Treatment options for children and adults with rhabdomyosarcoma
Official title: FaR-RMS: An Overarching Study for Children and Adults With Frontline and Relapsed RhabdoMyoSarcoma
Run by University of Birmingham · NCT04625907 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing different treatment options for children and adults with rhabdomyosarcoma to see which ones work best for newly diagnosed and relapsed cases.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase1; Phase2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 1672 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University of Birmingham Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, cyclophosphamide |
| Locations | 128 sites (Brisbane and 127 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | September 17, 2020 |
| Main results expected | June 2030 |
| Study ends | June 2030 |
| Registry record updated | May 23, 2024 |
| Trial ID | NCT04625907 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include children and young adults aged 12 months to 25 years with histologically confirmed rhabdomyosarcoma, particularly those with very high-risk disease.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with pleomorphic rhabdomyosarcoma or those who have received prior treatment for RMS may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
FaR-RMS is a comprehensive program designed for children and adults with newly diagnosed and relapsed rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). This multi-arm, multi-stage study evaluates various treatment regimens, including the impact of new agents, maintenance therapy duration, and modifications to radiotherapy protocols. The study also aims to improve risk stratification using genetic markers and assess the prognostic value of FDG PET-CT imaging following chemotherapy. Patients can enter the study at different stages of their treatment journey, allowing for flexible participation based on individual circumstances.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved treatment outcomes and quality of life for patients with rhabdomyosarcoma.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in evaluating new treatment regimens for rhabdomyosarcoma, but the specific multi-arm approach of FaR-RMS is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria for study entry - Mandatory at first point of study entry 1. Histologically confirmed diagnosis of RMS (except pleomorphic RMS) 2. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Phase 1b Dose Finding - IRIVA Inclusion 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study at diagnosis 2. Very High Risk disease 3. Age \>12 months and ≤25 years 4. No prior treatment for RMS other than surgery 5. Medically fit to receive treatment 6. Adequate hepatic function: 1. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, unless the patient is known to have Gilbert's syndrome 2. ALT or AST \< 2.5 X ULN for age 7. Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.0x 109/L 8. Platelets ≥ 80 x 109/L 9. Adequate renal function: estimated or measured creatinine clearance ≥60 ml/min/1.73 m2 10. Documented negative pregnancy test for female patients of childbearing potential 11. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 12. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion 1. Weight \<10kg 2. Active \> grade 2 diarrhoea 3. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 4. Uncontrolled inter-current illness or active infection 5. Pre-existing medical condition precluding treatment 6. Urinary outflow obstruction that cannot be relieved prior to starting treatment 7. Active inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) 8. Known hypersensitivity to any of the treatments or excipients 9. Second malignancy 10. Pregnant or breastfeeding women Frontline chemotherapy randomisation Very High Risk - CT1a Inclusion 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study at diagnosis 2. Very High Risk disease 3. Age ≥ 6 months 4. Available for randomisation ≤60 days after diagnostic biopsy/surgery 5. No prior treatment for RMS other than surgery 6. Medically fit to receive treatment 7. Adequate hepatic function : a. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, unless the patient is known to have Gilbert's syndrome 8. Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.0x 109/L (except in patients with documented bone marrow disease) 9. Platelets ≥ 80 x 109/L (except in patients with documented bone marrow disease) 10. Fractional Shortening ≥ 28% 11. Documented negative pregnancy test for female patients of childbearing potential 12. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 13. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion 1. Active \> grade 2 diarrhoea 2. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 3. Uncontrolled inter-current illness or active infection 4. Pre-existing medical condition precluding treatment 5. Urinary outflow obstruction that cannot be relieved prior to starting treatment 6. Active inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) 7. Known hypersensitivity to any of the treatments or excipients 8. Second malignancy 9. Pregnant or breastfeeding women Frontline chemotherapy randomisation High Risk - CT1b Inclusion 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study at diagnosis 2. High Risk disease 3. Age ≥ 6 months 4. Available for randomisation ≤60 days after diagnostic biopsy/surgery 5. No prior treatment for RMS other than surgery 6. Medically fit to receive treatment 7. Adequate hepatic function : a. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 times upper limit of normal (ULN) for age, except if the patient is known to have Gilbert's syndrome 8. Absolute neutrophil count ≥1.0x 109/L 9. Platelets ≥ 80 x 109/L 10. Documented negative pregnancy test for female patients of childbearing potential 11. