PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To determine if dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT or proton beam therapy
(using a dose-per-fraction escalation with simultaneous integrated boost) with
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide improves overall survival, as compared to
standard-dose photon irradiation with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:
I. To indirectly compare dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT to dose-escalated
and -intensified proton beam therapy in terms of overall survival.
II. To indirectly compare and record toxicities of dose-escalated and -intensified photon
IMRT versus dose-escalated and -intensified proton beam therapy and directly compare the
toxicities of these approaches versus standard-dose photon irradiation on the backbone of
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
III. To determine if dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT or proton beam therapy
(using a dose-per-fraction escalation with simultaneous integrated boost) with
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide improves perceived cognitive symptom severity, as
compared to standard-dose photon irradiation with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
IV. To determine if dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT or proton beam therapy
(using a dose-per-fraction escalation with simultaneous integrated boost) with
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide improves neurocognitive function, as compared to
standard-dose photon irradiation with concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
V. To indirectly determine if dose-escalated and -intensified proton beam therapy with
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide improves perceived cognitive symptom severity, as
compared to dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT, and to directly compare symptom
burden with these approaches versus standard-dose photon irradiation on the backbone of
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
VI. To indirectly determine if dose-escalated and -intensified proton beam therapy with
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide improves neurocognitive function, as compared to
dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT, and to directly compare neurocognitive
function with these approaches versus standard-dose photon irradiation on the backbone of
concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide.
TERTIARY OBJECTIVES:
I. Tissue banking for future translational science projects that will be determined based
on the state of the science at the time the primary endpoint is reported and will be
submitted to National Cancer Institute (NCI) for review and approval.
II. To prospectively compare CD4 lymphopenia between dose-escalated and intensified
proton beam therapy, dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT, and standard-dose
photon irradiation and determine whether CD4 lymphopenia impacts overall survival.
III. To explore the most appropriate and clinically relevant technological parameters to
ensure quality and effectiveness throughout radiation therapy processes, including
imaging, simulation, patient immobilization, target and critical structure definition,
treatment planning, image guidance and delivery.
- To establish feasibility and clinical relevancy of quality assurance guidelines.
- To evaluate efficacy of quality assurance tools.
IV. To explore the most appropriate and clinically relevant advanced and standard MRI
imaging parameters.
- To evaluate the feasibility of differentiating pseudo-progression and true
progression in a multi institutional setting using MR diffusion and perfusion
imaging.
- To evaluate for early, imaging biomarkers of response and overall survival.
OUTLINE: Patients are assigned to 1 of 2 groups depending on enrolling institution.
Within each group, patients will be randomized 1:2 in favor of the experimental arms.
GROUP I (PHOTON IMRT CENTERS): Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
ARM A1: Patients undergo standard-dose photon irradiation using 3-dimensional conformal
radiation therapy (3D-CRT) or IMRT once daily (QD), 5 days a week for 23 fractions plus a
boost of 7 additional fractions.
ARM B: Patients undergo dose-escalated and -intensified photon IMRT QD, 5 days a week for
a total of 30 fractions.
GROUP II (PROTON CENTERS): Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 treatment arms.
ARM A2: Patients undergo standard-dose photon irradiation using 3D-CRT or IMRT as in Arm
A1.
ARM C: Patients undergo dose-escalated and -intensified proton beam radiation therapy QD,
5 days a week for a total of 30 fractions.
In all treatment arms, patients receive temozolomide orally (PO) QD on days 1-49 of
radiation therapy. Beginning 4 weeks later, patients receive temozolomide PO QD on days
1-5. Treatment repeats every 28 days for up to 12 cycles in the absence of disease
progression or unacceptable toxicity.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 3 months for 1 year,
every 4 months for 1 year, and then every 6 months thereafter.