Clinical Research Directory

Rare CNS Tumors Outcomes &Risk

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 \>= 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: 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.

Digoxin Medulloblastoma Study

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of digoxin in treating relapsed non-SHH, non-WNT medulloblastoma in pediatric and young adult patients.

Liothyronine in Combination With BIT Regimen for Medulloblastoma With or Without Minimal Residual Disease

This is a Phase 1/Phase 2 study assessing liothyronine (L-T3) immunotherapy and in combination with standard chemotherapy (bevacizumab, irinotecan and temozolomide (BIT)) in children and young adults with medulloblastoma that is relapsed or progressive after standard upfront therapy.

Exploratory Study of Effects of Radiation Therapy in Pediatric Patients With Central Nervous System Tumors

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.

Parental Distress and Treatment Adherence in Pediatric Recurrent Medulloblastoma

Children with medulloblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor, require prolonged and complex multimodal therapy. Their primary parental caregivers bear the main responsibility for ensuring treatment adherence, yet the psychological toll on these caregivers may undermine their ability to follow prescribed regimens. This study investigates whether multidimensional parental distress predicts overall treatment adherence in this population, and which specific distress domains are most strongly associated with poor adherence. Parental distress-including depression, anxiety, and posttraumatic stress-is common among parents of children with cancer and may interfere with their ability to manage complex treatment regimens. However, no study has specifically examined whether parental distress predicts treatment adherence in children with recurrent medulloblastoma, a devastating brain tumor with a poor prognosis and no standard treatment protocol. This prospective longitudinal cohort study aims to investigate whether parental distress is a significant predictor of treatment adherence in children with recurrent medulloblastoma. A total of 450 parent-child dyads will be enrolled across 4 tertiary pediatric oncology centers. Children must have a confirmed diagnosis of recurrent medulloblastoma and be receiving active treatment. Parents (primary caregivers) will complete validated questionnaires at baseline assessing depression, anxiety, stress, and trauma-related distress using the DASS-21 and IES-R. Treatment adherence will be monitored over a 12-month follow-up period using electronic medication monitoring caps, clinic attendance records, and parent-reported medication logs. The primary outcome is the proportion of prescribed chemotherapy doses taken (treatment adherence rate). Secondary outcomes include trajectories of adherence over time and the relationship between specific dimensions of parental distress (depression, anxiety, stress, posttraumatic stress) and adherence patterns. The study will also examine whether child clinical factors (e.g., molecular subgroup, prior treatment history) and family demographic factors moderate this relationship. Findings from this study may inform the development of targeted psychosocial interventions to support distressed parents and improve treatment adherence-and ultimately clinical outcomes-in this vulnerable pediatric population. Participants can expect to be enrolled in the study for approximately 12 months.

Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Nivolumab in People With Recurrent Select Rare CNS Cancers

Background: More than 130 primary tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) have been identified. Most affect less than 1,000 people in the United States each year. Because these tumors are so rare, there are few proven therapies. This study will test whether the immunotherapy drug nivolumab is an effective treatment for people with rare CNS tumors. Objectives: To learn if stimulating the immune system using the drug nivolumab can shrink tumors in people with rare CNS (brain or spine) tumors or increase the time it takes for these tumors to grow or spread. Eligibility: Adults whose rare CNS tumor has returned. Design: Individuals will be screened: * Heart and blood tests * Physical and neurological exam * Hepatitis tests * Pregnancy test * Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They will lay in a machine that takes pictures. * Tumor tissue sample. This can be from a previous procedure. At the start of the study, participants will have blood tests. They will answer questions about their symptoms and their quality of life. Individuals will get nivolumab in a vein every 2 weeks for up to 64 weeks. Individuals will have monthly blood tests. Every other month they will have an MRI and a neurologic function test. They will also answer questions about their quality of life. Genetic tests will be done on individuals' tumor tissue. Individuals will be contacted if any clinically important results are found. After treatment ends, individuals will be monitored for up to 5 years. They will have a series of MRIs and neurological function tests. They will be asked to report any symptoms they experience....

Clinical Studies of Gemcitabine-Oxaliplatin

These are Phase 2 single-arm studies of gemcitabine in combination with oxaliplatin in refractory or relapsing pediatric solid tumors.

Phase I Study of APX005M in Pediatric Central Nervous System Tumors

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of APX005M in treating younger patients with primary malignant central nervous system tumor that is growing, spreading, or getting worse (progressive), or newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. APX005M can trigger activation of B cells, monocytes, and dendritic cells and stimulate cytokine release from lymphocytes and monocytes. APX005M can mediate a direct cytotoxic effect on CD40+ tumor cells.

