Clinical trials using molecular stratification of pediatric brain tumors

Introduction

Pediatric brain cancer has replaced leukemia as the leading type of cancer causing death among children and adolescents aged 1–19 years (1). For those children that survive, many will have long-term side effects from radiation and chemotherapy treatments, such as impaired motor function, neuropathy, endocrine dysfunction, neurocognitive deficits, as well as psychosocial late effects (2). Therefore, there is a great need for novel treatments to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term side effects. Although pediatric brain tumors have traditionally been classified by histologic grade, recent genomic studies have made significant contributions to our knowledge of key molecular drivers in these tumors. As a result, the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) revision integrated histology with molecular features in the classification of central nervous system tumors (3). In addition to important diagnostic information, this newly acquired molecular profiling data provides significant prognostic value. A prominent example is the embryonal brain tumor medulloblastoma (MB) which has been reliably stratified into distinct molecular subgroups based on patient demographics, clinical presentations and outcomes, and genetic alterations [wingless (WNT)-activated, sonic hedgehog (SHH)-activated and tumor suppressor protein p53 (TP53)-mutant, SHH-activated and TP53-wildtype, and non-WNT/non-SHH (group 3 and group 4)], wherein group 3 MBs carry the worst prognosis of all the subgroups and TP53 mutation status is the most important risk factor in SHH-activated MB (4-6). Similarly, pediatric low-grade gliomas (PLGGs) harbor different anomalies in the BRAF gene (B-Raf proto-oncogene or v-Raf murine sarcoma viral oncogene homolog B1) which offers information on the tumor phenotype as well as the patient’s overall survival (7,8). Furthermore, those with pediatric high-grade gliomas (PHGGs) exhibit different prognoses based on mutations in genes encoding the histone variants H3.3 (H3F3A) and H3.1 (HIST1H3B) (9). Given the clinical significance of these molecular differences, recent clinical trials aim to identify driver mutations and other biomarkers to allow for targeted therapy. This review presents the recent literature and highlights active clinical trials that utilize the molecular stratification of pediatric brain tumors and specific tumor molecular targets for novel therapeutic strategies. A focus is made on molecular targeted pediatric clinical trials involving low grade gliomas (LGGs) and high grade gliomas (HGGs) (Table 1), MBs (Table 2), and those which encompass multiple brain tumor types (Table 3).

Table 1 Molecular targeted clinical trials in pediatric gliomas
Full table

Table 2 Molecular targeted clinical trials in pediatric medulloblastoma
Full table

Table 3 Molecular targeted clinical trials encompassing multiple pediatric brain tumors
Full table

PLGG

LGGs are the most frequent brain tumors in children (10). The overall survival is excellent, reaching 90 percent when the tumors are completely resected. However, tumors that have low potential for resection, such as optic pathway and brainstem gliomas, can be difficult to treat (11). The WHO classifies PLGGs as grade I or grade II representative of a heterogeneous set of tumors (3). Recent studies have identified alterations in the BRAF gene in PLGGs. BRAF encodes the serine/threonine kinase B-Raf, a downstream effector in the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway and is considered to be the most important kinase in the MAPK (Ras/Raf/MEK/ERK) cascade reactions (7,12,13). Recent research has attributed activation of the MAPK signaling pathway in the tumorigenesis of PLGGs (14). Two common BRAF alterations have been implicated in the etiology of these tumors: KIAA1549-BRAF fusions and BRAF^V600E mutations. Several studies between 2008 and 2009 uncovered the first event, a tandem duplication in chromosome 7q34 which produced a fusion gene between BRAF and the previously unidentified KIAA1549 (15). Not only did the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion result in constitutive activation of the MAPK pathway, a study by Lin et al. [2012] revealed that the fusion was overexpressed relative to wild-type (12). Given the proportion of pilocytic astrocytomas (WHO grade I) that harbor a BRAF fusion (~70%), this aberration has become a diagnostic hallmark for these tumors. The BRAF^V600E mutation is a point mutation in BRAF resulting in an amino acid substitution from valine to glutamic acid at position 600 (16,17). This mutation is found at much lower frequencies in pilocytic astrocytomas, diffuse gangliogliomas, and pilomyxoid astrocytomas, but is highly prevalent in pleomorphic xanthoastrocytomas (70–80%) followed by gangliogliomas (20–50%) (8,18). Although both the KIAA1549-BRAF fusion and BRAF^V600E mutation exhibit oncogenic potential by constitutively activating the MAPK pathway, they produce histologically distinct tumors which also confer different patient outcomes. PLGGs with the BRAF^V600E mutation are not as heterogeneous as PLGGs with KIAA1549-BRAF fusions, yet patients with BRAF^V600E mutation exhibit a higher risk for progression and overall shorter survival (7,8). These differences suggest that the genetic events may not be operating in the same fashion and thus should be targeted separately.

Children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), two genetic neurocutaneous syndromes, are predisposed to develop PLGGs. NF1 is caused by a mutation in the NF1 tumor-suppressor gene which codes for a large protein, neurofibromin, that negatively regulates the RAS/MAPK pathway. The loss of neurofibromin increases RAS activity, resulting in hyperactive signaling of both the MAPK and the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)—protein kinase B (Akt)—mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways (19-22). Approximately 15–20% of children with NF1 will develop an optic pathway tumor (pilocytic astrocytoma) (23-25). TSC is due to mutations in either the TSC1 gene or the TSC2 gene. TSC1 and TSC2 encode for the tumor suppressor proteins hamartin and tuberin respectively (26). The heterodimerization of hamartin with tuberin plays a role in the inhibition of the mTOR pathway (27). Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas (SEGAs) are low-grade tumors arising in the periventricular area. They are seen in about 5–20% of patients with TSC and may become symptomatic between the ages of 10 and 30 years (28,29). A key phase I/II clinical trial completed by the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in January 2014 investigated everolimus (RAD001), a mTOR kinase inhibitor, in patients 3 years of age and older with a definite diagnosis of TSC and an increasing SEGA tumor size (NCT00411619) (30). A 5-year post study analysis concluded that everolimus continued to demonstrate reduced SEGA tumor volumes while remaining to be well tolerated with no new safety concerns (31). In addition, a phase III study sponsored by Novartis Pharmaceuticals found that adjunctive treatment with everolimus significantly reduced seizure frequency compared to placebo in patients with TSC and treatment-resistant focal-onset seizures (NCT01713946) (32,33).

Previous clinical trials have also explored drugs that target MEK and BRAF for the treatment of PLGGs. A phase I/II study conducted by the Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) found that selumetinib (AZD6244), a MEK1/2 inhibitor, was active in progressive, recurrent, or refractory pilocytic astrocytoma harboring BRAF alterations and NF1-assocaited PLGG (NCT01089101) (34). As a result of these promising findings, phase III studies comparing selumetinib to standard chemotherapy will proceed for newly diagnosed PLGGs in patients with and without NF1 (35). On the contrary, a phase II study of sorafenib (BRAF, VEGFR, PDGFR, KIT, RET, CRAF inhibitor) in children with recurrent or progressive low-grade astrocytoma was terminated early due to an unexpected high tumor progression rate (NCT01338857) (36). This clinical trial evaluated 11 patients, which included 3 patients with NF1 and 5 that tested positive for BRAF duplication. The rapid acceleration of tumor growth was irrespective of NF1 or tumor BRAF status. In vitro studies suggested that the effect may be related to paradoxical extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation. This finding emphasizes the importance of close monitoring for early tumor progression as more novel target agents become available for the treatment of PLGGs (37).

Active molecular targeted clinical trials in PLGGs

Clinical trials continue to investigate MEK and BRAF inhibitors for the treatment of PLGGs. St. Justine’s Hospital is studying the response rate to trametinib (MEK inhibitor) for children with LGGs and plexiform neurofibroma (PN). In this phase I/II clinical trial, patients are placed into four groups: (I) patients with NF1 and progressing/refractory LGG, (II) patients with NF1 and PN, (III) patients with progressing/refractory LGG and a KIAA1549-BRAF fusion, and (IV) patients with progressing/refractory glioma with activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway. This study also seeks to better understand the molecular mechanisms driving tumorigenesis and treatment resistance (NCT03363217) (38). Similarly, Novartis Pharmaceuticals sponsors phase I/II clinical trials of trametinib in combination with dabrafenib (BRAF inhibitor) in pediatric patients with tumors harboring BRAF^V600 mutations (NCT02124772) (39), and in pediatric patients with BRAF^V600E mutated LGG and/or relapsed/refractory HGG (NCT02684058) (40). Likewise, a phase I/II study by the Children’s Hospital Los Angeles is studying the experimental drug MEK162 (MEK1/2 inhibitor) in children with Ras/Raf pathway activated tumors. This study hopes to determine if MEK162 turns off the Ras/Raf/MAP pathway and whether or not MEK162 causes tumors to reduce in size or stop growing. The different types of tumors in this study include LGG characterized by a BRAF truncated fusion (KIAA1549 and similar translocations), LGG in patients with NF1, and other tumors involving the Ras/Raf/MAP pathway. Another goal of the study is to learn if specific DNA abnormalities in the tumors can help predict the likelihood it will respond to treatment with MEK162 (NCT02285439) (41).

