Overview
This is a single arm prospective pilot trial determining the safety of short-course radiation therapy in pediatric patients with incurable central nervous system malignancies.
Description
Participants will receive a shorter course of radiation therapy across 5 days (20 Gray in 5 fractions) in contrast to the standard treatment of two weeks or more of daily treatments (up to 3 Gray per day). This research study is being conducted to see if delivering a shorter course of radiation therapy is safe and helps quality of life so that it may reduce the required duration of palliative treatment.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Male or female, aged 21 years or below
- Lansky performance status \>= 40
- Has a diagnosis of an incurable malignancy that:
- Originates outside the brain but is metastatic to 1 or more sites within the brain, or originates and recurs within the brain. For this diagnosis to be confirmed, there must be multidisciplinary review of up to date imaging at a pediatric tumor board with unanimous consensus of intracranial relapse or metastasis. If the consensus is not unanimous, short-interval repeat imaging with subsequent unanimous consensus would be required in order for this eligibility criteria to be met
- Has at least 1 targetable intracranial lesion as seen on imaging
- Has a multidisciplinary consensus recommendation for palliative intent radiation
- Consents to the study or has caregiver who is able to provide signed and dated informed consent. For subjects under the age of 18, a signed and dated assent form as able.
- Patients who had prior radiation in planned treatment area are also eligible to enter the trial
- Stated willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the duration of the study
Exclusion Criteria:
- Radiotherapy for curative intent
- Serious uncontrolled systemic or psychiatric disorders that would interfere with participation in the protocol
- Being planned for proton radiation
