Trial Outcomes & Findings for Modafinil in Treating Children With Memory and Attention Problems Caused by Cancer Treatment for a Brain Tumor (NCT NCT01381718)

NCT ID: NCT01381718

Last Updated: 2021-08-13

Results Overview

CogState Battery. CogState is a semi-automated, computerized cognitive testing system that was developed as a rapid and accurate test of cognitive function specifically for repeated assessment that is sensitive to the effects of medication in children over the age of 5 years and in adults from different language, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The CogState tasks to assess processing speed, visual attention, working memory and executive function were used. The CogState battery was administered in the following order: Detection Task, Identification Task, One Card Learning Task, One Back Task, and lastly, the Modified Groton Maze Learning Task. It was administered at baseline and 6 weeks. A positive change from baseline is an improvement. There is not a minimum or maximum since the value is reported as a z-score, but with the mean = 0 and the SD = 1, the range should be between -3 and 3.

Recruitment status

COMPLETED

Study phase

PHASE2

Target enrollment

112 participants

Primary outcome timeframe

Baseline and 6 weeks

Results posted on

2021-08-13

Participant Flow

Participant milestones

Participant milestones
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Overall Study
STARTED
56
56
Overall Study
COMPLETED
51
43
Overall Study
NOT COMPLETED
5
13

Reasons for withdrawal

Reasons for withdrawal
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Overall Study
Withdrawal by Subject
2
5
Overall Study
Lost to Follow-up
3
5
Overall Study
Toxicity, side effects or complications related to study
0
3

Baseline Characteristics

Modafinil in Treating Children With Memory and Attention Problems Caused by Cancer Treatment for a Brain Tumor

Baseline characteristics by cohort

Baseline characteristics by cohort
Measure
Arm I - Modafanil
n=56 Participants
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=56 Participants
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Total
n=112 Participants
Total of all reporting groups
Age, Continuous
12.12 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 2.92 • n=5 Participants
12.7 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.12 • n=7 Participants
12.41 Years
STANDARD_DEVIATION 3.02 • n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Female
27 Participants
n=5 Participants
31 Participants
n=7 Participants
58 Participants
n=5 Participants
Sex: Female, Male
Male
29 Participants
n=5 Participants
25 Participants
n=7 Participants
54 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Hispanic or Latino
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
8 Participants
n=7 Participants
16 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Not Hispanic or Latino
45 Participants
n=5 Participants
46 Participants
n=7 Participants
91 Participants
n=5 Participants
Ethnicity (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
2 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
American Indian or Alaska Native
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Asian
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Black or African American
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
7 Participants
n=7 Participants
13 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
White
47 Participants
n=5 Participants
43 Participants
n=7 Participants
90 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
More than one race
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
Race (NIH/OMB)
Unknown or Not Reported
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
5 Participants
n=5 Participants
BMI
22.66 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.53 • n=5 Participants
21.5 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.55 • n=7 Participants
22.08 kg/m^2
STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.05 • n=5 Participants
Weight in kg
49.68 Kg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 25.72 • n=5 Participants
47.72 Kg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 20.96 • n=7 Participants
48.7 Kg
STANDARD_DEVIATION 23.38 • n=5 Participants
Height in cm
143.93 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 17.34 • n=5 Participants
149.74 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 39.03 • n=7 Participants
146.84 cm
STANDARD_DEVIATION 30.21 • n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Medulloblastoma PNET or ATRT
22 Participants
n=5 Participants
29 Participants
n=7 Participants
51 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Pilocytic Astrocytoma (Grade 1)
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
10 Participants
n=7 Participants
20 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Ependymoma
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
10 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Germinoma or non-germinomatous germ
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
7 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Astrocytoma (Grade 2)
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
3 Participants
n=7 Participants
6 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Other
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
4 Participants
n=7 Participants
8 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Craniopharygioma
3 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
4 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Optic Pathway Tumor (optic nerve, chiasmatic optic tract)
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
2 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Choroid plexus tumor (all grades)
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Oligodendroglioma
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Pinealoma (all grades)
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
0 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants
Primary Cancer Diagnosis
Missing
0 Participants
n=5 Participants
1 Participants
n=7 Participants
1 Participants
n=5 Participants

PRIMARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Population: Decreased number of participants analyzed is because not all participants had a CogState score at 6 weeks