TAK-580 and vemurafenib (BRAF^V600E inhibitor) are additional novel drugs being explored in active clinical trials for the treatment of PLGGs. TAK-580 (MLN2480) is a type II BRAF inhibitor that uniquely targets the BRAF/MEK complex (42). This experimental drug has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as a treatment for any disease, and this is the first time it will be given to children. Hence, an active phase I clinical trial will study the safety of TAK-580 in children and adolescent patients in three experimental arms: (I) recurrent/progressive RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK activated pathway central nervous system or solid tumors, (II) recurrent/progressive LGG with a BRAF fusion, and (III) NF1 patients with recurrent/progressive LGG (NCT03429803) (43). Although more common in PLGGs, BRAF^V600E mutations have also been identified in PHGGs (44). An early phase I clinical trial by the University of California San Francisco is determining the safety of vemurafenib in pediatric patients with histologically confirmed diagnosis of gliomas WHO grades I-IV that are positive for the BRAF^V600E mutation (NCT01748149) (45). The patients must have failed at least one prior therapy besides surgery (radiation or chemotherapy) prior to beginning treatment with vemurafenib.

PHGG

Although PHGGs share histological and pathological features with adult HGGs, there are significant differences in their molecular profiles and locations (46). The WHO classifies PHGGs as either grade III or grade IV and therefore represent malignant and often very aggressive tumors. Approximately one-half of PHGGs occur in the brainstem. Of these brainstem gliomas, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), or diffuse midline glioma according to the WHO’s new nomenclature, is the most common (3,47,48). Comparable to adults, few children with HGGs achieve long-term survival despite receiving a variety of therapies (49). Outcomes for these patients have remained poor with 5-year survival rates of approximately 15–35% (47). DIPG is highly infiltrative in nature, which prevents surgical resection from being a viable treatment option (50). Radiation therapy remains the standard of care and has been shown to effectively slow tumor growth, but the overwhelming majority of those affected will not live 2 years post-diagnosis (9). This dismal prognosis has made molecular characterization of PHGGs like DIPG a priority in discovering alternative therapeutic interventions. A landmark study by Wu et al. [2012] found that approximately 80% of DIPGs and 20% of non-brainstem PHGGs possess a lysine to methionine mutation at position 27 on the histone tail (K27M mutation) in the genes encoding the histone variants H3.3 (H3F3A) and H3.1 (HIST1H3B) (51). Although the H3.3K27M mutation is shared among midline PHGGS, the H3.1K27M mutation is exclusive to DIPG, and both mutations are seldom found in adult and cortical pediatric gliomas of similar grade (9). The type of H3 K27M mutation is also indicative of survival time and age of patient; longer survival and lower median age are associated with H3.1K27M mutation compared to H3.3K27M mutation. Because of the poor prognosis in patients with H3 K27-mutated tumors, the 2016 WHO classification revision defined diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant (grade IV) as a distinct entity (3,52).

Active molecular targeted clinical trials in PHGGs

Innovative treatment approaches for PHGGs are underway in clinical trials such as the experimental drug ONC201 and a novel H3.3K27M specific vaccine. Gliomas with the H3 K27M mutation commonly overexpress dopamine receptor D2 (DRD2) and suppress dopamine receptor D5 (DRD5), leading to enhanced sensitivity to DRD2 antagonism (53). ONC201 is an orally active, small molecule DRD2 antagonist. This drug has the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier and causes p53-independent apoptosis in tumor cells by means of combined stress response activation and Akt/ERK inactivation (54). A phase II study of ONC201 administered every three weeks in adult recurrent glioblastoma (GBM) patients demonstrated that it was well tolerated and showed an objective radiographic response in a patient with a H3 K27M-mutant GBM (54). Given that a substantial proportion of DIPGs (80%) harbor the H3 K27M mutation, a phase I study of oral ONC201 is recruiting pediatric patients with newly diagnosed DIPG and recurrent/refractory H3 K27M-mutant gliomas. Notably, this multicenter, five arm study includes an arm to determine H3 K27M DNA levels and drug concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of pediatric H3 K27M-mutant glioma patients (NCT03416530) (55). The Pacific Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Consortium (PNOC) is assessing the safety of a novel H3.3K27M specific vaccine in children with newly-diagnosed DIPG and other gliomas. In this phase I study, a specific H3.3K27M peptide vaccine combined with the tetanus toxoid peptide, along with poly-ICLC (immunostimulant), will be administered in human leukocyte antigens (HLA)-A2 positive children and young adults with H3.3K27M DIPGs and other gliomas. Primary outcome measures are adverse events related to treatment and overall survival at 12 months. A secondary outcome measure looks at the induction of the H3.3K27M epitope-specific cytotoxic T lymphocyte response in post-vaccine peripheral mononuclear cells. Other outcome measures include assessing H3.3K27M expression status and infiltration of H3.3K27M specific T cells, and determining whether circulating tumor DNA sequences in the patient’s blood serve as biomarkers of tumor burden, response to therapy, or development of drug resistance (NCT02960230) (56).

Panobinostat has shown promise for the treatment of DIPG in the pre-clinical setting (57,58). Elevated levels of H3 K27 acetylation in DIPG are epigenetic alterations targeted by HDAC inhibitors (HDACis). HDACis are anti-proliferative agents that modulate acetylation by targeting histone deacetylases (59). Panobinostat (LBH589) is a potent pan-HDACi that induces hyperacetylation of histones and other intracellular proteins, allowing for the expression of otherwise repressed genes, the inhibition of cellular proliferation, and the induction of apoptosis in malignant cells (60). To further explore this, the PBTC is conducting a phase I clinical trial of oral panobinostat for the treatment of children with recurrent/progressive (stratum 1) and non-progressed DIPG (stratum 2) (NCT02717455) (61). A more recent phase I/II clinical trial is investigating the side effects of a panobinostat nanoparticle formulation MTX110 given intratumorally by convection-enhanced delivery in children with newly diagnosed DIPG (NCT03566199) (62). In addition to panobinostat, other targeted therapies currently in clinical trials for the treatment of PHGGs include GDC-0084, fimepinostat, abemaciclib, and PLB1001. Amplifications of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway have been identified in approximately 50% of DIPGs (63). GDC-0084 is a small molecule inhibitor of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway that efficiently crosses the blood-brain barrier. Recently, a phase I study of GDC-0084 conducted by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in newly diagnosed DIPG and other diffuse midline H3 K27M-mutant gliomas after radiation therapy has been completed and will now advance to phase II trials (NCT03696355) (64). A new targeted validation study will assess fimepinostat (CUDC-907), an inhibitor of PI3K and histone deacetylase (HDAC), in treating children and young adults with newly diagnosed DIPG, recurrent HGGs, and MB. The primary objective of this early phase I clinical trial is to confirm that fimepinostat is able to cross the blood-brain barrier (NCT03893487) (65). Emory University is conducting a phase I clinical trial to assess abemaciclib (LY2835219), an inhibitor of cyclin dependent-kinases 4 and 6 (CDK4/6), in children and young adults with newly diagnosed DIPG and recurrent/refractory solid tumors including malignant brain tumors (NCT02644460) (66). Additionally, a phase I study is administering PLB1001, a potent selective c-Met inhibitor, in patients with PTPRZ1-MET fusion gene positive recurrent HGG (NCT02978261) (67).

