to comply with the protocol for the duration of the study including undergoing treatment and scheduled visits and examinations including follow-up.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Single resectable intracranial lesion
2. Last intracranial progression free survival > 12 months
3. All progressive brain metastases have been radiated
4. Brain metastases needing immediate local intervention such as mass effect, herniation, active neurological symptoms, increased intracranial pressure, those near vital structures like the motor cortex, proximity to the optic nerve/chiasm or brain stem etc (can still be included if there are any other non-radiated progressive brain metastases) Multidisciplinary discussion with neurosurgery and radiation oncology will be needed to determine which patients may be safely enrolled on the trial.
5. Active pregnancy or breast feeding
6. Women of childbearing potential or fertile men unwilling to use effective contraception (Section 6.2, Table 6) during study and up to three months after treatment discontinuation.
7. Known psychiatric disorder that causes poor cooperation with the trial requirements.
8. Participants with previous other malignancies must have had at least a 3-year disease free interval, except those with non-melanoma skin cancer or carcinoma in situ of cervix
9. Participation in another clinical study with an investigational product within 28 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
10. Concurrent enrollment in another clinical study unless it is an observational (non-interventional) clinical study or during the follow-up period of an interventional study.
11. Unresolved or unstable adverse events (AEs) from prior administration of another investigational drug, per investigators' discretion.
12. Major surgical procedure (as defined by the investigator) within 28 days prior to the first dose of study treatment.
13. Non-English-speaking subjects will not be enrolled in this study since the neurocognitive tests including DKEFS, RAVLT and TMT are not validated to be scored in other languages.

Study Design

Enrollment

28 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Anti-HCMV therapy (Oral Valganciclovir) and Standard-of-Care

At least 10 patients will be enrolled in the initial safety lead-in followed by the Phase II trial which will include 18 patients. Anti-HCMV therapy, oral Valganciclovir will be given to patients at 900 mg twice a day for 2 weeks. After the induction period, the maintenance will be continued with valganciclovir at 450 mg twice daily for 4 weeks (28 days). CMV PCR, IgG and IgM will be checked at the end of these four weeks. Patients will be followed with physical examinations and assessment of laboratory parameters as required per standard-of-care treatment. Quality-of-life, neurocognitive questionnaires, and MRI brain (if asymptomatic) every 2 months until subsequent intracranial progression or end of study, whichever comes first. Patients will be in follow-up for 24 months.

Interventions

Valganciclovir

Valganciclovir inhibits viral DNA polymerase, effectively controlling HCMV reactivation and its associated immunosuppressive effects.

Dosing for oral Valganciclovir will be based on standard of care dosing as per FDA in patients with HCMV infection. Dose adjustments will be made by the principal investigator for renal function, treatment-related AEs and disease progression according to the manufacturer's recommendations as they are present in individuals and will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.

Primary outcome measure

  • Objective Response Rate with anti-HMCV Therapy and SOC [ Time Frame: 6 Weeks ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Locations

Houston Methodist Neal Cancer Center

Recruiting

Houston, Texas, United States, 77030

Contacts

Principal Investigator:

Akshjot Puri, M.D.

More Information

Sponsor

The Methodist Hospital Research Institute

Last update posted

Aug 10, 2026

Last verified

Aug, 2026

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-09. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by The Methodist Hospital Research Institute on 2026-08-10.