DFMO as Maintenance Therapy for Molecular High/Very High Risk and Relapsed Medulloblastoma

Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) will be used in an open label, multicenter, study as Maintenance Therapy for Molecular High Risk/Very High Risk and Relapsed/Refractory Medulloblastoma.

PLX038 in Primary Central Nervous System Tumors Containing MYC or MYCN Amplifications

Background: About 90,000 new cases of brain and spinal cord tumors are diagnosed annually in the United States. Most of these tumors are benign; however, about 30% are malignant, and 35% of people with malignant tumors in the brain and spinal cord will die within 5 years. Many of these people have changes in certain genes (MYC or MYCN) that drive the development of their cancers. Objective: To test a study drug (PLX038) in people with tumors of the brain or spinal cord. Eligibility: People aged 18 years or older with a tumor of the brain or spinal cord. Some participants must also have tumors with changes in the MYC or MYCN genes. Design: Participants will be screened. They will have a physical exam and blood tests. They will have imaging scans and a test of their heart function. They may need to have a biopsy: A sample of tissue will be removed from their tumor. PLX038 is given through a tube attached to a needle inserted into a vein in the arm. All participants will receive PLX038 on the first day of each 21-day treatment cycle. They will take a second drug 3 days later to help reduce the risk of infection; for this drug, participants will be shown how to inject themselves under the skin at home. Blood tests, imaging scans, and other tests will be repeated during study visits. Hair samples will also be collected during these visits. Some participants may have an additional biopsy. Study treatment will continue up to 7 months. Follow-up visits will continue every few months for up to 5 years.

Individualized Treatment Plan in Children and Young Adults With Relapsed Medulloblastoma and Ependymoma

The current study will use a new treatment approach based on the molecular characteristics of each participant's tumor. The study will test the feasibility in the pilot phase of performing real-time drug screening on tissue taken during surgery in patients with relapsed medulloblastoma or ependymoma and of having a specialized tumor board assign a treatment plan based on the results of this screening and genomic sequencing. The aim of this trial is to allow every child and young adult with relapsed medulloblastoma and ependymoma to receive the most effective and least toxic therapies currently available and will pave the way for improved understanding and treatment of these tumors in the future. Moreover, if successful, it could serve as a paradigm for personalized medicine programs for other types of cancer.

Accurate Diagnosis and Grading of Pediatric Solid Tumors Based on Pathological Large Models

Pediatric malignancies are the second leading cause of death in the pediatric population, with solid tumors accounting for approximately 60% of all pediatric malignancies. The pathological diagnosis of pediatric solid tumors is highly complex and specialized, because of its diverse tissue morphology, rare tumor subtypes and lack of labeling data, the traditional pathological diagnosis relies on the experience of senior pathologists, but in actual clinical practice, due to the lack of expert resources and inconsistent diagnostic standards, more efficient and accurate auxiliary diagnostic tools are urgently needed. In this study, we aim to construct a multimodal dataset by collecting high-quality pathological images and pathological diagnosis results of pediatric solid tumors (neuroblastoma, medulloblastoma, Wilms tumor, hepatoblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, etc.), and introduce medical knowledge enhancement strategies on this basis, and improve the medical reasoning ability and adaptability to fine-grained pathological tasks by injecting domain knowledge (such as molecular characteristics of tumors, pathological grading standards, diagnostic rules, etc.) into the model. Through the model, the representation space of images and texts is unified, and diversified diagnostic tasks of pediatric solid tumors such as tumor region segmentation, cancer detection, and tumor subtype identification are realized, providing intelligent support for the accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment of pediatric solid tumors.

Atovaquone Combined With Radiation in Children With Malignant Brain Tumors

The goal of this interventional study is to Assess the safety and tolerability of atovaquone in combination with standard radiation therapy (RT) for the treatment of pediatric patients with newly diagnosed pediatric high-grade glioma/diffuse midline glioma/diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (pHGG/DMG/DIPG). The secondary aim is to assess the safety and tolerability of longer-term atovaquone treatment for pediatric patients with relapsed or progressed pHGG/DMG/DIPG and medulloblastoma (MB) or pHGG/DMG/DIPG after completion of RT and before progression.

Flavored, Oral Irinotecan VAL-413 (Orotecan®) Given With Temozolomide for Treatment of Recurrent Pediatric Solid Tumors

A pilot pharmacokinetic trial to determine the safety and efficacy of a flavored, orally administered irinotecan VAL-413 (Orotecan®) given with temozolomide for treatment of recurrent pediatric solid tumors including but not limited to neuroblastoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, hepatoblastoma and medulloblastoma

AI-Assisted MRI Molecular Subtyping in Pediatric Brain Tumors

This multicenter observational cohort study aims to develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted diagnostic system for preoperative molecular subtyping of pediatric brain tumors using routine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The study will include seven major pediatric brain tumor categories: glioma, medulloblastoma, ependymoma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), intracranial germ cell tumors, craniopharyngioma, and choroid plexus tumors. The study includes a retrospective cohort for model development and internal/external validation, and a prospective cohort for further validation. Retrospective data will be collected from pediatric patients who underwent first surgical treatment between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2025. Prospective enrollment will begin on July 15, 2026, with an anticipated sample size of 150 participants. The AI system will analyze preoperative MRI sequences, including T1-weighted, contrast-enhanced T1-weighted, T2-weighted, and FLAIR images, to predict key molecular markers and integrated diagnostic categories. The primary objective is to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the AI system for prespecified molecular prediction tasks using postoperative histopathology and molecular testing as the reference standard. Secondary objectives include assessing agreement with integrated diagnosis, comparing performance against blinded radiologists, and exploring prognostic associations of AI-predicted subgroups.

Lutathera for Treatment of Recurrent or Progressive High-Grade CNS Tumors

This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of Lutathera (177Lu-DOTATATE) in patients with progressive or recurrent High-Grade Central Nervous System (CNS) tumors and meningiomas that demonstrate uptake on DOTATATE PET. The drug will be given intravenously once every 8 weeks for a total of up to 4 doses over 8 months in patients aged 4 to \<12 years (Phase I) or 12 to \</=39 years (Phase II) to test its safety and efficacy, respectively. Funding Source - FDA OOPD (grant number FD-R-0532-01)

PEP-CMV + Nivolumab for Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Midline Glioma/High-grade Glioma and Recurrent Diffuse Midline Glioma/High-grade Glioma, Medulloblastoma, and Ependymoma

This is a multisite, phase I/II clinical trial in children and young adults with newly-diagnosed high-grade glioma (HGG), diffuse midline glioma (DMG) and recurrent HGG/DMG, Medulloblastoma (MB), or ependymoma (EPN) to determine the safety, immunogenicity, and efficacy of a CMV-directed peptide vaccine plus checkpoint blockade.

Reduced Craniospinal Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy in Treating Younger Patients With Newly Diagnosed WNT-Driven Medulloblastoma

This phase II trial studies how well reduced doses of radiation therapy to the brain and spine (craniospinal) and chemotherapy work in treating patients with newly diagnosed type of brain tumor called WNT)/Wingless (WNT)-driven medulloblastoma. Recent studies using chemotherapy and radiation therapy have been shown to be effective in treating patients with WNT-driven medulloblastoma. However, there is a concern about the late side effects of treatment, such as learning difficulties, lower amounts of hormones, or other problems in performing daily activities. Radiotherapy uses high-energy radiation from x-rays to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as cisplatin, vincristine sulfate, cyclophosphamide and lomustine, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving reduced craniospinal radiation therapy and chemotherapy may kill tumor cells and may also reduce the late side effects of treatment.

Targeting MYC in High-Risk Medulloblastoma

Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Group 3 medulloblastoma (G3 MB) represents the most aggressive molecular subtype and is associated with poor prognosis, particularly in cases characterized by high expression or amplification of the MYC oncogene. Current treatment strategies are not tailored to this subgroup and are associated with significant long-term toxicities, highlighting the need for more specific therapeutic approaches. This study aims to characterize biological processes and molecular pathways driven by high MYC expression in high-risk G3 medulloblastoma in order to identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities. The study will investigate MYC-associated regulation of gene expression and RNA splicing in tumor cells and will define molecular dependencies that may be targeted using candidate or repurposed anticancer agents. To achieve this, publicly available genomic datasets will be analyzed, findings will be validated in patient tumor specimens, and patient-derived three-dimensional (3D) tumor models will be established from surgical samples. These models will be used for ex vivo assessment of selected therapeutic strategies in a system that preserves key features of the original tumor. This translational approach integrates computational analyses, molecular validation, and functional testing in patient-derived models to improve understanding of MYC-associated tumor biology in Group 3 medulloblastoma.

