Advanced Physician Search: Brain Tumors

This phase II trial studies the best approach to combine chemotherapy and radiation therapy (RT) based on the patient’s response to induction chemotherapy in patients with non-germinomatous germ cell tumors (NGGCT) that have not spread to other parts of the brain or body (localized). This study has 2 goals: 1) optimizing radiation for patients who respond well to induction chemotherapy to diminish spinal cord relapses, 2) utilizing higher dose chemotherapy followed by conventional RT in patients who did not respond to induction chemotherapy. Chemotherapy drugs, such as carboplatin, etoposide, ifosfamide, and thiotepa, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays or high-energy protons to kill tumor cells and shrink tumors. Studies have shown that patients with newly-diagnosed localized NGGCT, whose disease responds well to chemotherapy before receiving radiation therapy, are more likely to be free of the disease for a longer time than are patients for whom the chemotherapy does not efficiently eliminate or reduce the size of the tumor. The purpose of this study is to see how well the tumors respond to induction chemotherapy to decide what treatment to give next. Some patients will be given RT to the spine and a portion of the brain. Others will be given high dose chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant before RT to the whole brain and spine. Giving treatment based on the response to induction chemotherapy may lower the side effects of radiation in some patients and adjust the therapy to a more efficient one for other patients with localized NGGCT.

Procedure: Biospecimen Collection, Drug: Carboplatin, Drug: Etoposide, Biological: Filgrastim, Drug: Ifosfamide, Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Drug: Mesna, Biological: Pegfilgrastim, Procedure: Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation, Other: Questionnaire Administration, Radiation: Radiation Therapy, Procedure: Second-Look Surgery, Drug: Thiotepa

This phase I trial studies the side effects and best dose of trametinib and everolimus in treating pediatric and young adult patients with gliomas that have come back (recurrent). Trametinib acts by targeting a protein in cells called MEK and disrupting tumor growth. Everolimus is a drug that may block another pathway in tumor cells that can help tumors grow. Giving trametinib and everolimus may work better to treat low and high grade gliomas compared to trametinib or everolimus alone.

Drug: Everolimus, Drug: Trametinib

This is a Phase 2, multi center, open-label study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Type II RAF (tovorafenib) in pediatric participants with low-grade glioma or advanced solid tumors. Qualifying genomic alterations will be identified through molecular assays as routinely performed at Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) of 1988 or other similarly certified laboratories prior to enrollment into any of the arms. The study will consist of a screening period, a treatment period, a long-term extension phase, end of treatment (EOT) visit(s), a safety follow-up visit, and long-term follow-up assessments.

Drug: Tovorafenib

This phase III trial compares the effect of selumetinib versus the standard of care treatment with carboplatin and vincristine (CV) in treating patients with newly diagnosed or previously untreated low-grade glioma (LGG) that does not have a genetic abnormality called BRAFV600E mutation and is not associated with systemic neurofibromatosis type 1. Selumetinib works by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth and may kill tumor cells. Carboplatin is in a class of medications known as platinum-containing compounds. It works in a way similar to the anticancer drug cisplatin, but may be better tolerated than cisplatin. Carboplatin works by killing, stopping or slowing the growth of tumor cells. Vincristine is in a class of medications called vinca alkaloids. It works by stopping tumor cells from growing and dividing and may kill them. The overall goal of this study is to see if selumetinib works just as well as the standard treatment of CV for patients with LGG. Another goal of this study is to compare the effects of selumetinib versus CV in subjects with LGG to find out which is better. Additionally, this trial will also examine if treatment with selumetinib improves the quality of life for subjects who take it.

Procedure: Biospecimen Collection, Procedure: Echocardiography Test, Procedure: Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Other: Questionnaire Administration, Drug: Selumetinib Sulfate

The purpose of this research study is to learn about the safety and feasibility of giving a personalized DNA vaccine to people with central nervous system tumors that have returned or have been resistant to treatment.

Biological: Personalized neoantigen DNA vaccine, Device: Papivax Biotech TDS-IM v2.0, Procedure: Peripheral blood draw