Treatment of Children With Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Pontine Gliomas Using Conventional Radiotherapy and High Dose Tamoxifen
Treatment of Children With Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Pontine Gliomas Using Conventional Radiotherapy and High Dose Tamoxifen
RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage tumor cells. Tamoxifen may kill tumor cells by blocking the enzymes necessary for cell growth. Combining radiation therapy with tamoxifen may be effective in treating newly diagnosed brain stem glioma.
PURPOSE: Phase II trial to study the effectiveness of combining radiation therapy and tamoxifen in treating children who have newly diagnosed brain stem glioma.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a multicenter study.
Patients undergo radiotherapy once daily 5 days a week for 6 weeks. Within 2 weeks after the initiation of radiotherapy, patients receive oral high-dose tamoxifen once daily. Tamoxifen continues in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 60 patients will be accrued for this study within 4 years.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Newly diagnosed tumor of the brain stem (diffuse intrinsic lesion centered on the pons)
Radiological and clinical diagnostic criteria allowed (biopsy not required)
The following astrocytic tumors are allowed if histologically confirmed:
Less than 6 months since diagnosis
At least 1 of the following signs of brain stem tumor:
No focal lesions of the brain stem (either clearly marginated or cystic), cervicomedullary tumors, tumors predominately exophytic, or pontine tumors diagnosed as pilocytic on biopsy
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Performance status:
Life expectancy:
Hematopoietic:
Hepatic:
Renal:
Other:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy:
Chemotherapy:
Endocrine therapy:
Radiotherapy:
Surgery:
Other: