Active clinical trials for "Ependymoma"

The purpose of the study is to confirm the safety of the selected dose and potential toxicity of oncolytic poliovirus (PV) immunotherapy with PVSRIPO for pediatric patients with recurrent WHO grade III or IV malignant glioma, but evidence for efficacy will also be sought. The primary objective is to confirm the safety of the selected dose of PVSRIPO when delivered intracerebrally by convection-enhanced delivery (CED) in children with recurrent WHO Grade III malignant glioma (anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma, anaplastic oligodendroglioma, anaplastic pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma) or WHO Grade IV malignant glioma (glioblastoma, gliosarcoma). A secondary objective is to estimate overall survival (OS) in this population.

Adult intracranial ependymoma is a relatively rare brain tumour entity, accounting for 2-5% of all intracranial neoplasms. The pertinent prognostic factors as well as the pattern of recurrence remain to be elucidated. According to several recent reports, the prognostic value of Karnofski performance status, tumour location, the extent of surgical removal, histological grade and even postoperative radiotherapy remain controversial. As a consequence, optimal therapeutic management of adult intracranial ependymomas remains an ongoing debate. For this reason, a retrospective study conducted by the French society of neurosurgery (SFNC), neuropathology (SFNP) and the association of the neuro-oncologists of French expression (ANOCEF) was undertaken and allowed to collect 258 cases coming from 25 centers, initially diagnosed as intracranial ependymomas between 1990 and 2004. Clinical and follow-up data of these patients are known and the paraffin embedded samples as well as the frozen tissues available have been centralized. Central pathological review of these 258 cases was conducted by two senior neuropathologists and confirmed the diagnosis of ependymoma in 152 cases, thus constituting the most important series of the literature. Few molecular studies were carried out on ependymomas. The investigators have the opportunity, based on this important series, to determine the clinicopathological criteria and the molecular markers who will allow a better characterization of the diagnosis and the prognosis of these tumors.

Background: Primary tumors of the brain and spine are those that start in the brain or spine. These tumors are rare, accounting for <2% of all cancers diagnosed in the United States. Some of these tumors occur in less than 2,000 people per year. Researchers want to study a large group of people with this kind of tumor. They want to learn more about the tumors, including the risk factors related to how they develop in adults. Objective: To collect health and gene data to learn about what changes are associated with a rare CNS Tumors, to eventually screen for these changes or target the genes in treatment. Eligibility: Adult participants (Bullet) 18 years of age who self- identify as being diagnosed with one of 12 rare CNS tumors, including: Atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT); Brainstem and midline gliomas; Choroid plexus tumors; Ependymoma; High grade meningioma; Gliomatosis cerebri; Medulloblastoma; Oligodendroglioma / Anaplastic oligodendroglioma; Pineal region tumors; Pleomorphic xanthroastrocytoma / Anaplastic pleomorphic xanthroastrocytoma; PNET (Supratentorial embryonal tumor); Primary CNS sarcoma / Secondary CNS sarcoma (Gliosarcoma). Design: (Registered Trademark)Participants will be invited to participate through an ad on the CERN Foundation website (ependymoma), information on the Neuro-Oncology Branch website and other identified advocacy and social media sites and direct mailer to those who have already participated in the EO projects. (Registered Trademark) Interested participants will complete an enrollment form that will be sent to the study coordinator. The coordinator will then send the participant a consent form and schedule a time for phone consent. Participants will complete the Rare CNS tumors Outcomes Survey and once completed, the Rare CNS tumors Risk survey. (Registered Trademark) The questions on the Outcomes Survey will include treatment history, symptoms social and clinical information and it should take about 25-35 minutes. The Risk survey will cover their demographic information, personal medical history, family medical history and environmental exposures. This should take about 52 minutes. Participants who have physical problems can have help with the surveys and forms. Once the surveys are completed, participants will be mailed a kit to collect saliva for germline DNA. Participants will ship the sample to the study team in a prepaid envelope If the sample is not sufficient, participants will be contacted to give provide an additional sample.

This phase I trial studies the side effects of a silicone topical wound dressing (StrataXRT) and to see how well it works in preventing radiation dermatitis (skin burns and side effects caused by radiation) in pediatric patients undergoing radiation therapy. StrataXRT may help prevent or decrease severe skin rash, pain, itching, skin peeling, and dry skin in pediatric patients undergoing radiation therapy to the brain or spinal cord.

This study is a prospective, non-randomized feasibility study. Freshly isolated tumor cells from patients will be screened using state-of-the-art viability assay designed for ex vivo high-throughput drug sensitivity testing (DST). In addition, genetic information will be obtained from cancer and normal (germline) tissue and correlated with drug response. This study will provide the platform for informing treating physician about individualized treatment options. The main outcome of this study will be the proportions of the patients whose treatment was guided by the personalized medicine approach.

