Immunotherapy for Childhood Gliomas

Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Brainstem Gliomas and Non-Brainstem High-Grade Gliomas, Recurrent Low-Grade and High-Grade Gliomas

Protocol Description

The purpose of this study is to see if vaccination with a “cocktail” of glioma epitope peptides, combined with the immunoadjuvant polyICLC, can induce immune responses in children with newly diagnosed or recurrent gliomas. Eligible patients are stratified by tumor and prior treatment: 1) Patients with newly diagnosed brainstem gliomas who have not received prior chemotherapy; 2) Patients with newly diagnosed non-brainstem malignant gliomas who have not received chemotherapy during radiation therapy; 3) Newly diagnosed malignant gliomas in patients who have received chemotherapy during radiation therapy; 4) Recurrent malignant gliomas; and 5) Progressive recurrent low-grade gliomas.

Eligibility Criteria

Patients who have been diagnosed with the above tumor types based on biopsy or for children with newly diagnosed brainstem gliomas and progressive visual pathways gliomas, based on characteristic imaging features.

  • Patients must be HLA-A2 positive.
  • Patients must be on no more than 4 mg/day decadron.
  • Age: 3 years to 21 years

Requirements
Physical exams and blood draws to monitor side effects will be done at the time of each vaccine. Blood tests for immunologic monitoring and MRI scans to evaluate tumor status will be done every 6-12 weeks.  

Visits:
Every 3 weeks x 8, then every 6 weeks x 12 depending on response/side effects

Duration:
Up to 2 years

Status: Open for Enrollment

Source of Support
Pediatric Low Grade Astrocytoma Foundation (Brain Tumor Society)
National Institutes of Health

Primary Investigator(s)
Regina I. Jakacki, MD
Ian F. Pollack, MD
Hideho Okada, MD, PhD

Contact Information

To get started, please contact:
Regina Jakacki, MD
412-692-7056

Last Update

September 29, 2009
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If you have kids, be glad you have Children's.

Last Update

September 29, 2009
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