Donepezil in Treating Young Patients With Primary Brain Tumors Previously Treated With Radiation Therapy to the Brain
Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors, Cognitive/Functional Effects, Long-term Effects Secondary to Cancer Therapy in Children
About this trial
This is an interventional supportive care trial for Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors focused on measuring cognitive/functional effects, neurotoxicity, long-term effects secondary to cancer therapy in children, psychosocial effects of cancer and its treatment, radiation toxicity, childhood central nervous system germ cell tumor, childhood choroid plexus tumor, childhood craniopharyngioma, childhood grade I meningioma, childhood grade II meningioma, childhood grade III meningioma, childhood spinal cord neoplasm, childhood brain stem glioma, childhood cerebellar astrocytoma, childhood medulloblastoma, childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumor, childhood visual pathway and hypothalamic glioma, childhood subependymal giant cell astrocytoma, childhood ependymoma, childhood cerebral astrocytoma/malignant glioma
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Prior diagnosis of primary brain tumor
- No type 2 neurofibromatosis
- Underwent fractionated radiotherapy (≥ 23.4 Gy) with or without surgery or chemotherapy for the brain tumor at least 1 year ago
- Karnofsky or Lansky performance status 70-100%
- Fertile patients willing to use effective contraception
- Baseline IQ ≥ 70 on Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-3
- Stable weight within the past 6 months with no concern of weight loss
- Vision aids and hearing aids must be used for all neuropsychologic/neurocognitive tests, If indicated
- Able to speak English
- More than 6 weeks since prior donepezil hydrochloride, EGb761, methylphenidate hydrochloride, other stimulants, or any other cognitive function-enhancing drug
Exclusion Criteria:
- Stereotactic radiosurgery as sole treatment
- Evidence of disease progression by MRI
- Pregnant or nursing
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder before cancer diagnosis
- Uncontrolled seizures or uncontrolled endocrinopathies
- Uncontrolled comorbidities
- Steroid dose greater than physiologic replacement (18-30 mg/m² hydrocortisone or equivalent)
- Use of concurrent anticholinergic drugs
Sites / Locations
- Tufts-NEMC Cancer Center
- Wake Forest University Comprehensive Cancer Center
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Donepozil
Donepezil 5 milligrams a day for 6 weeks