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 12. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion 1. Active \> grade 2 diarrhoea 2. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 3. Uncontrolled inter-current illness or active infection 4. Pre-existing medical condition precluding treatment 5. Urinary outflow obstruction that cannot be relieved prior to starting treatment 6. Active inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) 7. Known hypersensitivity to any of the treatments or excipients 8. Second malignancy 9. Pregnant or breastfeeding women Frontline Radiotherapy Note: eligible patients may enter multiple radiotherapy randomisations. Radiotherapy Inclusion - for all radiotherapy randomisations 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study (at diagnosis or prior to radiotherapy randomisation) 2. Very High Risk, High Risk and Standard Risk disease 3. ≥ 2 years of age 4. Receiving frontline induction treatment as part of the FaR-RMS trial or with a IVA/IVADo based chemotherapy regimen patients for whom. Note that patients for whom ifosfamide has been replaced with cyclophosphamide will be eligible 5. Patient assessed as medically fit to receive the radiotherapy 6. Documented negative pregnancy test for female patients of childbearing potential 7. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 8. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Radiotherapy Exclusion - for all radiotherapy randomisations 1. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 2. Second malignancy 3. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 4. Receiving radiotherapy as brachytherapy RT1a Specific Inclusion 1. Primary tumour deemed resectable (predicted R0/ R1 resection feasible) after 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy (6 cycles for metastatic disease) 2. Adjuvant radiotherapy required in addition to surgical resection (local decision). 3. Available for randomisation after cycle 3 and prior to the start of cycle 6 of induction chemotherapy for localised disease, or after cycle 6 and prior to the start of cycle 9 for metastatic disease RT1b Specific Inclusion 1. Primary tumour deemed resectable (predicted R0/R1 resection) after 3 cycles of induction chemotherapy (6 cycles for metastatic disease). 2. Adjuvant radiotherapy required in addition to surgical resection (local decision) 3. Higher Local Failure Risk (HLFR) based on presence of either of the following criteria: 1. Unfavourable site 2. Age ≥ 18yrs 4. Available for randomisation after cycle 3 and prior to the start of cycle 6 of induction chemotherapy for localised disease, or after cycle 6 and prior to the start of cycle 9 for metastatic disease RT1c Specific Inclusion 1. Primary radiotherapy indicated (local decision) 2. Higher Local Failure Risk (HLFR) based on either of the following criteria: 1. Unfavourable site 2. Age ≥ 18yrs 3. Available for randomisation after cycle 3 and prior to the start of cycle 6 of induction chemotherapy for localised disease, or after cycle 6 and prior to the start of cycle 9 for metastatic disease RT2 1. Available for randomisation after cycle 6 and before the start of cycle 9 of induction chemotherapy. 2. Unfavourable metastatic disease, defined as Modified Oberlin Prognostic Score 2-4 * Note: Definition of metastatic lesions for RT2 eligibility Modified Oberlin Prognostic Score (1 point for each adverse factor): * Age ≥10y * Extremity, Other, Unidentified Primary Site * Bone and/ or Bone Marrow involvement * ≥3 metastatic sites Unfavourable metastatic disease: 2- 4 adverse factors Favourable metastatic disease: 0-1 adverse factors Maintenance chemotherapy (Very High Risk) - CT2a Inclusion Randomisation must take place during the 12th cycle of maintenance chemotherapy. 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study (at diagnosis or at any subsequent time point) 2. Very High Risk disease 3. Received frontline induction chemotherapy as part of the FaR-RMS trial or with a IVA/IVADo based chemotherapy regimen a. Patients for whom ifosfamide has been replaced with cyclophosphamide will be eligible 4. Completed 11 cycles of VnC maintenance treatment (either oral or IV regimens) 5. No evidence of progressive disease 6. Absence of severe vincristine neuropathy - i.e requiring discontinuation of vincristine treatment) 7. Medically fit to continue to receive treatment 8. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 9. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion 1. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 2. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness or active infection 3. Urinary outflow obstruction that cannot be relieved prior to starting treatment 4. Active inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) 5. Second malignancy 6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women Maintenance chemotherapy (High Risk) - CT2b Randomisation must take place during the 6th cycle of maintenance chemotherapy. Inclusion 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study (at diagnosis or at any subsequent time point) 2. High Risk disease 3. Received frontline induction chemotherapy as part of the FaR-RMS trial or with a IVA based chemotherapy regimen. Note that patients for whom ifosfamide has been replaced with cyclophosphamide will be eligible 4. Completed 5 cycles of VnC maintenance treatment 5. No evidence of progressive disease 6. Absence of severe vincristine neuropathy i.e. requiring discontinuation of vincristine treatment 7. Medically fit to continue to receive treatment 8. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 9. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion 1. