Neuro-oncology, neurosurgery and nuclear medicine physicians from Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, in collaboration with Cerenome, Inc., launched the first clinical trial in children of radiotherapy called Rhenium-186 Nanoliposome ( 186 RNL), which is injected directly into the brain tumor through a catheter with hopes of providing minimal exposure to the surrounding healthy tissue. Children with recurrent high grade glioma (HGG) and ependymoma who have exhausted the standard of care options might be eligible to participate.
HGG and ependymoma are highly aggressive pediatric brain tumors. HGG has less than 20 percent survival rate at five years after diagnosis, while five-year survival rate for children with ependymoma is at 71 percent for a grade II tumor and 57 percent for grade III. Brain tumors are the second most common type of cancer in children.
“We are excited to offer this innovative treatment to children with some of the most challenging brain tumors,” said Co-Principal Investigator Ashley S. Plant-Fox, MD , neuro-oncologist and A.M. Khokhar Research Scholar at Lurie Children’s, and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “The novel technology has the potential to deliver higher doses of radiation than conventional radiotherapy while better avoiding healthy brain tissue. We are very encouraged by the data from trials in adults and have advocated bringing this to children. We will be the first to deliver this treatment in pediatric patients and are excited for the potential application to other pediatric brain tumors in the future. This trial aligns with our overall goals of bringing safer and more efficacious treatments.”
In the clinical trial of 186 RNL for adult glioblastoma, patients received over two times the absorbed dose of radiation compared to conventional radiotherapy, reducing tumors without significant toxicity.
To accurately target the precise location of the tumor, the trial at Lurie Children’s will use SPECT-CT, a hybrid 3-D imaging technique that combines the functional imaging of 186 RNL distribution with the anatomical detail of CT.
“Our nuclear medicine team will be responsible for documenting that the radiopharmaceutical effectively targets the intended tumor sites and that its administration is carried out safely,” said Carla Quijano, MD , Section Head of Nuclear Medicine at Lurie Children’s and Assistant Professor of Radiology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
“This new radiotherapy is bringing hope to children with brain tumors who have very limited treatment options and poor prognosis,” said Co-Principal Investigator Michael DeCuypere, MD, PhD , neurosurgeon and Eleanor Clarke Research Scholar in Developmental Neurobiology Research at Lurie Children’s, and Assistant Professor of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. “The radiation is delivered to the brain tumor with a minimally invasive procedure, with patients going home after only two days. We are enthusiastic about the potential of this treatment for our patients.”
This study is Lurie Children’s IRB STUDY00000469, A Two-Part, Phase 1/2a Trial to Determine the Maximum Tolerated Dose, Safety, and Tolerability of Rhenium (186Re) Obisbemeda (Rhenium-186 NanoLiposome, 186RNL) Delivered via Convection Enhanced Delivery (CED) in Supratentorial Recurrent, Refractory, or Progressive Pediatric Ependymoma and High-Grade Glioma (HGG), Ashley Plant, MD. The content of this news release has been approved by the Lurie Children’s IRB.
Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago is a nonprofit organization committed to providing access to exceptional care for every child. It is the only independent, research-driven children’s hospital in Illinois and one of less than 35 nationally. This is where the top doctors go to train, practice pediatric medicine, teach, advocate, research and stay up to date on the latest treatments. Exclusively focused on children, all Lurie Children’s resources are devoted to serving their needs. Research at Lurie Children’s is conducted through Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, which is focused on improving child health, transforming pediatric medicine and ensuring healthier futures through the relentless pursuit of knowledge. Lurie Children’s is the pediatric training ground for Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. It is ranked as one of the nation’s top children’s hospitals by U.S. News & World Report.