Study of Re-irradiation at Relapse Versus RT and Multiple Elective rt Courses

Prospective, non-blinded, randomised two cohorts study on the efficacy of two different radiotherapy schedule for DIPG by using the same concomitant and post-radiotherapy systemic treatment.

1. st cohort: Standard Arm with Radiotherapy, Nimotuzumab and vinorelbine Nimotuzumab 150 mg /m2/d as iv short-term infusion for 30 min weekly in week 1-12 and Vinorelbine 20 mg/m2/d weekly in week 1-12 as iv short-term infusion for 30 min (Induction phase).1st re-evaluation week 13 (day 85-91). In case of non-progressive disease: Nimotuzumab 150 mg/m2/d iv short-term infusion for 30 min and Vinorelbine 25 mg/m2/d as iv short-term infusion for 30 min every two weeks in week 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 (Consolidation phase I) 2nd re-evaluation week 25, thereafter in case of non-progressive disease.Nimotuzumab 150 mg/m2/d iv short-term infusion for 30 min and Vinorelbine 25 mg/m2/d as iv short-term infusion for 30 min every two weeks , with re-evaluation at week 37 and any 12 weeks until progression or maximum at week 108. Irradiation will be scheduled to begin in the 3rd week after starting the nimotuzumab and vinorelbine treatment. A total dose of 54 Gy will be delivered, in 1.8 Gy daily fractions 5 days a week, with a 6 MV linear accelerator. To plan radiotherapy, CT images will be acquired with a 2 mm slice thickness, with patients positioned ready for treatment, their heads immobilized with a custom-made thermoplastic mask. Each patient's CT images will be co-registered with T2-weighted, gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI sequences to identify the gross target volume (GTV) precisely. A three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy technique with 5 or 6 coplanar or non-coplanar beams or an intensity modulated radiotherapy technique will be adopted.

   Re-irradiation at progression.In case of local progressive disease, after obtaining a new consent from parents/patient if the case, a full course of re-irradiation will be proposed with 19.8 Gy, fractionated over 11 days.
2. -cohort: Experimental arm with Nimotuzumab + Vinorelbine and refracted radiotherapy doses. Nimotuzumab 150 mg/m2/d as iv short-term infusion for 30 min weekly in week 1-12 and Vinorelbine weekly 20 mg/m2/d in week 1-12 as iv short-term infusion for 30 min (Induction phase, as for standard arm); 1st re-evaluation week 13. In case of non-progressive disease, any other week, Nimotuzumab 150 mg/m2 as iv short-term infusion for 30 min and Vinorelbine 25 mg/m2/d as iv short-term infusion for 30 min until progression or maximum at week 108;2nd re-evaluation week 25, thereafter in case of non-progressive disease re-irradiation one for a total of 19.8 Gy in 11 fractions at 1.8 Gy/day from week 26 to week 28 together with vinorelbine/nimotuzumab continuation any other week;3rd re-evaluation week 37, thereafter in case of non-progressive disease vinorelbine/nimotuzumab continuation any other week;4th re-evaluation week 45, thereafter in case of non-progressive disease: re-irradiation two for a total of 19.8 Gy in 11 fractions at 1.8 Gy/day from week 46 to week 48 together with vinorelbine/nimotuzumab continuation any other week;Further re-evaluation will be done at week 61 and thereafter any 12 weeks as for standard arm continuing vinorelbine and nimotuzumab until progression or maximum at week 108 .Patients will continue with re-irradiation courses also in case of progressive disease, and will continue to be evaluated for OS.Irradiation will be scheduled to begin in the 3rd week after starting the nimotuzumab and vinorelbine treatment. For the first course, a total dose of 36 Gy will be delivered, in 1.8 Gy daily fractions 5 days a week, with a 6 MV linear accelerator. To plan radiotherapy, CT images will be acquired with a 2 mm slice thickness, with patients positioned ready for treatment, their heads immobilized with a custom-made thermoplastic mask. Each patient's CT images will be co-registered with T2-weighted, gadolinium enhanced T1-weighted, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery MRI sequences to identify the gross target volume (GTV) precisely. A three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy technique with 5 or 6 coplanar or non-coplanar beams or an intensity modulated radiotherapy technique will be adopted.The second course will be planned after second evaluation. It will be scheduled from week 26 to week 28 and planning will follow same guidelines as first course. The course of re-irradiation will be proposed with 19.8 Gy, fractionated over 11 days.

The third and last course will be planned after forth evaluation. It will be scheduled from week 46 to week 48 and planning will follow same guidelines as first and second course (radiation and first re-irradiation). The course of re-irradiation will be proposed with 19.8 Gy, fractionated over 11 days.

Re-irradiation at progression. n case of local progressive disease after the whole three radiotherapy courses, after obtaining a new consent form parents/patient if the case, a course of re-irradiation will be proposed with 9 Gy total dose, fractionated over 5 days.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Patients from 2 to 21 years old will be eligible
* No previous treatment consented apart from steroids
* Strict eligibility criteria will radiologically-verified DIPG (an intrinsic, pontine-based infiltrative lesion hypointense on T1- and hyperintense on T2-weighted sequences, involving at least 2/3 of the pons)
* symptoms lasting less than 6 months, life expectancy ≥4 weeks; Karnowski/Lansky performance status ≥ 40 %
* no organ dysfunction; no pregnancy or breast-feeding
* Patients undergo baseline cranial MRI with gadolinium, to be repeated if treatment begins more than 2 weeks; spinal MRI due to the occurrence of metastatic cases at diagnosis will also be mandatory
* Written and signed informed consent from parents or legal guardians will be obtained before starting the treatment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients below 2 years or over 21
* Pre-treatment with radio or chemotherapy
* Neurofibromatosis 1
* Non-typical imaging
* Symptoms duration over 6 months, Lansky/Karnowski scores below 40%
* Metastatic disease as shown by MRI
* Organ dysfunction, pregnancy or breast-feeding
* Absence of parents, patient or tutor consent