A Study to Evaluate the Effects of Giving IL-2 Alone to HIV-Positive Patients With CD4 Cell Counts of at Least 350 Cells/mm3 Who Do Not Wish to Receive Anti-HIV Therapy

HIV Infections Clinical Trial

Official title: A Randomized, Open Label Phase II Study of Subcutaneous Interleukin-2 (Proleukin) Alone vs No Therapy in Patients With HIV Infection and at Least 350 CD4+ Cells/mm3 Who Do Not Wish to Receive Treatment With Antiretroviral Therapy

Status Completed

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of giving interleukin-2 (IL-2) alone to HIV-positive patients with CD4 cell counts greater than 350 cells/mm3 who do not wish to receive anti-HIV (antiretroviral) therapy. This study will also determine if IL-2 given alone can increase CD4 cell counts or decrease the level of HIV in the blood.

IL-2 (a protein found in the blood that helps boost the immune system) can result in increases in CD4 cell count (immune system cells that fight infection). IL-2 is normally given in combination with antiretroviral therapy to treat HIV infection; however, some HIV patients do not wish to take antiretrovirals. This study asks if it is safe and effective to take IL-2 alone to treat HIV infection.

Clinical Trial Description

Previous studies have shown that interleukin-2, when given under the skin, results in CD4+ cell count increases, and may impact upon disease progression. A Phase III trial is the next step in the development of these efficacy trials. One question, however, has not been addressed in previous IL-2 studies: whether it is both safe and reasonable to allow prospective IL-2 recipients the autonomy of choosing whether or not to take antiretrovirals in addition to their cytokine therapy. This trial addresses that concern.

In this open-label study, 36 patients are randomized to 1 of 3 treatment groups of 12 patients each:

Group I: IL-2 every 12 hours for 5 days every 8 weeks. Group II: IL-2 every 12 hours for 5 days every 8 weeks (higher IL-2 dose). Group III: Control group receiving no therapy. Patients must complete a minimum of 3 8-week cycles of treatment. Twelve patients are randomized to each arm. Following study completion, Group I and II patients may elect to continue receiving IL-2 during follow-up or as part of an additional protocol based on the results of this study.

[AS PER AMENDMENT 2/12/99: Patients who have received study medication and/or routine protocol visits and procedures for at least 6 months with acceptable compliance are eligible for continued follow-up in an extension phase. The extension phase will continue for at least 1 year from the date when the last patient has been enrolled in the extension phase. Patients originally randomized to IL-2 may continue to receive IL-2 during the extension period, with IL-2 therapy guided on an individual basis. Patients originally randomized to no therapy may continue to receive no therapy during the extension phase.] [AS PER AMENDMENT 7/11/00: Patients demonstrating acceptable compliance with routine visits and procedures during the initial treatment phase and/or extension phase may participate in the long-term follow-up phase which requires follow-up visits at least every 4 months for approximately 5 years. Patients originally randomized to Group 1 or 2 may continue to receive IL-2, with IL-2 therapy guided on an individual basis, during the long-term follow-up phase. Patients originally randomized to Group 3 may continue to receive no therapy during the long-term follow-up phase.] ;

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• HIV Infections
• Infections

• NCT number: NCT00000909
• Study type: Interventional
• Source: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
• Status: Completed
• Phase: Phase 2
• Completion date: June 2004