Short Course Radiotherapy for Brain Tumors

Overseen By Kelly Clark

Age: < 65

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Disqualifiers: Serious systemic disorders, psychiatric disorders, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial explores the safety of a shorter course of radiation therapy for children with incurable brain tumors. It targets children with tumors that originated outside the brain and spread there or have recurred within the brain. The trial seeks participants with at least one brain tumor visible on a scan who are recommended for palliative care, which focuses on relief rather than cure. Participants should be 21 years old or younger and able to commit to the study procedures. As an unphased trial, it provides a unique opportunity for patients to contribute to research that could enhance future care options.

Do I need to stop my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that this short course radiotherapy is safe for pediatric patients with brain tumors?

Research has shown that short-course radiotherapy is still under investigation for its safety, particularly in children with brain tumors. Radiotherapy can treat these tumors but may also cause side effects, such as tiredness, skin reactions, or more serious impacts on brain development. As this treatment undergoes testing in a pilot trial, researchers continue to learn about children's tolerance. This trial specifically examines whether a shorter treatment is safe, aiming to balance effectiveness with reduced side effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Short Course Radiotherapy is unique because it offers a condensed treatment schedule for pediatric patients with incurable brain tumors, potentially reducing the overall burden of treatment on young patients and their families. Unlike traditional radiotherapy, which often requires extended sessions over several weeks, this approach aims to deliver effective doses in a shorter period. Researchers are excited about this treatment because it could minimize side effects and improve the quality of life by allowing children to spend less time in treatment and more time in normal activities.

What evidence suggests that short course radiotherapy might be an effective treatment for brain tumors?

Research has shown that short-course radiotherapy, which participants in this trial will receive, holds promise for treating brain tumors. It can extend patients' lives while maintaining their quality of life. One study found that older patients with brain tumors lived longer with this treatment, with many still alive after one year. Another study showed that 86% of patients were alive five years after receiving short-course radiotherapy, comparable to standard treatments. Patients also demonstrated better thinking and memory skills. Overall, short-course radiotherapy appears to be a good option for managing brain tumors, with manageable side effects. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Michael LaRiviere, MD

Principal Investigator

University of Pennsylvania

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for pediatric patients with incurable central nervous system malignancies, such as brain tumors. Specific eligibility criteria are not provided, but typically participants would need to meet certain health standards and have no alternative treatment options.

Inclusion Criteria

I am 21 years old or younger.

My care team recommends radiation to ease symptoms, not to cure.

I am willing and able to follow all study requirements.

Exclusion Criteria

Serious uncontrolled systemic or psychiatric disorders that would interfere with participation in the protocol

I have undergone radiotherapy with the goal of curing my condition.

I am scheduled for proton radiation therapy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Radiation

Participants receive short-course radiation therapy (20 Gray in 5 fractions over 5 days)

1 week

5 visits (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 year

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Short Course Radiotherapy

Trial Overview The trial is testing the safety of a short course of radiotherapy in children with untreatable brain or other central nervous system tumors. It's a single-arm study, meaning all participants receive the same experimental therapy without comparison to another group.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Short Course Radiotherapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Short-course radiation therapy in pediatric patients with incurable central nervous system malignancies

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Abramson Cancer Center at Penn Medicine

Lead Sponsor

Trials

425

Recruited

464,000+

Citations

1. trials.braintumor.org trials.braintumor.org/trials/NCT07147179

Short Course Radiotherapy - Clinical Trial Finder This research study is being conducted to see if delivering a shorter course of radiation therapy is safe and helps quality of life so that it may reduce the ...

2. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-central-nervous-system-neoplasms-11-2025-22e37

Short Course Radiotherapy for Brain Tumors ... Short Course Radiotherapy will have tolerable side effects & efficacy for patients with Central Nervous System Tumor and Brain Tumor. Learn more about the

3. curetoday.com curetoday.com/view/short-course-radiation-aids-survival-in-older-patients-with-glioblastoma

Short-Course Radiation Aids Survival in Older Patients ... At a data cut of Jan 30, 2024, the median follow-up was 25.4 months and 22 of the 39 patients were alive at 12 months; the median OS was 13.1 ...

4. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0360301623082354

Treatment Outcome of Response-Based Radiation ... The 3-year event-free survival and overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort were 70.2% ± 6.9% and 77.5% ± 6.0%, respectively. The 3-year OS of patients ...

5. oncodaily.com oncodaily.com/oncolibrary/radiotherapy/radiotherapy-for-brain-tumor

Radiotherapy for Brain Tumor: Types, Success Rate, Side ... 1 Five-year overall survival was 86% for SCRT and 91% for ConvRT (p=0.54). The study concluded that SCRT led to better neurocognitive and ...

6. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT07147179

Study Details | NCT07147179 | Short Course Radiotherapy This is a single arm prospective pilot trial determining the safety of short-course radiation therapy in pediatric patients with incurable ...

7. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10377074/

Pediatric CNS Tumor Overview & Emerging Treatment In this review, we will give an overview of common CNS tumors seen in children along with a focus on treatment options and future considerations.

8. karger.com karger.com/pne/article/58/5/356/862917/Radiotherapy-for-Primary-Pediatric-Central-Nervous

Radiotherapy for Pediatric CNS Malignancies: Current & Future Radiotherapy plays an important role in curing children with CNS malignancies; however, radiation carries significant risks of acute- and long- ...

9. trials.braintumor.org trials.braintumor.org/?page=233

Filters - Clinical Trial Finder - National Brain Tumor Society This is a single arm prospective pilot trial determining the safety of short-course radiation therapy in pediatric patients with incurable central nervous ...