In this study, the investigators are testing improvement in survival outcomes in DIPG patients when stratified with MR perfusion score and treated with the said protocol. Newly diagnosed DIPG patients will undergo MRI perfusion study in addition to the usual MRI at diagnosis and will be stratified into hyperperfused or hypoperfused tumours. The hyperperfused patients will receive additional low dose Bevacizumab weekly with conventional standard radiotherapy. The hypo-perfused patients will receive ultra-low-dose radiotherapy fractionation equivalent to conventional RT biological dose.
In tumours like Diffuse pontine glioma (DIPG), the diagnosis itself spells a death sentence for the child affected. The current standard treatment is conventionally fractionated daily radiation treatment for 6 weeks which benefits 80-90% patients with temporary improvement in neurological function which gives survival up to 8-10 months. With research over several decades, none of the altered fractionation radiotherapy or additional chemotherapy or targeted agents has shown a significant difference in outcomes. The investigators propose to do an MRI perfusion study in addition to usual MRI at diagnosis and stratify them into hyperperfused or hypoperfused based on the criteria from the investigator's previously published institutional experience in DIPG. The hyperperfused patients will receive additional low dose a drug called Bevacizumab weekly with conventional standard radiotherapy. It is hypothesized that low dose Bevacizumab will decrease hypoxia and improve the efficacy of conventional radiotherapy and in turn improve outcomes. The hypo-perfused patients will receive ultra-low-dose radiotherapy fractionation equivalent to conventional RT biological dose. As it is assumed that hypoperfused tumours are radioresistant, the investigator hypothesis that the ultra-low dose radiotherapy may overcome that radioresistance as seen in GBM adult patients and may improve outcomes.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
40
Additional concurrent low-dose Bevacizumab with standard EBRT
Ultra-low-dose EBRT instead of standard dose RT
Tata Memorial Hospital
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
RECRUITINGOverall Survival
Survival for the total enrolled patient population will calculated at the median follow up 12 months. This will be compared with historical data from TMH, international DIPG registry and SIOP DIPG registry for 12-month OS as 35%.
Time frame: median of 12 months from diagnosis
Progression-free survival
Progression-free survival: at 6 months, 12 months, 18 months will be recorded for overall cohort and each arm separately at first progression only. For the purpose of the study, any patient with two or more new clinical signs of neurological deterioration in accordance with classical DIPG diagnosis with radiological progression of disease from any previous available imaging will be called progression.
Time frame: 6 months, 12 months, 18 months from diagnosis
Adverse events
The documentation of highest grade of toxicity as per CTCAE v 4 and RTOG radiation toxicity.
Time frame: From the time of intervention beginning, through the course of intervention, at the end of intervention and follow up 3 monthly to the date of precluding progression, or last known follow-up date, assessed for up to 2 years
Steroid Use
Total duration of steroid use will be recorded
Time frame: From the time of intervention beginning, through the course of intervention, at the end of intervention and follow up 3 monthly to the date of precluding progression, or last known follow-up date, assessed for up to 2 years
Pattern of relapse
local versus disseminated progression will be documented for each arm and overall cohort for the patients with available MRI at progression.
Time frame: from the date of enrollment on study to the last known follow-up date, assessed for up to 2 years
Overall survival
Overall survival in each arm as well as for overall cohort will be recorded
Time frame: 6, 12 month and 18 months.
Compliance
Treatment intervention abandonment rates: number of patients not completing the planned intervention/treatment.
Time frame: From the time of intervention beginning, through the course of intervention, till the planned intervention is completed to maximum of 10 weeks from beginning , which ever is earlier.
Inconvenience rates
average number of hours spent in hospital per day during the intervention phase.
Time frame: From the time of intervention beginning, through the course of intervention, till the end of intervention or maximum of upto 10 weeks, which ever is earlier.
Quality of Life scores
The Qol scores will be calculated as per the routine OPD based collection of Health using utilities index (40 item standard questionnaire) and/or PedQol interviewer based scores.
Time frame: From date of accrual until the date of first documented progression or date of death from any cause, whichever came first, assessed up to 100 months
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