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A Phase II Trial of Intensity-Modulated Proton Therapy for Incompletely Resected Craniopharyngioma and Observation for Craniopharyngioma After Radical Resection

NCT02792582 · Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE2 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 160

Last updated 2026-04-23

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Craniopharyngioma is a rare brain tumor that affects both children and adults. It arises in a region of the brain near the pituitary gland, visual pathways, and central blood vessels. Patients often present with headache, loss of vision or delayed growth. In some instances they may present with imbalance of water and salts in the body.

The treatment for craniopharyngioma may be radical surgery or a combination of surgery and radiation therapy. In some instances surgery is not required. If the tumor cannot be completely removed, radiation therapy may be required. In this study we will use the most advanced form of proton therapy which is called intensity-modulated proton therapy. This is a newer form of radiation therapy which has a number of advantages over older forms of proton therapy and conventional radiation therapy using x-rays.

The main goal of this study is to learn if proton therapy will effectively treat patients with craniopharyngioma brain tumors and reduce side effects compared to more traditional forms of radiation therapy.

Conditions

Interventions

RADIATION

Proton Therapy

The protocol-specific radiation dose will be prescribed to a target defined by the use of computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The target will encompass the residual tumor and/or tumor bed and will include a margin mean to treat subclinical microscopic disease. There is no time limit for the interval from surgery or study enrollment to when proton therapy commences. The time course of administration of proton therapy will be 1 treatment/day, 5 days/week, for a period 6 weeks.

PROCEDURE

Surgery

When possible, tumors will be removed surgically prior to proton therapy. If no tumor remains following surgery, no proton therapy will be given, and participants will be followed for 5 years to collect outcome data for comparison between groups.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Principal Investigators

  • Thomas E. Merchant, DO, PhD · St. Jude Children's Research Hospital

Study Design

Allocation
NON_RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Max Age
21 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2016-06-22
Primary Completion
2026-08-31
Completion
2028-12-31
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02792582 on ClinicalTrials.gov