Treatment and prophylaxis against CNS (central nervous system) lymphoma typically consist of a regimen containing high dose methotrexate (HD MTX), which requires inpatient monitoring in order to ensure adequate clearance of methotrexate levels (MTX). The goal of this prospective, multi-institution study is to evaluate the effect of prophylactic glucarpidase in patients receiving high dose MTX and are at increased risk of delayed MTX clearance and nephrotoxicity. Glucarpidase is a recombinant bacterial enzyme (carboxypeptidase G2) that can convert MTX to non-cytotoxic metabolites (DAMPA). This is the first controlled trial comparing glucarpidase with supportive care alone in patients with MTX induced nephrotoxicity and delayed MTX clearance.
This is a study to use glucarpidase prophylactically to treat methotrexate induced toxicities in lymphoma patients with cerebral involvement.