This study will analyze the effects of radiation given to children who have tumors of the central nervous system (CNS). Researchers want to learn more about changes in the quality of life that patients may experience as a result of radiation. Patients ages 21 and younger who have a primary CNS tumor and who have not received radiation previously may be eligible for this study. They will have a medical history and physical examination. Collection of blood (about 2-1/2 tablespoons) and urine will be done, as well as a pregnancy test. Patients will complete neuropsychological tests, which provide information about their changes in functioning over time. An expert in psychology will give a number of tests, and the patient's parents or guardian will be asked to complete a questionnaire about the patient's behavior. Also, patients will be given a quality of life questionnaire to complete and vision and hearing tests. The radiation itself is prescribed by patients' doctors and is not part of this study. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will give researchers information about the tumor and brain, through several scanning sequences . MRI uses a strong magnetic field and radio waves to obtain images of body organs and tissues. Patients will lie on a table that slides into the enclosed tunnel of the scanner. They will need to lie still, and medication may be given to help them to do that. They may be in the scanner for up to 2 hours. As the scanner takes pictures, patients will hear knocking or beeping sounds, and they will wear earplugs to reduce the noise. A contrast agent will be administered, to allow images be seen more clearly. Blood and urine tests will be conducted after the first dose of radiation. MRI scans will be done 2 weeks after patients finish radiation therapy and again at 6 to 8 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, and yearly. Also at those follow-up periods, patients will undergo similar procedures as previously, including blood and urine tests and neuropsychological testing. Patients can remain in this study for 5 years. ...

This research trial studies tumor samples from patients with ependymoma treated on the Children Oncology Group ACNS0121 trial. Studying samples of tumor tissue from patients with cancer in the laboratory may help doctors learn more about changes that occur in DNA and identify biomarkers related to cancer. It may also help doctors find better ways to treat cancer.

Background: - An important new area of brain tumor research is the development of tumor and brain stem cell lines. Successful growth of these cell lines requires obtaining large volumes of fresh tumor and brain tissue, which is best accomplished by harvesting whole brains from recently deceased patients. These cell lines will help researchers understand how these tumors develop and will also help identify new targets for treatment. Researchers are interested in conducting a pilot study of planned inpatient hospice care with timely brain tumor tissue harvest at the time of death. Objectives: To provide high-quality end of life inpatient hospice care for patients with untreatable brain tumors. To procure brain and tumor tissue shortly after time of death in order to derive viable tumor and neural stem cell lines for research purposes. Eligibility: Individuals at least 18 years of age who have an untreatable primary brain or central nervous system tumor, are able to give informed consent (either their own or through a designated power of attorney), and have agreed to a Do Not Resuscitate order and Consent for Autopsy as part of the end-of-life care plan. HIV-positive individuals or those suspected of having infectious cerebritis are not eligible because of the potential for contamination of brain tissue. Design: Participants will be enrolled in inpatient hospice admission to the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center either from home or from an outside hospital once a study investigator estimates an expected survival of less than 2 weeks. Participants will receive palliative care at the Clinical Center. Care will be tailored to each participant depending on the information provided in the individual's end-of-life care plan. Supportive medications such as antiseizure medications and pain relievers will be administered as appropriate. At the time of death, researchers will follow standard procedures for notifying next of kin and will collect brain tissue and tumor samples from the deceased. Following tissue collection, the deceased will be released for autopsy and funeral procedures.

This pilot clinical trial studies gallium Ga 68-edotreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in finding brain tumors in younger patients. Diagnostic procedures, such as gallium Ga 68-edotreotide PET/CT imaging, may help find and diagnose brain tumors.

Background: Children with brain tumors often have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to see if the tumor has responded to therapy or to see if the tumor has grown. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell if the scan is abnormal because of tumor size or shape, swelling, scar tissue, or dead tissue. Because brain tumor biopsies require surgery, researchers are looking for more noninvasive ways of evaluating brain tumors. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans use a radioactive sugar known as 18F-FDG to try to determine if a tumor is active or not. Active tumors generally take up more sugar than the surrounding tissue, but because normal brain tissue uses the same sugar as brain tumors, it is then difficult to tell if tumor tissue is taking up sugar or not. A different radioactive agent, 18F-FLT, is now being studied in some adults with different kinds of tumors. Researchers are interested in determining whether it is possible to use this agent as a marker of tumor activity in children. Objectives: To determine the safety and effectiveness of 18F-FLT for pediatric glioma scans. To compare the results of 18F-FLT studies with studies using the radioactive agents 18F-FDG and 1H-MRSI. Eligibility: - Children less than 18 years of age who are having radiation therapy to treat malignant gliomas. Design: Participants will have scanning tests before radiation therapy, 1 to 3 weeks after radiation therapy, and if researchers suspect that the tumor is growing. This study will involve three separate imaging tests (1H-MRSI, 18F-FDG PET, and 18F-FLT PET). Proton spectroscopy (1H-MRSI) is a procedure that is similar to MRI and is performed in the same scanner as an MRI. Because this scan is long (2-3 hours), most children will receive medications from an anesthesiologist so that they can sleep through the procedure. Within 2 weeks of the 1H-MRSI scan, participants will have the PET scans with both the standard contrast agent (18F-FDG) and the experimental agent (18F-FLT). These scans will last approximately 1 hour each.