abacavir + lamivudine + ritonavir

Abacavir + lamivudine + ritonavir is a combination antiretroviral therapy (ART) regimen being investigated by the University of Miami for the treatment of newly diagnosed unresectable high-grade gliomas (HGG). This therapeutic approach, evaluated in the Phase 1 STARLITE clinical trial (NCT06428045), repurposes FDA-approved HIV medications based on preclinical evidence of their antineoplastic activity against glioblastoma. The regimen consists of two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (abacavir and lamivudine) and a protease inhibitor (ritonavir). In the trial, this ART combination is administered in conjunction with Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT), which is hypothesized to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier to facilitate drug delivery into the central nervous system, alongside standard-of-care temozolomide and radiotherapy. The study specifically evaluates the safety and dose-escalation of ritonavir within this combination.

Other names

ARTcombination antiretroviral therapyabacavir/lamivudine/ritonavir