Methylphenidate in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors with Cancer-related Fatigue

Study Purpose

Cancer-related fatigue is a common and debilitating late effect in pediatric brain tumor survivors. Currently, evidence-based recommendations to ameliorate this condition are lacking. The researchers will investigate the ability of methylphenidate to improve fatigue and cognition in pediatric brain tumor survivors suffering from cancer-related fatigue. Methylphenidate is a drug (central nervous stimulant) most commonly used in the treatment of hyperkinetic disorders such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). If methylphenidate shows an effect, the prospects are important for this patient group, since methylphenidate may then be included as part of the treatment of brain tumor-related fatigue.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 6 Years - 27 Years
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Diagnosed and treated for a brain tumor during childhood or adolescence (0-≤18 years). 2. Treated for a PBT during the previous 10 years, starting from date of diagnosis. 3. Aged ≥6 years 0 months at the start of the trial. 4. Off therapy/active treatment for pediatric brain tumor (PBT) for 12 months at the start of the trial. 5. No known signs of clinical or radiological tumor progression at last follow-up. 6. Danish is the sole or primary language (enabling provision of validated assessment tools). 7. Patient and family have provided consent for inclusion in the trial. 8. Clinically significant fatigue based on the PedsQL MFS questionnaire at baseline, defined by a score ≥ 1 standard deviation below the normative mean. 9. History of clinically relevant fatigue after treatment of PBT compared to estimated premorbid ability, as assessed from consultations in the childhood cancer outpatient clinics.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Any known contraindications to methylphenidate as outlined below: A) Hypersensitivity to the active substance or any excipients listed in the summary of product characteristics. B) Glaucoma. C) Pheochromocytoma. D) Hyperthyroidism. E) Mania. F) Psychosis. G) Anorexia nervosa. H) Current or previous severe depression. I) Suicidal behavior. J) Poorly controlled type 1 bipolar affective disorder. K) Antisocial or borderline personality disorder. L) Pre-existing cardiovascular disorders, including severe hypertension, heart failure, arterial occlusive disease, angina pectoris, hemodynamically significant congenital heart disease, cardiomyopathies, myocardial infarction, potentially life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias and channelopathies. M) Pre-existing cerebrovascular disease, cerebral aneurysm, vascular abnormalities including vasculitis or stroke. N) Treatment with irreversible MAO inhibitors within the last 14 days and reversible MAO inhibitors within the last 24 hours. 2. History of recent poorly controlled seizures. 3. Motor tics or Tourette syndrome (including family history of tic disorder). 4. Known diagnosis of Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Autism Spectrum Disorder. 5. Known diagnosis of Full Scale Intelligence Quotient (FSIQ) of <50. 6. Pregnancy. Participants known to be pregnant or breastfeeding at screening/registration will not be enrolled in the trial. All sexually active women of childbearing potential (WOCBP) must have a negative pregnancy test prior to the start of treatment. Acceptableeffective contraceptive must be used for the duration of the trial. No further testing is needed during trial, unless the participant suspects to have become pregnant. 7. Concerns about family ability to safely store or administer MPH, or to report side effects appropriately/concerns about familial substance abuse. 8. Concurrent use of opiods (ATC N02A) or benzodiazepines (ATC N05BA and N05CF). 9. Simultaneously enrolled in another clinical trial investigating cancer-related fatigue with a pharmaceutical intervention.

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT06905587
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Phase 3
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Odense University Hospital
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Mathias Rathe, Consultant, MD, PhD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Odense University Hospital
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Not yet recruiting
Countries Denmark
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Brain Tumor, Pediatric, Cancer-related Fatigue, Methylphenidate
Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Methylphenidate, Then Placebo

Patients will receive treatment with methylphenidate tablets for 6 weeks, and then cross over to treatment with methylphenidate-matched placebo tablets for an additional 6 weeks. A four week wash out period is incorporated between treatments.

Experimental: Placebo, Then Methylphenidate

Patients will receive treatment with methylphenidate-matched placebo tablets for 6 weeks, and then cross over to treatment with methylphenidate tablets for an additional 6 weeks. A four week wash out period is incorporated between treatments.

Interventions

Drug: - Methylphenidate (MPH)

10 mg methylphenidate tablets with a scoreline. Tablets will be administered orally. For children aged 6-12, a daily dose of 5 mg x 2 will be administered during the first week with an increase in dose to 10 mg x 2 in the second week. For adolescents and adults above 12 years of age, the same starting dose will be used as for children, with weekly incremental increases up to a maximum of 15 mg x 2 daily in the third week. In case of potential toxicity events during study, dosage of methylphenidate can be modified according to protocol.

Drug: - Placebo

10 mg methylphenidate-matched placebo tablets with a scoreline. Tablets will be administered orally. Dosage will follow the exact same principles as for the study drug (methylphenidate).

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

International Sites

Aalborg University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark

Status

Address

Aalborg University Hospital

Aalborg, , 9000

Site Contact

Eckhard Schomerus, Consultant, MD, Dr.med.

[email protected]

+45 97654983

Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark

Status

Address

Aarhus University Hospital

Aarhus, , 8200

Site Contact

Louise T Henriksen, MD, PhD

[email protected]

+45 20921611

Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

Status

Address

Rigshospitalet

Copenhagen, , 2100

Site Contact

Christine Dahl, Consultant, MD, PhD

[email protected]

+45 35454137

Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

Status

Address

Odense University Hospital

Odense, , 5000

Site Contact

Mathias Rathe, Consultant, MD, PhD

[email protected]

+45 20469682

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