A Phase II Trial of Limited Surgery and Proton Therapy for Craniopharyngioma or Observation After Radical Resection

Patients will be selected for radical surgery based on the neurosurgeon's assessment that a Gross-Total Resection may be achieved with acceptable post-operative morbidity. The goal of surgical intervention in this study should be to facilitate tumor control, keeping surgical morbidity to a minimum. Common indications for surgical intervention directed at the tumor will include establishing a tissue diagnosis, tumor control by radical resection, relieving tumor mass effect to reduce symptoms and decreasing the target volume for proton therapy by planned volume reduction surgery. These indications can be achieved through radical or limited surgery.

Proton therapy will be started once a final treatment plan has been developed and approved. There is no time limit for the interval from enrollment to when proton therapy commences. The total prescribed dose will be 54CGE administered at 1.8CGE per fraction. The time course of administration will be one fraction per day, 5 days per week, for a period of 6 weeks. Radiation will be prescribed to the planning target volume which will include the tumor bed encompassed by an anatomically defined margin meant to include subclinical microscopic disease, and an additional geometric margin that is meant to account for the technical limitations associated with planning and administering daily fractionated treatment. Making radiation therapy safer through the use of proton therapy.

This is a contrast media that will be given intravenously to aid in tumor visualization.

This is a contrast media that will be given intravenously to aid in tumor visualization.