Phase II trial of erlotinib during and after radiotherapy in children with newly diagnosed high-grade gliomas

Ibrahim Qaddoumi, Mehmet Kocak, Atmaram S. Pai Panandiker, Gregory T. Armstrong, Cynthia Wetmore, John R. Crawford, Tong Lin, James M. Boyett, Larry E. Kun, Fredrick A. Boop, Thomas E. Merchant, David W. Ellison, Amar Gajjar, Alberto Broniscer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor is overexpressed in most pediatric high-grade gliomas (HGG). Since erlotinib had shown activity in adults with HGG, we conducted a phase II trial of erlotinib and local radiotherapy (RT) in children with newly diagnosed HGG. Methods: Following maximum surgical resection, patients between 3 and 21 years with non-metastatic HGG received local RT at 59.4 Gy (54 Gy for spinal tumors and those with ≥70% brain involvement). Erlotinib started on day 1 of RT (120 mg/m2 per day) and continued for 2 years unless there was tumor progression or intolerable toxicities. The 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) was estimated for patients with intracranial anaplastic astrocytoma (AA) and glioblastoma (GBM). Results: Median age at diagnosis for 41 patients with intracranial tumors (21 with GBM and 20 with AA) was 10.9 years (range, 3.3-19 years). The 2-year PFS for patients with AA and GBM was 15 ± 7 and 19 ± 8%, respectively. Only five patients remained alive without tumor progression. Twenty-six patients had at least one grade 3 or 4 toxicity irrespective of association with erlotinib; only four required dose modifications. The main toxicities were gastrointestinal (n = 11), dermatologic (n = 5), and metabolic (n = 4). One patient with gliomatosis cerebri who required prolonged corticosteroids died of septic shock associated with pancreatitis. Conclusion: Although therapy with erlotinib was mostly well-tolerated, it did not change the poor outcome of our patients. Our results showed that erlotinib is not a promising medication in the treatment of children with intracranial AA and GBM.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numberArticle 67
JournalFrontiers in Oncology
Volume4 APR
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Epidermal growth factor receptor
  • Erlotinib
  • High-grade glioma
  • Pediatric
  • Phase II
  • Radiotherapy

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Cancer Research

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