WithdrawnNot Applicable

Biomarkers in Blood Samples From Young Patients With Newly Diagnosed Brain Tumors Undergoing Standard Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy

Stopped: This non-therapeutic study was registered in error. The PRS team doesn't delete studies once registered, so they recommended changing the status to Withdrawn

United States0Started 2010-05

Plain-language summary

RATIONALE: Studying samples of blood in the laboratory from patients receiving radiation therapy and chemotherapy may help doctors learn more about the effects of this treatment on cells. It may also help doctors understand how well patients respond to treatment. PURPOSE: This research study is studying biomarkers in blood samples from young patients with newly diagnosed brain tumors undergoing standard radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Who can participate

Age range

4 Years – 21 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS: * Meets 1 of the following criteria: * Histologically confirmed posterior fossa tumor * Newly diagnosed disease * Medulloblastoma OR non-medulloblastoma (pilocytic astrocytoma, ependymoma, atypical rhabdoid tumor, or others) * Scheduled to undergo craniotomy and tumor resection * Chiari malformation * Requires craniectomy for decompression * No secondary decompression PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: * No unexplained febrile illness * No active infection * No autoimmune disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, or systemic lupus erythematosus * No other immunosuppressive disorders (e.g., HIV infection) PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: * See Disease Characteristics

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Peripherally circulating T-regulatory (T-reg) cells in patients with medulloblastoma or Chiari malformation

Longitudinal side effects of standard radiotherapy and chemotherapy regimens on the overall population of lymphocytes as well as the fraction of circulating T-reg cells

Effect of treatment on lymphocytes and T-reg cells

Trial details

NCT IDNCT01233479

SponsorPediatric Brain Tumor Consortium

Sponsor typeNETWORK

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2011-07

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Brain and Central Nervous System Tumors trials