An increasing number of clinical trials are being initiated to better understand the molecular abnormalities associated with PHGGs. For instance, the Children’s Research Institute is collecting specimens prospectively from pediatric patients with DIPG or other brainstem gliomas in order to identify the unique molecular abnormalities that lead to tumor formation. Specimen collection includes serum, CSF, urine, and brain tumor tissue during and/or at autopsy. The goal of the study is to identify key molecules as biomarkers, which can be used as targets to design and test novel and more effective treatments (NCT01106794) (68). In another study, the Pacific PNOC is assessing the clinical benefit of using molecular profiling to design individualized treatment plans in children and young adults with HGGs (excluding DIPG). In this pilot trial, a specialized tumor board recommends individual treatment plans based on each patient’s tumor gene expression, whole-exome sequencing, targeted panel profile (UCSF 500 gene panel), and RNA-sequencing (NCT03739372) (69).

MB

MB has historically been stratified by histological appearance into four entities: (I) classic, (II) desmoplastic/nodular, (III) large cell-anaplastic, and (IV) MB with extensive nodularity. Recently, the classification of MB has included clinically-significant molecular profiling data leading to its stratification into four distinct molecular subgroups: (I) WNT-activated, (II) SHH-activated (SHH-activated TP53-mutant and SHH-activated TP53-wildtype), (III) group 3, and (IV) group 4 (5,6,70). These subgroups have proven to exhibit distinct clinical features in terms of prognosis, response to therapy, anatomic location, demographic groups affected, and even cell of origin (4). WNT-activated tumors constitute ~10% of MBs and typically carry the best prognosis. The favorable outcome may indicate that de-escalation of therapy would be most appropriate in such patients compared with more malignant subtypes (71). SHH-activated tumors constitute ~30% of MBs, making up the majority of infant (0–3 years) and adult (>16 years) MB while rarely affecting children 3–16 years old (5). These tumors carry a good-to-intermediate prognosis that varies significantly when accounting for age in conjunction with molecular and histopathological factors. Notably, SHH-activated TP53-mutated MB have poor outcomes and account for a large proportion of treatment failures (6). Targeted therapy trials for non-WNT/non-SHH MB (group 3 and group 4) are not as extensive as those targeting the WNT-activated and SHH-activated groups given that less is known about their pathogenesis. Groups 3 and 4 share a few genomic features in common, such as OTX2 amplification, gain of chromosomes 7, 17q and 18, and loss of chromosomes 8, 11p and the X chromosome in female patients (70). Group 3 tumors constitutes 25% of MBs, affects infants and children while sparing adults, affects males more than females, and has the poorest prognosis of all MB subtypes, owing largely to MYC amplification (70). These tumors exhibit a high level of large cell anaplastic histology and are the most likely subgroup to present with metastatic dissemination (5). Group 4 tumors are the most common subtype, accounting for 35% of MBs, and yet is the least understood. Group 4 MB exhibit an intermediate prognosis similar to SHH-activated MB and affect males more than females. Although they are found in all age groups, group 4 MB constitute the majority of childhood MB tumors (5). The molecular characterization of group 4 MB is lacking and no model has yet been developed. Hence, a need exists for the identification of new molecular biomarkers. Notably, a study by Remke et al. [2011] found that follistatin-like 5 (FSTL5) expression is a marker of poor prognosis in non-WNT/non-SHH MB (72).

Not surprisingly, many of the novel targeted therapies for SHH-activated MB observed in clinical trials are inhibitors of the SHH pathway. This pathway has many diverse functions, the most relevant of which include neural patterning and differentiation. It includes the signaling ligand sonic hedgehog (Shh), receptor Patched (PTCH), signal transducer smoothened (SMO), and transcription factors Gli1, Gli2, and Gli3. In the absence of Shh signaling, PTCH inhibits SMO whereas binding of Shh to PTCH triggers a signaling cascade resulting in transcription of various genes responsible for proliferation (73). When aberrant, the SHH pathway fails to differentiate cerebellar granule neural precursor cells, leaving them in an immature stem-like proliferative state that could result in neoplasia. SMO inhibitors, such as vismodegib and sonidegib, have become incorporated into clinical trials for SHH-activated MB after their initial approval by the FDA to treat basal cell carcinoma (5,73). Preclinical data in mice suggested that SMO inhibitors were highly potent against mouse models of SHH-activated MB; however, they could cause growth defects in bone and teeth (74-76). Gajjar et al. [2013] published results of a phase I study of vismodegib (GDC-0449) in children with recurrent or refractory MB. One of the goals in this clinical trial was to monitor for bone toxicities in pediatric patients. They found that vismodegib was well tolerated in children, and no drug-related bone toxicity was documented. In addition, 1 of 3 patients with SHH-activated MB showed antitumor activity, whereas no antitumor activity was seen in patients with the other MB subgroups (74). As a result, a phase II study is currently recruiting patients with newly diagnosed MB to be stratified into separate treatment arms based on both molecular subtype and clinical risk (NCT01878617) (77). In this clinical trial, vismodegib is added to the therapy regimen, which is the first time a SHH pathway inhibitor is given as part of the up-front treatment approach. Notably, three children with SHH-activated MB treated with vismodegib were reported to develop growth plate fusions. As a result, the study was amended to restrict vismodegib to skeletally mature patients (78). Similarly, Novartis Pharmaceuticals completed a phase II study that evaluated the safety and efficacy of sonidegib (LDE225) in pediatric and adult patients with SHH-activated relapsed MB (NCT01708174) (79). In this clinical trial, 60 pediatric patients (39 MB, 21 other) and 16 adult patients (all MB) were enrolled. Consistent with the safety profile of adults, sonidegib was well tolerated in pediatric patients. However, growth plate changes were observed in prepubertal pediatric patients (wrist cartilage closure, knee cartilage closure, and knee subchondral condensation within growth plate). Regarding the efficacy sonidegib, the study found that 5 of the 10 MB patients with SHH-activated MB demonstrated complete or partial responses (80).

