Radiation Therapy and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Young Patients With Metastatic Medulloblastoma Who Have Undergone Surgery
Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors focused on measuring untreated childhood medulloblastoma
Eligibility Criteria
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: Histologically proven medulloblastoma The following variants of medulloblastoma are also eligible: Nodular/desmoplastic medulloblastoma Medullomyoblastoma Melanotic medulloblastoma Metastatic disease, meeting at least 1 of the following criteria: Unequivocal evidence on pre- or post-operative MR scan of supratentorial (stage M2) metastases and/or spinal metastases (stage M3) Tumor cells seen on cytospin analysis of lumbar cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) (stage M1) performed between 15 days and 21 days after surgery Involvement of CSF pathways by tumor is defined as the unequivocal identification of primitive neuroectodermal cells, either on cytological grounds or with a combination of cytological and immunocytological features (e.g., reactivity for GFAP or a neuronal marker, such as synaptophysin) Underwent surgery to remove the tumor no more than 6 weeks ago PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL Absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mm^3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm^3 Neurologically stable (or improving) during the week before starting radiotherapy Lansky (1-16 years) or Karnofsky (>16 years) performance status 30-100% No active infection No prior malignant disease Not pregnant or nursing No syndrome with recognized potential for increased sensitivity to radiotherapy and/or chromosomal fragility Not require anesthesia No hearing loss or renal impairment that would make the patient unable to comply with 'Packer' chemotherapy protocol PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: No steroids, if possible, at the start of radiotherapy OR on a stable or reducing dose of steroids during the week before starting radiotherapy No prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy Dexamethasone should not be used as an anti-emetic unless other therapies fail
Sites / Locations
- Our Lady's Hospital for Sick Children Crumlin
- Birmingham Children's Hospital
- Institute of Child Health at University of Bristol
- Addenbrooke's Hospital
- Cookridge Hospital
- Leeds Cancer Centre at St. James's University Hospital
- Leicester Royal Infirmary
- Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital, Alder Hey
- Royal London Hospital
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children
- Royal Manchester Children's Hospital
- Sir James Spence Institute of Child Health at Royal Victoria Infirmary
- Queen's Medical Centre
- Oxford Radcliffe Hospital
- Children's Hospital - Sheffield
- Southampton General Hospital
- Royal Marsden - Surrey
- Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children
- Royal Aberdeen Children's Hospital
- Royal Hospital for Sick Children
- Royal Hospital for Sick Children
- Childrens Hospital for Wales