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 2. Uncontrolled inter current illness or active infection 3. Urinary outflow obstruction that cannot be relieved prior to starting treatment 4. Active inflammation of the urinary bladder (cystitis) 5. Second malignancy 6. Pregnant or breastfeeding women CT3 Relapsed Chemotherapy Inclusion: 1. Entered in to the FaR-RMS study (at diagnosis or at any subsequent time point) 2. First or subsequent relapse of histologically verified RMS 3. Age ≥ 6 months 4. Measurable or evaluable disease 5. No cytotoxic chemotherapy or other investigational medicinal product (IMP) within previous three weeks: within two weeks for vinorelbine and cyclophosphamide maintenance chemotherapy 6. Medically fit to receive trial treatment 7. Documented negative pregnancy test for female patients of childbearing potential within 7 days of planned randomisation 8. Patient agrees to use contraception during therapy and for 12 months after last trial treatment (females) or 6 months after last trial treatment (males), where patient is sexually active 9. Written informed consent from the patient and/or the parent/legal guardian Exclusion: 1. Progression during frontline therapy without previous response (=Refractory to first line treatment) 2. Prior regorafenib or temozolomide 3. Active \> grade 1 diarrhoea 4. ALT or AST \>3.0 x upper limit normal (ULN) 5. Bilirubin, Total \>1.5 x ULN; total bilirubin is allowed up to 3 x ULN if Gilbert's syndrome is documented 6. Patients with unstable angina or new onset angina (within 3 months of planned date of randomisation), recent myocardial infarction (within 6 months of randomisation) and those with cardiac failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) Classification 2 or higher Cardiac abnormalities such as congestive heart failure (Modified Ross Heart Failure Classification for Children = class 2) and cardiac arrhythmias requiring antiarrhythmic therapy (beta blockers or digoxin are permitted) 7. Uncontrolled hypertension \> 95th centile for age and gender 8. Prior allo- or autologous Stem Cell Transplant 9. Uncontrolled inter-current illness or active infection 10. Pre-existing medical condition precluding treatment 11. Known hypersensitivity to any of the treatments or excipients 12. Second malignancy 13. Pregnant or breastfeeding women
Where it's running
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Queensland Children's Hospital
Brisbane, Australia Recruiting -
Chris O'brien Lifehouse
Camperdown, Australia Recruiting -
Monash Children's Hospital
Clayton, Australia Recruiting -
Peter Maccallum Cancer Centre
Melbourne, Australia Recruiting -
Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia Recruiting -
John Hunter Children's Hospital
New Lambton Heights, Australia Recruiting
Show 44 more locations
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Perth Children's Hospital
Perth, Australia Recruiting -
Sydney Children's Hospital
Sydney, Australia Recruiting -
The Childrens Hospital At Westmead
Sydney, Australia Recruiting -
Westmead Hospital
Westmead, Australia Recruiting -
Princess Alexandra Hospital
Woolloongabba, Australia Recruiting -
Kepler University Clinic Linz
Linz, Austria Recruiting -
St Anna Childrens Hospital
Vienna, Austria Recruiting -
Cliniques Universitaires Saint Luc
Brussels, Belgium Recruiting -
Hopital Universitaire Des Enfants Reine Fabiola
Brussels, Belgium Recruiting -
Universitair Ziekenhuis Gent
Ghent, Belgium Recruiting -
Uz Leuven Campus Gasthuisberg
Leuven, Belgium Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Regional De La Citadelle
Liège, Belgium Recruiting -
Clinique Chc Montlegia
Liège, Belgium Recruiting -
Masaryk University Hospital Brno
Brno, Czechia Recruiting -
Aarhus University Hospital
Aarhus, Denmark Recruiting -
University Hospital Rigshospitalet
Copenhagen, Denmark Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire D'angers
Angers, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire Besancon - Hopital Jean Minjoz
Besançon, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Bordeaux - Hopital Pellegrin
Bordeaux, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire Brest - Hopital Morvan
Brest, France Recruiting -
Centre Francois Baclesse
Caen, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Caen
Caen, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Dijon Bourgogne - Hopital D'enfants
Dijon, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Grenoble
Grenoble, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Reunion
La Réunion, France Recruiting -
Centre Oscar Lambret
Lille, France Recruiting -
Centre Leon Berard
Lyon, France Recruiting -
Hopital De La Timone (ap-hm)
Marseille, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Nancy
Nancy, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Nantes
Nantes, France Recruiting -
Hopital Armand Trousseau
Paris, France Recruiting -
Institut Curie
Paris, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Haut Levque
Pessac, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Poitiers
Poitiers, France Recruiting -
Chu De Reims
Reims, France Recruiting -
Centre Eugne Marquis De Rennes
Rennes, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Rennes - Hopital Pontchaillou
Rennes, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Rouen
Rouen, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Saint-etienne
Saint-Etienne, France Recruiting -
Strasbourg Hautepierre
Strasbourg, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire De Toulouse - Hopital Des Enfants
Toulouse, France Recruiting -
Centre Hospitalier Regional Universitaire De Tours - Hopital Clocheville
Tours, France Recruiting -
Gustave Roussy
Villejuif, France Recruiting -
Children's General Hospital P and A Kyriakou
Athens, Greece Recruiting
+78 more sites. See ClinicalTrials.gov for the full list.
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Meriel Jenney — Chief Investigator
- Study coordinator: Bridget Shaw
- Email: farrms@trials.bham.ac.uk
- Phone: 0121 414 2996
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.