Pilot Study of IT Topotecan and Maintenance Chemotherapy for HR-EBTs in Children < 6 Years, Post Consolidation

NCT ID: NCT06942039

Last Updated: 2025-12-18

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

EARLY_PHASE1

Total Enrollment

15 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-09-23

Study Completion Date

2032-12-31

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Pilot study to determine feasibility of adding intrathecal chemotherapy and maintenance therapy after high dose chemotherapy for treatment of newly diagnosed HR-EBTs in patients less than 6 years of age.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

This is a pilot study to determine feasibility of adding intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy and maintenance therapy after high dose chemotherapy for treatment of newly diagnosed HR-EBTs in patients less than 6 years of age. Patients meeting all inclusion criteria will receive 3 cycles of multiagent chemotherapy induction (vinCRIStine, cyclophosphamide, CISplatin, etoposide) with IT cytarabine and hydrocortisone, and 3 cycles of consolidation with CARBOplatin, thiotepa, and autologous stem cell rescue (as per CCG 99703). Maintenance chemotherapy will then be given immediately after the completion of consolidation therapy and consist of risk-stratified oral chemotherapy using either "Maintenance A" (48 weeks) using tamoxifen and retinoic acid or "Maintenance B" (54 weeks) using metronomic isotretinoin, celecoxib, etoposide, temozolomide, and cyclophosphamide. Both arms of maintenance will receive monthly IT topotecan.

Following the end of treatment, patients will be scheduled for a follow-up visit every 3 months for 24 months to evaluate PFS and OS. Approximately 15 patients will be recruited as part of this clinical study.

Patients aged between 0 and 6 years old at the time of enrollment will be eligible. This study will only enrol patients with high risk Central Nervous System Embryonal Brain Tumors (CNS-EBTs) with histologic and/or molecular confirmation of diagnosis for ATRT intrinsic to the brain and spinal cord, group 3 and group 4 MB, pineoblastoma, CNS neuroblastoma, ETMR, including embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (ETANTR), ependymoblastoma and ETMR not otherwise specified), medulloepithelioma, CNS embryonal tumor with rhabdoid features (INI-1 intact) and CNS embryonal tumor, not otherwise specified.

Response to treatment will be evaluated using the modified RAPNO (Response Assessment in Pediatric Neuro-Oncology) 1.

This study will also explore the genetic landscape of CNS HR-EBTs. Our biological study will include genomic analyses of tumor and CSF with use of epigenomic analyses (methylation profiling) arrays, Nanostring sub-typing studies, Next generation sequencing analyses for DNA and/or RNA.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

CNS Embryonal Tumor CNS, Medulloblastoma Atypical Teratoid Rhabdoid Tumor Medulloblastoma, Childhood Medulloblastoma, Group 3 Medulloblastoma, Group 4 Pineoblastoma Neuroblastoma Embryonal Tumor With Multilayered Rosettes Embryonal Tumor With Abundant Neuropil and True Rosettes Ependymoblastoma Medulloepithelioma CNS Embryonal Tumor With Rhabdoid Features CNS Embryonal Tumor, Nos

Keywords

Explore important study keywords that can help with search, categorization, and topic discovery.

HR-EBT

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

NA

Intervention Model

SINGLE_GROUP

All patients will receive 3 cycles of induction with IT chemotherapy and 3 cycles of consolidation therapy. Patients will then receive either Maintenance A or Maintenance B based on their risk profile.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Comprehensive Multimodal Therapy Including Induction, Consolidation, and Risk-Adapted Maintenance

Participants will undergo a comprehensive treatment regimen beginning with three 21-day cycles of Induction chemotherapy including intrathecal (IT) cytarabine with hydrocortisone, cyclophosphamide, etoposide, vinCRIStine, and cisplatin. Peripheral blood stem cells will be collected during this phase for later use. Patients who achieve complete response (CR) proceed directly to Consolidation; those who do not may undergo second-look surgery or national tumor board review.

Consolidation consists of three 28-day cycles of CARBOplatin and thiotepa followed by autologous stem cell rescue. Patients then proceed to up to 48-54 weeks of Maintenance chemotherapy based on risk stratification.

