Nimotuzumab in Children With Intrinsic Pontine Glioma

Inclusion Criteria: Histology and staging of disease: * Newly diagnosed intrinsic pontine glioma documented by MRI and measurable in at least one dimension * Histology is not required for this study, tumour biopsy is not recommended General conditions * Age ≥ 3 years to ≤ 20 years, both gender * Life expectancy ≥ 4 weeks * Performance status ECOG ≥ 3 or Karnofsky/Lansky status ≥ 40% * Adequate haematological, renal, and hepatic function Absolute leukocyte count ≥ 2.0 x 109/l Haemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dl Platelets ≥ 50 x 109/l Bilirubin total ≤ 2.5 x ULN ALT/AST ≤ 5.0 x ULN Creatinine i. S. ≤ 1.5 x ULN Prior/initial examinations (within 14 days prior to the start of therapy): * Cranial MRI (estimation of index lesion) * Clinical internal and neurological examination; body weight, height, surface, Performance status by ECOG, Karnofsky or Lansky * Blood cell count, blood gas analysis; serum analysis for electrolytes (Na, K, Ca, Mg), chloride, phosphate, creatinine, BUN, AST, ALT, bilirubin, GGT, LDH, lipase, total protein, CRP, blood sugar; coagulation test (Quick, PTT, TT); urinalysis * EKG, echocardiography in case of positive cardiac history * Pregnancy test in females of childbearing age Other criteria * Planned day of first antibody application within 14 days after MRI * Written and signed informed consent from patient and/or parents or legal guardian(s)(s) after being informed * Negative pregnancy test in females of childbearing age * Treatment in a study centre * Availability of the patient during the study treatment and the ability to comply with the study plan Exclusion Criteria: * Pontine glioma as secondary malignancy * Low grade brain stem glioma (i.e. focal, cervicomedullar, tectal brain stem glioma) * Other severe underlying disease or pre-existing serious conditions which bear the risk of an inadequate study treatment (e.g. severe mental retardation, severe statomotoric retardation, severe cerebral palsy, congenital syndromes) * Prior antineoplastic therapy, inclusively chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiotherapy * Prior administration of a recombinant human or mural antibody or known hypersensitivity to antibodies * Simultaneous antineoplastic therapy other than the study treatment * Participation in another therapeutic study or experimental treatment involving the underlying cancer disease * Pregnancy, lactating mother and inadequate contraception in females and males of childbearing age