Active molecular targeted clinical trials in pediatric MBs

In addition to SMO inhibitors, other molecular targets, such as protein kinase inhibitors, are being explored in the treatment of MB. One such clinical trial sponsored by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital targets checkpoint kinase 1 (CK1) which mediates cell cycle checkpoint control and is essential for DNA repair while playing a role in chemotherapy resistance. This phase I clinical trial explores prexasertib (LY2606368), a selective inhibitor of protein kinase CK1, in combination with chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide or gemcitabine) in children and adolescents with refractory or recurrent group 3, group 4, or SHH-activated MB. Study participants will be stratified by the biological characteristics of their tumor to one of two treatment strata: stratum A is the combination of prexasertib and cyclophosphamide and stratum B is the combination of prexasertib and gemcitabine (NCT04023669) (81). Another clinical study by the PBTC is currently testing the safety and tolerability of CX-4945 (silmitasertib sodium), a selective inhibitor of casein kinase II (CK2), in children with recurrent, progressive, or refractory SHH-activated MB. CX-4945 selectively binds to and inhibits CK2, which may lead to an inhibition of cellular proliferation (NCT03904862) (82-84).

The use of novel experimental drugs to target specific mutations and molecular targets within distinct MB subgroups as described above have become increasingly popular and shown promise in phase I and II studies. However, other clinical trials seek to modulate existing treatment paradigms to accomplish similar results. Specifically, tailoring radiation and/or conventional chemotherapeutic interventions within MB subgroups is currently being investigated. As mentioned earlier, a phase II study by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital will first stratify newly diagnosed MB based on both molecular subtype (WNT, SHH or non-WNT/non-SHH) and clinical risk (low, standard, intermediate, or high risk), then proceed to clinical and molecular risk-directed therapy. This treatment approach will be used to assess the following: (I) whether treating low-risk WNT-activated MB with lower dose of radiation and lower dose of cyclophosphamide results in the same survival rate as past St. Jude studies with fewer side effects, (II) assess whether adding targeted chemotherapy following standard chemotherapy benefited SHH-activated MB patients, (III) determine if adding new chemotherapeutics to the standard chemotherapy improves outcomes for high risk non-WNT/non-SHH tumors, and (IV) determine the cure rate for standard risk non-WNT/non-SHH tumors that received reduced doses of cyclophosphamide compared to patients from the past St. Jude study (NCT01878617) (77). Similarly, the Children’s Oncology Group (COG) is conducting a phase II trial to determine how well reduced doses of craniospinal radiation therapy and chemotherapy work in treating younger patients with newly diagnosed WNT-activated MB. The primary objective is to estimate the progression-free survival of children (>3 years of age) with WNT-activated average-risk MB using reduced craniospinal radiation [18 Gray (Gy)] with a target boost to the tumor bed of 36 Gy for a total of 54 Gy and reduced chemotherapy (no vincristine during radiotherapy and reduced-dose maintenance chemotherapy such as cisplatin, vincristine, and lomustine). Secondary objectives include determining if DNA methylation profiling will accurately classify WNT-activated MB and evaluating the cognitive, social, emotional, behavioral, and quality of life functioning in the children receiving reduced doses. This study will provide new insights on whether or not giving reduced therapy can effectively kill tumor cells while also diminishing the late side effects of treatment (NCT02724579) (85).

