Phase II Trial of Response-Based Radiation Therapy for Patients With Localized CNS Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumors: A Children’s Oncology Group Study

Fangusaro J, Wu S, MacDonald S, Murphy E, Shaw D, Bartels U, Khatua S, Souweidane M, Lu HM, Morris D, Panigrahy A, Onar-Thomas A, Fouladi M, Gajjar A, Dhall G. Phase II Trial of Response-Based Radiation Therapy for Patients With Localized CNS Nongerminomatous Germ Cell Tumors: A Children’s Oncology Group Study. J Clin Oncol. 2019 Dec 1;37(34):3283-3290. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.00701. Epub 2019 Sep 23. PMID: 31545689; PMCID: PMC6900864.

Stratum 1 of ACNS1123 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01602666), a Children’s Oncology Group phase II trial, evaluated efficacy of reduced-dose and volume of radiotherapy (RT) in children and adolescents with localized nongerminomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCTs). The primary objective was to evaluate the impact of reduced RT on progression-free survival (PFS) with a goal of preserving neurocognitive function. Patients received six cycles of chemotherapy with carboplatin and etoposide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide, as used in the Children’s Oncology Group predecessor study (ACNS0122; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00047320). Patients who achieved a complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) with or without second-look surgery were eligible for reduced RT, defined as 30.6 Gy whole ventricular field and 54 Gy tumor-bed boost, compared with 36 Gy craniospinal irradiation plus 54 Gy tumor-bed boost used in ACNS0122.