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New treatment approach for children and young adults with a specific type of brain tumor

A Phase 2 Trial of Chemotherapy Followed by Response-Based Whole Ventricular &Amp; Spinal Canal Irradiation (WVSCI) for Patients With Localized Non-Germinomatous Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumor

PHASE2 · Children's Oncology Group · NCT04684368

This study is testing a new combination of chemotherapy and radiation therapy to see if it helps children and young adults with a specific type of brain tumor live longer and feel better.

Quick facts

PhasePHASE2
Study typeInterventional
Enrollment160 (estimated)
Ages3 Years to 29 Years
SexAll
SponsorChildren's Oncology Group (network)
Drugs / interventionschemotherapy, radiation
Locations166 sites (Birmingham, Alabama and 165 other locations)
Trial IDNCT04684368 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This phase II trial investigates a combined approach of chemotherapy and radiation therapy for children and young adults diagnosed with localized non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT). The study aims to optimize radiation treatment for patients who respond well to initial chemotherapy, while also exploring higher dose chemotherapy for those who do not respond. Key chemotherapy agents include carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide, and thiotepa, which work to inhibit tumor growth. The trial will monitor progression-free survival and overall survival rates, comparing outcomes based on treatment response and radiation modality.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are children and young adults aged 3 to 30 years with newly diagnosed localized CNS NGGCT.

Not a fit: Patients with NGGCT that has spread beyond the localized area or those with tumors originating from basal ganglia or other primary sites may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this study could significantly improve survival rates and reduce the risk of spinal relapses in young patients with localized NGGCT.

How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promising results with similar treatment approaches for localized NGGCT, indicating potential for success in this trial.

Eligibility criteria

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria 
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients must be \>= 3 years and \< 30 years at the time of study enrollment
* Patients must be newly diagnosed with localized primary CNS NGGCT of the suprasellar and/or pineal region by pathology and/or serum or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) elevation of AFP above institutional normal or \> 10 ng/mL or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) beta \> 100 mIU/mL as confirmed by Rapid Central Marker Screening Review on APEC14B1-CNS. Suprasellar, pineal and bifocal tumors are included. (CSF tumor markers and cytology must be within 31 days prior to enrollment and start of protocol therapy \[repeat if necessary\]. Serum tumor markers, AFP and hCGbeta must be within 7 days prior to enrollment and start of protocol therapy \[repeat if necessary\]). Basal ganglia or other primary sites are excluded
* Patients with any of the following pathological elements are eligible: endodermal sinus (yolk sac), embryonal carcinoma, choriocarcinoma, malignant/immature teratoma and mixed germ cell tumor (GCT) (i.e., may include some pure germinoma) if malignant elements listed above are present. Patients with only mature teratoma are excluded. Patients with pure germinoma admixed with mature teratoma are excluded (would be eligible for pure germinoma protocols)
* Patients must have a cranial MRI with and without gadolinium at diagnosis/prior to enrollment. If surgical resection is performed, patients must have pre-operative and post operative brain MRI with and without gadolinium. The post operative brain MRI should be obtained within 72 hours of surgery. If patient has a biopsy only, post-operative brain MRI is recommended but not required (within 31 days prior to study enrollment and start of protocol therapy )
* Patients must have a spine MRI with gadolinium obtained at diagnosis/prior to enrollment. Spine MRI with and without gadolinium is recommended (within 31 days prior to study enrollment and start of protocol therapy)
* Lumbar CSF must be obtained prior to study enrollment unless medically contraindicated. If a patient undergoes surgery and lumbar CSF cytology cannot be obtained at the time of surgery, then it should be performed at least 10 days following surgery and prior to study enrollment. False positive cytology can occur within 10 days of surgery
* Patients must have RAPID CENTRAL TUMOR MARKER REVIEW CSF tumor markers obtained prior to enrollment unless medically contraindicated. Ventricular CSF obtained at the time of CSF diversion procedure (if performed) is acceptable for tumor markers but lumbar CSF is preferred. In case CSF diversion and biopsy/surgery are combined, CSF tumor markers should be collected first
* Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \>= 1000/uL (within 7 days prior to enrollment)
* Platelet count \>= 100,000/uL (transfusion independent) (within 7 days prior to enrollment)
* Hemoglobin \>= 8.0 g/dL (may receive red blood cell \[RBC\] transfusions) (within 7 days prior to enrollment)
* Creatinine clearance or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) \>= 70 mL/min/1.73 m\^2 or a serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows (within 7 days prior to enrollment):