Low-risk patients receive monthly IT topotecan and a 28-day metronomic regimen including tamoxifen and ISOtretinoin.

High-risk patients receive monthly IT topotecan and a more intensive regimen every 9 weeks including ISOtretinoin, celecoxib, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, and temozolomide.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Cytarabine IT

Intervention Type DRUG

Age-based dosing as a part of double IT therapy (cytarabine, hydrocortisone) during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

hydrocortisone

Intervention Type DRUG

Double IT therapy (cytarabine, hydrocortisone) during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Cisplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Intravenous CISplatin given on Day 1 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Vincristine

Intervention Type DRUG

Intravenous VinCRIStine given on Days 1, 8 \& 15 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Etoposide

Intervention Type DRUG

Induction: Intravenous Etoposide given on Days 1, 2 \& 3 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, vinCRIStine, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Maintenance Arm B (for high-risk patients): Oral Etoposide given on Days 1-21 every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) in combination with IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Cyclophosphamide

Intervention Type DRUG

Induction: Intravenous high-dose Cyclophosphamide given on Days 2 \& 3 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Maintenance Arm B (for high-risk patients): Oral Cyclophosphamide given on Days 1-21 every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) in combination with IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Etoposide and Temozolomide.

Mesna

Intervention Type DRUG

Induction: Intravenous Mesna given at hour 0 of Cyclophosphamide delivery and 3, 6, 9 \& 12 hours post-dose during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days).

Filgrastim

Intervention Type DRUG

Induction: Subcutaneous or intravenous Filgrastim (G-CSF) given 24-48 hrs after last dose of chemotherapy and/or as per institutional guidelines until count recovery.

Consolidation: Subcutaneous or intravenous Filgrastim (G-CSF) given 24-48 hours after last stem cell infusion and/or per institutional guidelienes until count recovery.

carboplatin

Intervention Type DRUG

Consolidation: Intravenous Carboplatin given on days -3 \& -2 during consolidation alongside thiotepa and filgrastim.

Thiotepa

Intervention Type DRUG

Consolidation: Intravenous Thiotepa given on days -3 \& -2 during consolidation alongside carboplatin and filgrastim.

Topotecan IT

Intervention Type DRUG

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): IT Topotecan on Day 1 of each cycle (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside Tamoxifen and ISOtretinoin.

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): IT Topotecan every 4 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Tamoxifen

Intervention Type DRUG

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): Oral Tamoxifen twice daily, Days 1-28 (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside ISOtretinoin and IT Topotecan.

ISOtretinoin

Intervention Type DRUG

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): Oral ISOtretinoin twice daily on Days 15-28 of each cycle (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside Tamoxifen and IT Topotecan.

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral ISOtretinoin twice daily on Days 1-21, every 6 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, Celecoxib, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Celecoxib

Intervention Type DRUG

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral Celecoxib twice daily on Days 1-21, every 6 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

etoposide phosphate

Intervention Type DRUG

During Induction and Maintenance B (for high-risk patients), etoposide phosphate may be given for subsequent doses to patients who have experienced etoposide allergic reactions.

Temozolomide

Intervention Type DRUG

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral Temozolomide daily on Days 1-21, every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Celecoxib.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Cytarabine IT

Age-based dosing as a part of double IT therapy (cytarabine, hydrocortisone) during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Intervention Type DRUG

hydrocortisone

Double IT therapy (cytarabine, hydrocortisone) during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Intervention Type DRUG

Cisplatin

Intravenous CISplatin given on Day 1 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, vinCRIStine, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Intervention Type DRUG

Vincristine

Intravenous VinCRIStine given on Days 1, 8 \& 15 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, etoposide, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Intervention Type DRUG

Etoposide

Induction: Intravenous Etoposide given on Days 1, 2 \& 3 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, vinCRIStine, cyclophosphamide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Maintenance Arm B (for high-risk patients): Oral Etoposide given on Days 1-21 every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) in combination with IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Intervention Type DRUG

Cyclophosphamide

Induction: Intravenous high-dose Cyclophosphamide given on Days 2 \& 3 during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days) alongside double IT therapy, CISplatin, vinCRIStine, etoposide, mesna and filgrastim (G-CSF).

Maintenance Arm B (for high-risk patients): Oral Cyclophosphamide given on Days 1-21 every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) in combination with IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Etoposide and Temozolomide.

Intervention Type DRUG

Mesna

Induction: Intravenous Mesna given at hour 0 of Cyclophosphamide delivery and 3, 6, 9 \& 12 hours post-dose during induction (3 cycles, 1 cycle = 21 days).

Intervention Type DRUG

Filgrastim

Induction: Subcutaneous or intravenous Filgrastim (G-CSF) given 24-48 hrs after last dose of chemotherapy and/or as per institutional guidelines until count recovery.

Consolidation: Subcutaneous or intravenous Filgrastim (G-CSF) given 24-48 hours after last stem cell infusion and/or per institutional guidelienes until count recovery.

Intervention Type DRUG

carboplatin

Consolidation: Intravenous Carboplatin given on days -3 \& -2 during consolidation alongside thiotepa and filgrastim.

Intervention Type DRUG

Thiotepa

Consolidation: Intravenous Thiotepa given on days -3 \& -2 during consolidation alongside carboplatin and filgrastim.

Intervention Type DRUG

Topotecan IT

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): IT Topotecan on Day 1 of each cycle (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside Tamoxifen and ISOtretinoin.

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): IT Topotecan every 4 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside ISOtretinoin, Celecoxib, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Intervention Type DRUG

Tamoxifen

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): Oral Tamoxifen twice daily, Days 1-28 (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside ISOtretinoin and IT Topotecan.

Intervention Type DRUG

ISOtretinoin

Maintenance A (for low-risk patients): Oral ISOtretinoin twice daily on Days 15-28 of each cycle (max 12 cycles, 1 cycle = 28 days) alongside Tamoxifen and IT Topotecan.

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral ISOtretinoin twice daily on Days 1-21, every 6 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, Celecoxib, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Intervention Type DRUG

Celecoxib

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral Celecoxib twice daily on Days 1-21, every 6 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Temozolomide.

Intervention Type DRUG

etoposide phosphate

During Induction and Maintenance B (for high-risk patients), etoposide phosphate may be given for subsequent doses to patients who have experienced etoposide allergic reactions.

Intervention Type DRUG

Temozolomide

Maintenance B (for high-risk patients): Oral Temozolomide daily on Days 1-21, every 9 weeks (max 6 cycles, 1 cycle = 9 weeks) alongside IT Topotecan, ISOtretinoin, Etoposide, Cyclophosphamide and Celecoxib.

Intervention Type DRUG

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

CDDP VCR CPM G-CSF CARBO THIO Intrathecal Topotecan Etopophos TMZ

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Tumor Tissue Sample
2. Age: Patient must be aged ≥ 0 years to ≤ 6 years at the time of definitive confirmation of histologic diagnosis of eligible CNS tumor.
3. Diagnoses. Participants must have Central nervous system (CNS) HR-EBT including atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumour (ATRT), group 3 and group 4 medulloblastoma (MB), pineoblastoma, CNS neuroblastoma, embryonal tumor with multi-layered rosettes (ETMR including embryonal tumor with abundant neuropil and true rosettes (ETANTR), ependymoblastoma and ETMR not otherwise specified), medulloepithelioma, CNS embryonal tumor with rhabdoid features (INI-1 intact) and CNS embryonal tumor, not otherwise specified. Metastatic disease included. Any extent of resection included.
4. Cranial and Spine MRI. A baseline MRI brain and spine with and without contrast is required for all patients. cranial MRI (with and without gadolinium) must be done pre-operatively. Post-operatively, cranial MRI (with and without gadolinium) must be done.
5. Lumbar Puncture (LP) CSF for cytopathology (strongly recommended but not mandatory; if medically feasible). A baseline LP CSF cytology either pre-operatively or post-operatively at least 10 days after definitive surgery for all patients if medically feasible (This is not mandatory and will not make the patient ineligible).
6. Life expectancy: Patients must have a life expectancy of greater than 8 weeks from diagnosis.
7. Performance level: Patients must have a performance status corresponding of a Lansky score ≥ 50.
8. Organ Function Requirements: Participants must have normal organ and marrow function as defined below:

