| Inclusion Criteria: | Patients must be enrolled on study within 56 days of initial surgical resection. Enrollment longer than 56 days after initial surgery will require written consent by the study chair
Patients receiving chmotherapy or radiation therapy must be enrolled prior to start of these therapies. The start of treatment must be planned to begin within 14 days of study enrollment
Patients must be greater than 12 months and less than 21 years at the time of enrollment
Histologically confirmed intracranial ependymoma. Patients with differentiated ependymoma or anaplastic ependymoma are eligible. Patients with primary spinal cord ependymoma, myxopapillary ependymoma, subependymoma, ependymoblastoma, or mixed gliomas are not eligible
No evidence of non-contiguous spread beyond the primary site as determined by post-operative MR imaging of brain and pre or post-operative MR of the spine and CSF cytology obtained from the lumbar CSF space (the requirement for lumbar CSF examination may be waived if deemed to be medically contraindicated)
There is no minimum performance level. Children with ependymoma may suffer neurologic sequelae as a result of their tumor or surgical measures taken to establish a diagnosis and resect the tumor. In the majority of cases there is neurologic recovery. Neurologic recovery is not likely to be impeded by protocol therapy
No prior treatment other than surgical intervention and corticosteroids. Patients who have had more than one surgery will be eligible. Corticosteroid therapy is permissible
Appropriate antibiotics, blood products, antiemetics, fluids, electrolytes and general supportive care are to be used as necessary. There is no minimum hemoglobin level during radiation therapy
All patients and/or their parents or legal guardians must sign a written informed consent prior to study enrollment
All institutional, FDA, and NCI requirements for human studies must be met |