Ependymoma

According to the WHO classification, ependymal tumors consist of four histopathological subtypes: subependymoma (grade I), myxopapillary ependymoma (grade I), ependymoma (grade II), ependymoma, RELA fusion-positive (grade II or III), and anaplastic ependymoma (grade III) (3). Anatomically, ependymomas (EPNs) are classified as supratentorial (ST), posterior fossa (PF), or spinal (SP). Standard treatment of EPNs consists of maximal safe surgical resection followed by radiation to the primary tumor site. Unfortunately, even after gross total resection and treatment with adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, children with EPNs have poor long-term survival (86). It has recently been discovered that ST-EPNs and PF-EPNs have distinct molecular profiles and are likely to be different diseases (87). Briefly, ST-EPNs may be further classified as either C11orf95-RELA fusion-positive (ST-EPN-RELA) (70%) or YAP1 fusion-positive (ST-EPN-YAP1), and PF-EPNs can be broken into two molecular subgroups based on methylation patterns of CpG islands: PF-EPN-A which occurs in younger patients and carries a worse prognosis in terms of progression-free and overall survival, and PF-EPN-B which occurs in older patients and carries a better prognosis. Given the difference in prognosis between PF-EPN-A and PF-EPN-B, some have suggested treating PF-EPN-B patients with surgery alone, although no clinical trials have demonstrated this. Furthermore, no driver mutations have yet been isolated in either PF-EPN subgroup (88). Despite the recent significant advances in understanding the molecular profiles of EPNs, there are currently no active clinical trials treating these tumors using molecular stratification. However, EPNs may be included in studies which encompass multiple pediatric brain tumor types such as SJDAWN and National Cancer Institute (NCI)-COG Pediatric MATCH trials described below.

Molecular targeted clinical trials encompassing multiple pediatric brain tumors

SJDAWN is a recently launched study by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital that evaluates molecularly-driven doublet therapies for children and young adults with recurrent brain tumors, including MBs, EPNs, and HGGs. This unique phase I clinical trial uses two combined novel drugs (a doublet) based on tumor type and molecular characteristics, and study participants will receive one of three drug combinations: (I) ribociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) and gemcitabine, (II) ribociclib and trametinib, or (III) ribociclib and sonidegib (NCT03434262) (89). Similarly, the NCI-COG Pediatric MATCH (Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice) is a nationwide clinical trial that includes various types of solid tumors, including progressed or recurrent brain tumors. This study utilizes experimental targeted drugs based on genetic alterations found in the tumor, regardless of the tumor type. Each treatment arm tests an experimental drug that has shown activity against tumors with specific genetic changes, such as selumetinib and vemurafenib, which target MEK and BRAF respectively, both of which have shown promise for the targeted treatment of pediatric brain tumors (90).

Conclusions

Significant progress has been made in the understanding of pediatric brain tumors through recent advances in molecular technologies. This new knowledge has resulted in targeted treatments currently being explored in a variety of active clinical trials. For example, the promising experimental drug selumetinib for the treatment of PLGGs, the development of a novel H3.3K27M specific vaccine for DIPG and other gliomas, and risk-stratified therapy for children with WNT-activated subgroup MB, which has a very good prognosis and may benefit from reduced radiotherapy and chemotherapy potentially decreasing long-term side effects. However, a great need persists for the development of clinical trials based on molecular stratification for children with very high risk brain tumors that carry a poor prognosis such as SHH-activated TP53 mutated MB, group 3 MB, and H3 K27M-mutant diffuse midline gliomas. Furthermore, with brain tumors as the leading cause of cancer death in children and adolescents, ongoing clinical trials, such as the ones mentioned in this review, are critical in the advancement of new therapeutic options to improve patient outcomes and reduce long-term side effects.

Acknowledgments

Funding: None.

Footnote

Conflicts of Interest: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form (available at http://dx.doi.org/10.21037/tp.2020.03.04). The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

Ethical Statement: The authors are accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work are appropriately investigated and resolved.

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