Gene Therapy Clinical Trials

Observation or Radiation Therapy and/or Chemotherapy and Second Surgery in Treating Children Who Have Undergone Surgery for Ependymoma

RATIONALE: Specialized radiation therapy that delivers a high dose of radiation directly to the tumor may kill more tumor cells and cause less damage to normal tissue. Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop tumor cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Giving chemotherapy before surgery may shrink the tumor so that it can be removed during surgery.

PURPOSE: Phase II trial to determine the effectiveness of specialized radiation therapy either alone or after chemotherapy and second surgery in treating children who have undergone surgery for localized ependymoma.

Stanford is currently not accepting patients for this trial.

Stanford Investigator(s):

Intervention(s):

  • biological: filgrastim
  • drug: vincristine sulfate
  • procedure: therapeutic conventional surgery
  • radiation: radiation therapy
  • drug: carboplatin
  • drug: cyclophosphamide
  • drug: etoposide
  • drug: Mesna

Eligibility


DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

   - Histologically confirmed intracranial ependymoma

      - Differentiated ependymoma or anaplastic ependymoma

   - No primary spinal cord ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma, subependymoma,
   ependymoblastoma, or mixed glioma

   - No evidence of noncontiguous spread beyond primary site

   - Initial surgical resection within the past 56 days

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:

Age:

   - 1 to 21

Performance status:

   - No restrictions

Life expectancy:

   - At least 2 months

Hematopoietic:

   - Not specified

Hepatic:

   - Not specified

Renal:

   - Not specified

Other:

   - Able to undergo MRI

   - Not pregnant or nursing

   - Negative pregnancy test

   - Fertile patients must use effective contraception

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:

Biologic therapy:

   - Not specified

Chemotherapy:

   - No prior chemotherapy

Endocrine therapy:

   - Prior or concurrent corticosteroids allowed

Radiotherapy:

   - No prior radiotherapy

Surgery:

   - See Disease Characteristics

   - More than 1 prior surgery allowed

Other:

   - No other prior treatment for ependymoma

Ages Eligible for Study

1 Year - 21 Years

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Not currently accepting new patients for this trial

Contact Information

Stanford University
School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305
Peds Hem/Onc CRAs
650-723-5535
Not Recruiting