Tocilizumab in Children With ACP

This study will be conducted in two phases. The first phase (phase 0) will be looking at patients with new or recurrent/ progressed craniopharyngioma tumors. These patients will be given one dose of tocilizumab before they have SOC surgery of their tumor. The objective of this phase is to see if drug reaches the tumor. If phase 0 is favorable and shows that drug is penetrating the tumor, the second phase of the study (feasibility phase) will open. Both phases will remain open concurrently and patients will be able to enroll on the Phase 0 then "roll over" and enroll on the feasibility phase. During the feasibility phase patients will be administered tocilizumab every two weeks for up to 13 cycles (approximately 1 year). Patients will be followed for up to 5 years in the feasibility phase.


Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria

Phase 0 Eligibility:

1. Tumor biopsy/resection and/or cyst aspiration planned for the clinical care of the patient independent of study participation by the treating pediatric neurosurgeon and neuro-oncologist
2. Must meet one of the following criteria:

   1. Presumed craniopharyngioma based on imaging features and best judgement of treating medical team (if newly diagnosed)
   2. Previous histologically confirmed ACP that has progressed or recurred at the time of enrollment

Feasibility Eligibility:

1. Must meet one of the following criteria:

   1. Recurrent or progressive\* ACP treated with surgery alone without radiation
   2. Recurrent or progressive\* ACP treated with surgery and radiation

      \* Progressive disease for eligibility purposes will be defined as follows: Solid disease: any growth deemed progression based on discretion of the investigator regardless of timing from RT Cystic disease: must be at least 6 months from last day of RT. Patients demonstrating isolated cyst growth \>6 months after RT must show a continued increase in the cystic component on two serial MRI scans performed at least 4 weeks apart OR at least partial reaccumulation of the cyst following one or more cyst aspirations.
   3. Newly diagnosed, by histology or imaging ACP with unresectable residual cystic and/or solid disease that is measurable in 2 dimensions
2. Subjects who participated in the Phase 0 portion and meet eligibility, may enroll in the Feasibility Phase of the study once open.

Overall Study Inclusion Criteria:

1. Age: ≥ 2 years and \< 21 years
2. Subjects may have received prior tocilizumab or other IL6 or IL6R inhibitor
3. Organ Function Requirements

   1. Adequate bone marrow function defined as:

      * Platelet count ≥100,000/μl (transfusion independent)
      * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1500/μl
   2. Adequate renal function defined as:

      * Creatinine clearance or radioisotope GFR ≥70 ml/min/1.73 m2 or
      * A serum creatinine based on age/gender as follows: (Age, Male, Female) 3 to \< 6 years, 0.8, 0.8; 6 to \< 10 years, 1, 1; 10 to \< 13 years, 1.2, 1.2; 13 to \< 16 years, 1.5, 1.4; 16 years to \< 18 years, 1.7, 1.4
   3. Adequate liver function defined as:

      * SGOT (AST) and SGPT (ALT) \<1.5x ULN for age
4. Subjects must meet one of the following performance scores:

   1. ECOG performance status scores of 0, 1, or 2;
   2. Karnofsky score of ≥60 for patients \> 16 years of age; or
   3. Lansky score of ≥60 for patients ≤16 years of age
5. Subjects of childbearing or child fathering potential must be willing to use a medically acceptable form of birth control, which includes abstinence, while being treated on this study.
6. Informed consent and assent obtained as appropriate.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Pregnant or breastfeeding
2. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to:

   1. ongoing or active infection (including active tuberculosis)
   2. symptomatic congestive heart failure
   3. unstable angina pectoris
   4. cardiac arrhythmia
   5. psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements are not eligible.
3. Known hypersensitivity or history of anaphylaxis to tocilizumab
4. Received any live vaccinations within 3 months prior to start of therapy
5. Evidence of metastatic disease or other cancer
6. Inability to return for follow up visits or obtain required follow-up studies to assess toxicity of therapy