A Pilot Study of Larotrectinib for Newly-Diagnosed High-Grade Glioma With NTRK Fusion
Launched by NATIONWIDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL · Nov 30, 2020
Trial Information
Current as of June 26, 2025
Recruiting
Keywords
ClinConnect Summary
This clinical trial is exploring the use of a medication called Larotrectinib in children and young adults who have recently been diagnosed with high-grade glioma, a type of brain tumor, particularly those with a specific genetic change known as an NTRK fusion. The main goal is to see how well the medication works after the first two cycles of treatment and to check how safe it is when given alongside chemotherapy or after radiation therapy.
To participate in this study, patients must be 21 years old or younger and have a confirmed diagnosis of high-grade glioma with the NTRK fusion. They should not have received any previous anti-cancer treatments. Participants will receive Larotrectinib and will be closely monitored for their health and response to the treatment throughout the study. It’s important for families to know that all patients must provide consent, and there will be specific requirements for their overall health to ensure safety during the trial.
Gender
ALL
Eligibility criteria
- Inclusion Criteria:
- • Age: Patients ≤ 21 years of age (birth to 21 years of age) at the time of study enrollment will be eligible.
- • Diagnosis: Patients with newly-diagnosed high-grade (HGG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG), whose tumors are documented in a CLIA/CAP certified lab (or clinically equivalent method considered standard in non-US sites) to harbor an NTRK fusion alteration by FISH, PCR, or next generation sequencing are eligible. Patients must have had histologically verified high-grade glioma such as anaplastic astrocytoma, glioblastoma, or H3 K27-mutant diffuse midline glioma verified at a CONNECT site.
- • For sites that do not have CLIA-certified equivalent (certified laboratory) to assess NTRK fusion, testing will be conducted centrally at NCH. NTRK testing will be performed by NGS using targeted RNA-sequencing (Archer Solid Tumor analysis) Please submit 10 unstained sections on charged slides at 10uM thickness, or 10 scrolls cut at 10uM thickness, along with submission of an H\&E slide. Formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissue block and FFPE tissue scroll specimens must contain minimum of 25% tumor Snap-frozen tissue specimens are also acceptable and they must contain a minimum of 10% tumor. Please note that turn-around time for this test is up to 21 days.
- • Disease Status: Patients with disseminated DIPG or HGG are eligible only if the patient is to receive chemotherapy only, i.e. no craniospinal RT is intended to be given. MRI of spine must be performed if disseminated disease is suspected clinically by the treating physicians. Patients with primary spinal tumors are eligible only if the patient is to receive either chemotherapy or focal radiation therapy, i.e. no craniospinal RT is intended to be given. Patients with leptomeningeal disease only, with no definitive identifiable primary tumor, and documented NTRK fusion, must be discussed with the Study Chair on a case-by-case basis.
- • Surgical Cohort ONLY: Patients with newly-diagnosed HGG with NTRK fusions who have undergone prior biopsy and for whom further resection is indicated for a more definitive surgery at an enrolling site will be eligible to enroll onto the surgical study. DIPG patients are not eligible for the surgical cohort.
- • Performance Level: Karnofsky ≥ 50% for patients \> 16 years of age and Lansky ≥ 50 for patients ≤ 16 years of age (See Appendix I). Patients who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of assessing the performance score.
- • Prior Therapy: Patients must not have received any prior anti-cancer chemotherapy. Prior use of corticosteroids are allowed (see below Exclusion Criteria)
- * Organ Function Requirements: Adequate Bone Marrow Function Defined as:
- • Peripheral absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥ 1000/mm3 Platelet count ≥ 100,000/mm3 (transfusion independent, defined as not receiving platelet transfusions for at least 7 days prior to enrollment) Hemoglobin \>8 g/dL (may receive transfusions)
- • - Adequate Renal Function Defined as: Serum creatinine within normal institutional limits, or Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥ 70ml/min/1.73 m2
- • - Adequate Liver Function Defined as: Total bilirubin ≤ 2.5 × institutional upper limit of normal AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤ 2.5 × institutional upper limit of normal
- • - Adequate Pulmonary Function Defined as: Pulse oximetry \> 94% on room air if there is clinical indication for determination (e.g. dyspnea at rest).
- • - Adequate Neurologic Function Defined as: Patients with seizure disorder may be enrolled if on anticonvulsants and well controlled. See Section 5.5.2 and Appendix III for EIAED guidelines.
- • - Informed Consent: All patients and/or their parents or legally authorized representatives must sign a written informed consent. Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained according to institutional guidelines.
- Exclusion Criteria:
- • Pregnancy or Breast-Feeding: Pregnant or breast-feeding women will not be entered on this study due to unknown risks of fetal and teratogenic adverse events as seen in animal/human studies. Pregnancy tests must be obtained in girls who are post-menarchal. Males or females of reproductive potential may not participate unless they have agreed to use an effective contraceptive method.
- • Concomitant Medications Investigational Drugs: Patients who have previously received or are currently receiving another investigational drug are not eligible.
- • Anti-cancer Agents: Patients who have previously received or are currently receiving other anti-cancer agents, including chemotherapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibodies, biologic or targeted therapy, are not eligible
- • Infection: Patients must not have any active, uncontrolled systemic bacterial, viral or fungal infection.
- • Patients who have received prior solid organ transplantation are not eligible.
- • Patients must not have malabsorption syndrome or other condition affecting oral absorption.
- • Patients must not be receiving any treatment with a strong cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) inhibitor or inducer. (See Appendix III.) Strong inducers or inhibitors of CYP3A4 should be avoided from 7 days prior to enrollment to the end of the study.
- • Patients who in the opinion of the investigator may not be able to comply with the safety monitoring requirements of the study are not eligible.
About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Nationwide Children's Hospital is a leading pediatric healthcare institution dedicated to advancing child health through innovative clinical research and trials. As a prominent sponsor, the hospital leverages its expertise in pediatric medicine to design and conduct rigorous clinical studies aimed at improving treatment outcomes for children. Committed to excellence in research and patient care, Nationwide Children's Hospital collaborates with a network of healthcare professionals and institutions to translate scientific discoveries into effective therapies, ensuring that the latest advancements in pediatric healthcare are accessible to young patients across the nation.
Contacts
Jennifer Cobb
Immunology at National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID)
Locations
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Cincinnati, Ohio, United States
Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Houston, Texas, United States
Washington, District Of Columbia, United States
Aurora, Colorado, United States
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Seattle, Washington, United States
South Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
Chicago, Illinois, United States
London, , United Kingdom
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Durham, North Carolina, United States
Perth, Western Australia, Australia
Heidelberg, Baden Württemberg, Germany
Utrecht, , Netherlands
Columbus, Ohio, United States
Heidelberg, , Germany
Patients applied
Trial Officials
Susan Chi, MD
Study Chair
Dana Farber/ Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Maryam Fouladi, MD
Study Chair
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Timeline
First submit
Trial launched
Trial updated
Estimated completion
Not reported
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