Conditions: Hemangioma
Keywords: hemangioma, steroid, prednisolone, vincristine
Allocation: RANDOMIZED | Intervention model: PARALLEL
Enrollment: 8
Healthy volunteers: no

Brief summary:
The goal of this study is to determine the safety and efficacy of Prednisolone and Vincristine for treatment of large, complicated infantile hemangiomas. The diagnostic, therapeutic and response criteria experimentally determined in this study will be used as a framework for future infantile hemangioma studies.

Detailed description:
Infants with large hemangiomas are often treated systemically with oral steroids (Prednisolone) to prevent complications. The best treatment for hemangiomas is not known and there are no medications approved by the FDA for treatment of hemangiomas. Also, the best method to measure the response of hemangioma to treatment is not known. Patients enrolling on this study will be randomly assigned to receive either daily Prednisolone by mouth or weekly Vincristine in a vein. Response to treatment will be monitored by clinical exams every two weeks and by an MRI at study entry and six and twelve weeks later. Patients with evidence of progressive disease (larger hemangiomas) on the week 6 MRI will be switched to the other drug to complete a total of 12 weeks of therapy. Side effects of each medication will be monitored closely determined from histories, physical exams, blood tests and other studies as necessary. Participation in this study will last up to 12 weeks and follow up for protocol.

Arms:
arm 1: Vincristine is a drug that has been used to treat cancers in children (including infants). It has been effective in treating a small number of infants with hemangiomas, most of whom failed previous therapies including steroids. Vincristine must be administered into a vein. Given the encouraging response data and documented safety record, Vincristine is a good choice for a clinical trial treating infants with complicated hemangiomas. arm 2: The standard treatment for hemangioma at most centers is oral steroids (Prednisolone). Prednisolone has been used to stop the growth of infantile hemangiomas that are life threatening, that could harm important functions, or are likely to result in severe disfigurement (scarring) without treatment.

Interventions: intervention 1: Vincristine intervention 2: Prednisone
Intervention descriptions: intervention 1: Vincristine (0.05 mg/kg/dose) will be administered into a vein (PICC line) every week for 12 weeks. If assigned to receive Vincristine, a PICC line will be placed by a doctor who is a specialist in this procedure, an interventional radiologist. This will require sedation and when possible, will be coordinated with sedation for the MRI. intervention 2: Prednisolone given at 3 mg/kg/day by mouth for 12 week

Protocol document: