Photodynamic Therapy For Childhood Brain Tumors, A Phase I Study
Photodynamic Therapy For Childhood Brain Tumors, A Phase I Study
RATIONALE: Photodynamic therapy uses light and photosensitizing drugs to kill tumor cells and may be an effective treatment for refractory brain tumors.
PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and best dose of photodynamic therapy using porfimer sodium in treating patients with refractory brain tumors, including astrocytoma, ependymoma, and medulloblastoma.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a dose-escalation study. Patients are stratified according to tumor location (posterior fossa tumors vs all other brain tumors).
Patients receive benzoporphyrin monoacid ring A (BPD-MA) IV preoperatively. Approximately 3 hours after BPD-MA administration, patients undergo craniotomy with photoillumination of the tumor. Patients with tumors greater than 2 cm in diameter also undergo gross tumor resection.
Cohorts of 3-6 patients receive escalating doses of BPD-MA until the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) is determined. The MTD is defined as the dose immediately preceding that at which 2 of 3 or 2 of 6 patients experience dose-limiting toxicity. Three additional patients are treated at the MTD.
Patients are followed at 4 and 6 weeks, every 3 months for 1 year, every 6 months for 1 year, and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: A minimum of 24 patients will be accrued for this study within 3 years.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Diagnosis of supratentorial or infratentorial brain tumor
Must have failed standard therapy including radiotherapy
Measurable disease as evidenced by CT scan or MRI
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Performance status:
Life expectancy:
Hematopoietic:
Hepatic:
Renal:
Other:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy:
Chemotherapy:
Endocrine therapy:
Radiotherapy:
Surgery:
Other:
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