  * Age: Maximum serum creatinine (mg/dL)

    * 3 to \< 6 years: 0.8 (male), 0.8 (female)
    * 6 to \< 10 years: 1 (male), 1 (female)
    * 10 to \< 13 years: 1.2 (male), 1.2 (female)
    * 13 to \< 16 years: 1.5 (male), 1.4 (female)
    * \>= 16 years: male (1.7), 1.4 (female)
* Total bilirubin =\< 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age (within 7 days prior to enrollment)
* Serum glutamate pyruvate transaminase (SGPT) (alanine aminotransferase \[ALT\]) =\< 135 U/L (within 7 days prior to enrollment)

  * Note: For the purpose of this study, the ULN for SGPT (ALT) has been set to the value of 45 U/L
* Central nervous system function defined as:

  * Patients with seizure disorder may be enrolled if on anticonvulsants and well controlled
  * Patients must not be in status epilepticus, coma or assisted ventilation prior to study enrollment
* Protocol therapy must begin within 31 calendar days of definitive surgery or clinical diagnosis, whichever is later. If a biopsy only was performed, the biopsy date will be considered the date of definitive surgery. For patients who have a biopsy or incomplete resection at diagnosis followed by additional surgery, the date of the last resection will be considered the date of definitive surgery.
* All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent
* All institutional, Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and National Cancer Institute (NCI) requirements for human studies must be met
* NEUROCOGNITIVE FUNCTION AND QUALITY OF LIFE ASSESSMENT:
* English-, Spanish-, or French- speaking

  * Note: Patients who speak a language other than English, Spanish, or French will be allowed to participate in ACNS2021 but will not complete the neurocognitive and quality of life assessments
* No known history of neurodevelopmental disorder prior to diagnosis of NGGCT (e.g., Down syndrome, fragile X, William syndrome, intellectual disability). Patients with NF1 will be allowed to participate
* Additional eligibility criteria for the COG Standardized Neuropsychological Battery only: must be at a site that has a psychologist to administer the battery

  * Note: If not eligible for the COG Standardized Battery, patients should still complete the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2), Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory (PedsQL), Adaptive Behavior Assessment System Third Edition (ABAS-3), and Behavior Assessment System for Children, Third Edition (BASC-3) questionnaires

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with tumors located outside the ventricles (i.e., basal ganglia, thalamus)
* Patients with only mature teratoma and non-elevated markers upon tumor sampling at diagnosis
* Patients who have received any prior tumor-directed therapy for their diagnosis of NGGCT other than surgical intervention and corticosteroids
* Patients with metastatic disease (i.e., MRI evaluation, lumbar CSF cytology or intraoperative evidence of dissemination)
* Female patients who are pregnant, since fetal toxicities and teratogenic effects have been noted for several of the study drugs

  * Note: Serum and urine pregnancy tests may be falsely positive due to HCGbeta-secreting germ cell tumors. Ensure the patient is not pregnant by institutional standards
* Lactating females who plan to breastfeed their infants
* Sexually active patients of reproductive potential who have not agreed to use an effective contraceptive method for the duration of their study participation

Where this trial is running

Birmingham, Alabama and 165 other locations

+116 more sites — see ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.

Study contacts

How to participate

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.

View on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Conditions: Central Nervous System Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumor, Choriocarcinoma, Embryonal Carcinoma, Immature Teratoma, Malignant Teratoma, Mixed Germ Cell Tumor, Pineal Region Germ Cell Tumor, Pineal Region Immature Teratoma

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.