Methylphenidate in Pediatric Brain Tumor Survivors with Cancer-related Fatigue

Phase 3

Not yet recruiting

• Conditions: Brain Tumor, Pediatric; Cancer-related Fatigue; Methylphenidate
• Interventions: Drug: Methylphenidate (MPH); Drug: Placebo

• Registration Number: NCT06905587
• Lead Sponsor: Odense University Hospital

Brief Summary

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.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2024-11
• Study First Submitted: 2024-11-27
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-03-25
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-03-25
• Study First Posted: 2025-04-01
• Last Update Posted: 2025-04-01
• Study Start: 2025-06
• Primary Completion: 2029-12
• Study Completion: 2029-12

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

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.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Methylphenidate, Then Placebo	Methylphenidate (MPH)	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.
Placebo, Then Methylphenidate	Methylphenidate (MPH)	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.
Methylphenidate, Then Placebo	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.
Placebo, Then Methylphenidate	Placebo	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.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS)	At baseline, at Week 6, Week 16, and Week 20 (follow-up).	Changes in patient self-reported fatigue (participants above 18 years of age) or parent proxy-reported fatigue (participants between 6-17 years of age) from baseline to week 6 of MPH or placebo treatment as measured by the PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF)	At baseline, at Week 6, and Week 16.	Changes from baseline in self and parent-reported executive function measured by the BRIEF-2 or BRIEF-V questionnaire.
PedsQL Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS)	At baseline, at Week 6, Week 16, and Week 20 (follow-up).	Changes from baseline in self-reported fatigue (participants aged 6-17 years of age) measured by the PedsQL MFS.
Connor's Continuous Performance Test (CPT) Online Suite	At baseline, at Week 6, and Week 16.	Changes from baseline in digital measures of sustained attention and executive function. CPT-3 and K-CPT-2 will be used.
Wechsler Coding	At baseline, at Week 6, and Week 16.	Changes from baseline in processing speed. Coding module from Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children Fifth Edition (WISC-V) or Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Fifth Edition (WAIS-V) depending on age of participant.
Wechsler Digit Span	At baseline, at Week 6, and Week 16.	Changes from baseline in working memory. Coding module from WISC-V or WAIS-V depending on age of participant.
PedsQL Generic Core Scales	At baseline, at Week 6, and Week 16.	Changes from baseline in self and parent-reported measures of Health Related Quality of Life.
Accelerometry (Axivity AX3)	Accelerometry will be performed for a duration of 1 week during week 4-6 and week 14-16 during the study arm.	Time spent within different activity domains and sleep-wake patterns measured by accelerometry. Axivity AX3 accelerometers will be used.
Barkley's Stimulant Side Effect Rating Scale (SSERS)	At baseline, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4, Week 6, Week 10, Week 12, Week 13, Week 14, Week 16, and Week 20 (follow-up)..	Changes from baseline in self and parent-reported side-effects. A modified version of SSERS with 21 items customized to Danish practice will be used.

Trial Locations

Locations (4)

Aalborg University Hospital; 🇩🇰 Aalborg, Denmark

Aarhus University Hospital; 🇩🇰 Aarhus, Denmark

Rigshospitalet; 🇩🇰 Copenhagen, Denmark

Odense University Hospital; 🇩🇰 Odense, Denmark