Adequate renal function defined as:

\- Creatinine clearance (12-24-hour urine collection) or radioisotope glomerular filtration rate (GFR) ≥ 60 ml/min/1.73m2

Adequate cardiac function defined as:

* Shortening fraction of ≥ 27% by echocardiogram, or
* Ejection fraction of ≥ 47% by radionuclide angiogram.

Adequate pulmonary function defined as:

\- No evidence of dyspnea at rest and a pulse oximetry \> 94% on room air.

Adequate Bone Marrow Function defined as:

* Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \> 1000/μL
* Platelet Count \> 100,000/μL (without transfusion for 3 days)
* Hemoglobin greater than 8 gm/dL (may have received red blood cell (RBC) transfusions)

Adequate liver function defined as:

* Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5X upper limit of normal (ULN) within normal institutional limits for age (patients with documented Gilbert's Disease may be enrolled with Study Chair approval and total bilirubin ≤ 2.0 × ULN)
* Alanine Aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) ≤ 100 U/L

Exclusion Criteria

1. Patients who are receiving any other conventional anti-cancer agents or investigational agents.
2. Patients who received previous therapy including radiotherapy or chemotherapy other than corticosteroids.
3. Presence of another malignancy, except if the other primary malignancy is neither currently clinically significant nor requiring active intervention.
4. Concomitant medications restrictions: Concurrent use of enzyme inducing anticonvulsants (e.g. phenytoin, phenobarbital, and carbamazepine), selected strong inhibitors of cytochrome P450 3A4 include azole antifungals, such as fluconazole, voriconazole, itraconazole, ketoconazole, and strong inducers include drugs such as rifampin, phenytoin, phenobarbitol, carbamazepine, and St. John's wort or CYP450 3A4 stimulators or inhibitors.
5. Other uncontrollable medical disease: Patient has a severe and uncontrollable medical disease (i.e., uncontrolled diabetes, hyperglycemia, chronic renal disease or active uncontrolled infection), has chronic liver disease (i.e., chronic active hepatitis and cirrhosis), hypercholesterolemia (serum cholesterol \>300 mg/dL), intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, active hyperparathyroidism, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
6. Patients who have a known diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, hepatitis B or C.
7. Ineligible diagnoses for study entry by neuropathology: This includes sonic hedgehog (SHH) and wingless (WNT) MBs, all ependymomas, all choroid plexus carcinomas, all high grade glial and glio-neuronal tumors, all diffuse midline gliomas, all primary CNS germ cell tumors, all primary CNS sarcomas, all primary or metastatic CNS lymphomas and solid leukemic lesions (chloromas, granulocytic sarcomas).
8. The participant or parent(s)/guardian(s) cannot comply with the study visit schedule and other protocol requirements, in the investigator's opinion.
Maximum Eligible Age

6 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

C17 Council

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Sylvia Cheng

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

BC Cancer Centre

Annie Huang

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

The Hospital for Sick Children

Lucie Lafay-Cousin

Role: STUDY_CHAIR

Alberta Children's Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Alberta Children's Hospital

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

BC Children's Hospital

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

McMaster Children's Hospital

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

London Health Sciences Centre

London, Ontario, Canada

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

CHU Sainte-Justine

Montreal, Quebec, Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

The Hospital for Sick Children

Toronto, , Canada

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

Canada

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Aiman Siddiqi

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 416-813-7654

Email: [email protected]

C17 Council

Role: CONTACT

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Oluwatosin Ogunleye

Role: primary

Lucie Lafay-Cousin

Role: backup

Sofie Jensen

Role: primary

Shawde Campbell

Role: primary

Reese Gartly

Role: primary

Caroline Tra

Role: primary

Aiman Siddiqi

Role: primary

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

DECRYPT-BABYBRAIN

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id