CogState Battery. CogState is a semi-automated, computerized cognitive testing system that was developed as a rapid and accurate test of cognitive function specifically for repeated assessment that is sensitive to the effects of medication in children over the age of 5 years and in adults from different language, cultural and socio-economic backgrounds. The CogState tasks to assess processing speed, visual attention, working memory and executive function were used. The CogState battery was administered in the following order: Detection Task, Identification Task, One Card Learning Task, One Back Task, and lastly, the Modified Groton Maze Learning Task. It was administered at baseline and 6 weeks. A positive change from baseline is an improvement. There is not a minimum or maximum since the value is reported as a z-score, but with the mean = 0 and the SD = 1, the range should be between -3 and 3.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
n=50 Participants
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=42 Participants
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Change in Age-Adjusted Scores at Week Six From Baseline in the Attention Task of the CogState Battery
-0.16 Z Score
Standard Deviation 0.71
0.14 Z Score
Standard Deviation 1.06

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: 30 days post intervention

AEs gathered using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects) and participant report on daily log.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
n=56 Participants
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=56 Participants
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Number of Reported Adverse Events (AEs)
76 Adverse Events
26 Adverse Events

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Population: Not all participants had a BRIEF score at 6 weeks

Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF). The BRIEF is a behavior rating scale designed to assess executive functions in the home and school environments. The measure was selected to provide parent-reported outcomes of problems related to attention, memory and executive function that occur in everyday life. The instrument was utilized to measure the change in working memory, according to the parent's perspective only, from baseline to 6 weeks. Scores are linear transformations of raw scores into T scores (mean = 50, SD = 10); higher scores indicate greater difficulties. The baseline score was subtracted from the 6 week score. Positive change from baseline is an improvement. The total scale ranges from 0 to 172. A T score \>60 on the BRIEF working memory subscale indicates cognitive impairment.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
n=51 Participants
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=43 Participants
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Change in Working Memory Score at 6 Weeks From Baseline as Assessed on BRIEF
-4.1 T Score
Standard Deviation 7.4
-4.5 T Score
Standard Deviation 9.2

SECONDARY outcome

Timeframe: Baseline and 6 weeks

Population: Not all participants had a completed PedsQL at Week 6

PedsQL is Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory Multi-dimensional Fatigue Scale. This scale is designed as a generic symptom-specific instrument to measure fatigue. Higher scores indicate fewer symptoms of fatigue. It was administered at baseline and 6 weeks. The score is the sum of the answers. The baseline score was subtracted from the 6 week score. A positive change indicates worsening. The scale total score range is from 0-72 for both the parent and patient reported instruments.

Outcome measures

Outcome measures
Measure
Arm I - Modafinil
n=51 Participants
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=43 Participants
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Change in PedsQL Score at 6 Weeks From Baseline
Parent Rating
11.3 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 17.6
11.4 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 15.9
Change in PedsQL Score at 6 Weeks From Baseline
Patient Rating
9.3 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 16.5
6.9 Scores on a scale
Standard Deviation 16.6

Adverse Events

Arm I - Modafanil

Serious events: 0 serious events
Other events: 34 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Arm II - Placebo

Serious events: 1 serious events
Other events: 12 other events
Deaths: 0 deaths

Serious adverse events

Serious adverse events
Measure
Arm I - Modafanil
n=56 participants at risk
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=56 participants at risk
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Injury, poisoning and procedural complications
Fracture
0.00%
0/56 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
1.8%
1/56 • Number of events 1 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.

Other adverse events

Other adverse events
Measure
Arm I - Modafanil
n=56 participants at risk
Participants receive modafinil orally (PO) once daily (QD) on days 1-42. modafinil: Given PO
Arm II - Placebo
n=56 participants at risk
Participants receive placebo PO QD on days 1-42. placebo: Given PO
Nervous system disorders
Headache
21.4%
12/56 • Number of events 18 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
12.5%
7/56 • Number of events 9 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
Psychiatric disorders
Insomnia
23.2%
13/56 • Number of events 16 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
5.4%
3/56 • Number of events 3 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
Psychiatric disorders
Agitation
7.1%
4/56 • Number of events 4 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
3.6%
2/56 • Number of events 2 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
Skin and subcutaneous tissue disorders - Other, specify
8.9%
5/56 • Number of events 5 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.
0.00%
0/56 • 6 weeks
Complete and frequent monitoring for AEs was incorporated into the study using SAFTEE (Systematic Assessment for Treatment Emergent Effects developed by the National Institute of Mental Health. The final SAFTEE assessment will take place 30 days after the last dose of study agent. Participants will use the Study Medication Log, completed daily, to document any adverse events. Staff will review logs and compare to SAFTEE report.

Additional Information

Nicole J. Ullrich, MD, PhD

Children's Hospital Boston/Harvard Medical School

Phone: 617-355-3193

Results disclosure agreements

  • Principal investigator is a sponsor employee
  • Publication restrictions are in place