Chemotherapy is being studied in clinical trials as a means of delaying or eliminating the need for radiation therapy in younger patients, as well as for use prior to or during radiation therapy. The treatment your child receives depends on the grade of the tumor, its location, and whether or not he or she has received previous treatment. Your child may receive treatment that is considered standard based on its effectiveness in a number of patients in past studies, or you may choose to have your child enter a clinical trial. Not all patients are cured with standard therapy and some standard treatments may have more side effects than are desired. For these reasons, clinical trials are designed to test new treatments and to find better ways to treat cancer patients.
Clinical trials are ongoing in most parts of the country for childhood ependymomas.
Treatment options for newly diagnosed childhood ependymoma Children with newly diagnosed ependymoma will often undergo surgery to try to remove the tumor and evaluate the extent of the disease. Patients may receive radiation therapy following surgery. Clinical trials are evaluating the role of radiation therapy and chemotherapy in childhood ependymoma. If the patient relapses, he or she will be evaluated to determine the extent of recurrent disease. Treatment will depend on the length of time since previous treatment, the extent of disease at the time of the relapse, and what treatment he or she originally received.