Proton Beam Radiation Therapy for Central Nervous System (CNS) Germ Cell Tumors
Status: Recruiting
Phase: Phase 2
Diagnosis: Radiation Oncology
NCT ID: NCT01049230
(View complete trial on ClinicalTrials.gov)
DFCI Protocol ID:
The purpose of this research study is to determine if radiation using proton beam therapy will kill the germ cell tumor in the participant's central nervous system. This type of radiation has been used previously on many patients with different types of cancers. There are two types of external radiation treatments, proton beam and photon beam. In this study we will be examining the effects of proton beam radiation therapy. Studies have suggested that this kind of radiation can spare normal tissue more than photon radiation therapy. The physical characteristics of proton beam radiation let the doctor safely increase the amount of radiation delivered to the tumor. We believe that proton beam therapy will potentially reduce side effects that participants would normally experience with photon radiation therapy.
Conducting Institutions:
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Massachusetts General Hospital
Overall PI:
Karen Marcus, MD,
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Site-responsible Investigators:
Shannon MacDonald, MD,
Massachusetts General Hospital
Contacts:
Brigham and Women's Hospital:
Kristin Roper, 617-525-7387,
kroper@partners.org
Massachusetts General Hospital:
Cancer Trials Call Center, 877-789-6100
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- Histologically confirmed germ cell tumor or elevated AFP or B-HCG in the setting of
radiographic disease consistent with a germ cell tumor. Disease must be confined to
the central nervous system.
- Participants do not need to have measurable disease. Most patients will not have
measurable disease at the time of treatment.
- 3 years of age or older and 25 years of age or older a the time of diagnosis because
this study evaluates this disease entity in the pediatric population which may differ
from the adult population.
- Life expectancy of greater than 12 months.
- ECOG performance status of 0, 1 or 2
- Baseline MRI of the brain and spinal axis with gadolinium and prior to any
chemotherapy is required. If surgical resection is performed a post-operative MRI is
required. If the patient receives chemotherapy prior to radiation, a
post-chemotherapy MRI of the brain is required. If spinal involvement was seen on
initial MRI and prior to chemotherapy, a MRI of the spine is required after
chemotherapy and prior to radiation.
- Serum and lumbar CSF must be obtained to evaluate for alpha fetoprotein (AFP) and
beta human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG). This is needed to stratify patients into
pure GCT and NGGCT.
- Women of child-bearing potential and men must agree to use adequate contraception
prior to study entry and for the duration of study participation.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients will be ineligible if any prior therapeutic radiation therapy > 200 cGy has
been delivered to the central nervous system.
- Patients will be ineligible if chemotherapy was completed greater than 1 year from
the planned start date of radiation therapy or if the patient is referred for
radiation therapy after a relapse following a regimen with chemotherapy alone.
- Individuals with a history of a different malignancy are ineligible except for the
following circumstances: Disease-free for at least 5 years and are deemed by the
investigator to be at low risk for recurrence of that malignancy. Individuals
diagnosed and treated within the past 5 years for cervical cancer in situ and basal
cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin.
- Pregnant females