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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2019 Nov 1.
Published in final edited form as: J Neurosurg Pediatr. 2019 Mar 1;23(3):261–273. doi: 10.3171/2018.10.PEDS18377

TABLE 3.

Current experimental protocols for recurrent ependymoma

Therapeutic Approach Study Design Clinical Trial Identification Limitations
Immunotherapy w/ HLA-A2–restricted tumor antigen peptide vaccine administered w/ imiquimod Pilot
Intrathecal trastuzumab (HER2 monoclonal antibody) combined w/ subcutaneous GM-CSF Pilot Limited to tumors in posterior fossa
Use of tumor-treating magnetic fields (NovoTTF-200A system) Feasibility study Limited to supratentorial tumors
Intrathecal administration of 5-azacytidine (DNA methylation inhibitor) in fourth ventricle or resection cavity Phase I Limited to tumors in posterior fossa
Single intratumoral administration of HSV G207 (oncolytic virus) w/ or w/o RT Phase I Limited to supratentorial tumors
Combination treatment w/ intravenous carboplatin & 5-azacytidine Phase I
Treatment w/ intravenous pembrolizumab (immune checkpoint inhibitor) Phase II
Treatment w/ intravenous gemcitabine & oral ribociclib (CDK4/6 inhibitor) Phase I

GM-CSF = granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor; HSV = herpes simplex virus; TTF = tumor-treating field.