CSIMEMPHIS: Long-term Follow-up of Medulloblastoma Survivors That Received Craniospinal Irradiation

The study is being done to learn more about the long-term health and well-being of participants treated for medulloblastoma. The study is to decide which evaluations focusing on therapy-related lasting effects (or toxicities) should be considered. Medulloblastoma outcomes have improved with contemporary therapies including modern neurosurgical techniques and risk-adapted radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens. However, survivors remain at risk for long-term health problems such as neurocognitive deficits, hearing loss, impaired cardiorespiratory fitness and physical performance, cardiac and neuroendocrine dysfunction, musculoskeletal conditions, and infertility.

Loc3CAR: Locoregional Delivery of B7-H3-CAR T Cells for Pediatric Patients With Primary CNS Tumors

Loc3CAR is a Phase I clinical trial evaluating the use of autologous B7-H3-CAR T cells for participants ≤ 21 years old with primary CNS neoplasms. B7-H3-CAR T cells will be locoregionally administered via a CNS reservoir catheter. Study participants will be divided into two cohorts: cohort A with B7-H3-positive relapsed/refractory non-brainstem primary CNS tumors, and cohort B with diffuse midline gliomas (DMG). Participants will receive four (4) B7-H3-CAR T cell infusions over a 4 week period. The purpose of this study is to find the maximum (highest) dose of B7-H3-CAR T cells that are safe to give patients with primary brain tumors. Primary objectives * To determine the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) for the locoregional delivery of autologous B7-H3-CAR T cells in patients ≤ 21 years of age with recurrent/refractory B7-H3+ primary CNS tumors (Cohort A) or DMG (Cohort B). Secondary objectives * To assess the efficacy, defined as sustained objective response, a partial response (PR) or complete response (CR) observed anytime on active treatment with B7-H3-CAR T cells in patients with relapsed/refractory B7-H3+ primary CNS tumors (Cohort A) or DMG (Cohort B). * To characterize and monitor neurologic toxicities in patients while on study (Cohort A and B).

Methionine PET/CT Studies In Patients With Cancer

The purpose of this study is to test the usefulness of imaging with radiolabeled methionine in the evaluation of children and young adults with tumor(s). Methionine is a naturally occurring essential amino acid. It is crucial for the formation of proteins. When labeled with carbon-11 (C-11), a radioactive isotope of the naturally occurring carbon-12, the distribution of methionine can be determined noninvasively using a PET (positron emission tomography) camera. C-11 methionine (MET) has been shown valuable in the monitoring of a large number of neoplasms. Since C-11 has a short half life (20 minutes), MET must be produced in a facility very close to its intended use. Thus, it is not widely available and is produced only at select institutions with access to a cyclotron and PET chemistry facility. With the new availability of short lived tracers produced by its PET chemistry unit, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (St. Jude) is one of only a few facilities with the capabilities and interests to evaluate the utility of PET scanning in the detection of tumors, evaluation of response to therapy, and distinction of residual tumor from scar tissue in patients who have completed therapy. The investigators propose to examine the biodistribution of MET in patients with malignant solid neoplasms, with emphasis on central nervous system (CNS) tumors and sarcomas. This project introduces a new diagnostic test for the noninvasive evaluation of neoplasms in pediatric oncology. Although not the primary purpose of this proposal, the investigators anticipate that MET studies will provide useful clinical information for the management of patients with malignant neoplasms.

Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy in Treating Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed, Previously Untreated, High-Risk Medulloblastoma/PNET

This phase III trial studies different chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimens to compare how well they work in treating young patients with newly diagnosed, previously untreated, high-risk medulloblastoma. Chemotherapy drugs, such as vincristine sulfate, cisplatin, cyclophosphamide, and carboplatin, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Giving more than one drug (combination chemotherapy) may kill more tumor cells. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays, particles, or radioactive seeds to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Carboplatin may make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. It is not yet known which chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimen is more effective in treating brain tumors.

Study in Children and Adolescents of 177Lu-DOTATATE (Lutathera®) Combined With the PARP Inhibitor Olaparib for the Treatment of Recurrent or Relapsed Solid Tumours Expressing Somatostatin Receptor (SSTR) (LuPARPed).

Study in children and adolescents of 177Lu DOTATATE (Lutathera®) combined with the PARP inhibitor olaparib for treatment of recurrent or relapsed solid tumours expressing somatostatin receptors (SSTR) (LuPARPed)