ClinicalTrials.gg
RecruitingNCT02559778PEDS-PLANUpdated Sep 4, 2026

Pediatric Precision Laboratory Advanced Neuroblastoma Therapy

A Phase 2 interventional study of Ceritinib and dasatinib in Neuroblastoma, sponsored by Giselle Sholler. Recruiting at 28 sites in 2 countries. Open to participants aged Up to 22 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-04.

Sponsored by Giselle Sholler · Phase 2, Interventional, and Treatment

From the registry’s dates

  • Started Sep 2015; still recruiting 11 years 2 months later.
Phase
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
500
Allocation
Randomized
Ages
Up to 22 Years
Sex
All
01

Study summary

A prospective open label, multicenter study to evaluate the feasibility and acute toxicity of using molecularly guided therapy in combination with standard therapy followed by a Randomized Controlled Trial of standard immunotherapy with or without DFMO followed by DFMO maintenance for Newly Diagnosed High-Risk Neuroblastoma.

02

Conditions studied

  • Neuroblastoma

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03

In context

Neuroblastoma

675 studies on the registry are indexed under Neuroblastoma; 127 are open to participants now.

This study's planned enrollment of 500 is above the median of 32 across 507 interventional studies indexed under Neuroblastoma.

Browse Neuroblastoma studies →

Lead sponsor

Giselle Sholler is the lead sponsor of 22 studies on the registry; 6 are open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
Up to 22 Years
Sexes eligible
All
Accepts healthy volunteers
No

Eligibility criteria

Part A- CLOSED:

  1. Diagnosis: Participants must have a diagnosis of neuroblastoma or ganglioneuroblastoma (nodular or intermixed) verified by histology or demonstration of clumps of tumor cells in bone marrow with elevated urinary catecholamine metabolites. Participants with the following disease stages at diagnosis are eligible, if they meet the other specified criteria:

    a) Participants with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma with INSS Stage 4 are eligible with the following: i. Age > 18 months (> 547 days) regardless of biologic features or ii. Age 12-18 months (365-547 days) with any of the following 3 unfavorable biologic features (MYCN amplification, unfavorable pathology and/or DNA index = 1) or iii. MYCN amplification (> 4-fold increase in MYCN signals as compared to reference signals), regardless of age or additional biologic features.

    b) Participants with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma with INSS Stage 3 are eligible with the following: i. MYCN amplification (> 4-fold increase in MYCN signals as compared to reference signals), regardless of age or additional biologic features or ii. Age > 18 months (> 547 days) with unfavorable pathology, regardless of MYCN status.

    c) Participants with newly diagnosed neuroblastoma with INSS Stage 2A/2B with MYCN amplification (> 4-fold increase in MYCN signals as compared to reference signals), regardless of age or additional biologic features.

  2. Participants must be age ≤ 21 years at initial diagnosis
  3. Participants must not have had prior systemic therapy except for localized emergency radiation to sites of life-threatening or function-threatening disease and/or no more than 1 cycle of chemotherapy per a low or intermediate risk neuroblastoma regimen (as per P9641, A3961, ANBL0531, or similar) prior to determination of MYCN amplification status and histology.
  4. Specimens will be obtained only in a non-significant risk manner and not solely for the purpose of testing.
  5. Ability to tolerate PBSC collection: No known to PBSC collection. Examples of contraindications would include a weight or size less than that determined to be feasible at the collecting institution, or a physical condition that would limit the ability of the child to undergo apheresis catheter placement (if necessary) and/or the apheresis procedure.

    Part A and B both- Part A CLOSED, Part B- OPEN:

  6. Adequate Cardiac Function Defined As:

    1. Shortening fraction of ≥ 27% by echocardiogram, or
    2. of ≥ 50% by radionuclide evaluation or echocardiogram.
  7. Adequate liver function must be demonstrated, defined as:

    c. Total ≤ 1.5 x (ULN) for age AND d. (SGPT) \< 10 x upper limit of normal (ULN) for age

  8. ⦁ For participants \< 17 years old: estimated (eGFR) as calculated from the Bedside Schwartz equation (in units of mL/min/1.73 m2) or via radioisotope GFR of ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m2. The Bedside Schwartz equation is: [(0.413) X (Height in cm)] / SCr

    ⦁ For participants ≥17 years old: estimated Glomerular Filtration rate (eGFR) as calculated from the Cockcroft and Gault formula (in units of mL/min/1.73 m2) or via radioisotope GFR of ≥ 70 mL/min/1.73 m2. The Cockcroft and Gault formula is: [(140-age) x (Wt in kg) x (0.85 if female)] / (72 x SCr)

  9. A negative serum pregnancy test is required for female participants of child bearing potential (≥13 years of age or after onset of menses)
  10. Post-pubertal study participants must be willing to use a highly effective method (i.e., achieves a failure rate of \<1% per year when used consistently and correctly) from the time of (and assent, as applicable) until 6 months after study treatment discontinuation. Such methods include: combined (estrogen and progestogen containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, intravaginal, transdermal), progestogen-only hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation (oral, injectable, implantable), intrauterine device (IUD), intrauterine hormone-releasing system (IUS), bilateral tubal occlusion, vasectomized partner, sexual abstinence.
  11. Informed Consent: All participants and/or legal guardians must sign informed written consent. Assent, when appropriate, will be obtained according to institutional guidelines.

    Part B- OPEN:

  12. All patients must have a confirmed diagnosis of neuroblastoma, be age ≤ 21 years at initial diagnosis, and classified as high risk by the criteria used by COG or SIOPEN at the time of diagnosis. Exception: patients who are initially diagnosed as non-high-risk neuroblastoma, but later converted (and/or ) to high risk neuroblastoma are also eligible.
  13. Previous Therapy- participants must fit into one of the strata categories listed in section 10.5 to be eligible to enroll on Part B of this study.
  14. Pre-enrollment tumor survey:

    Prior to enrollment on Part B, a determination of mandatory disease staging must be performed. Tumor imaging studies including CT or MRI, MIBG or PET, and VMA/HVA (PET scan should be done for patients with prior disease that was MIBG non-avid). Bone marrow aspirates and are required.

    This disease assessment is required for eligibility and should be done preferably within 2 weeks, but must be done within a maximum of 4 weeks before first dose of study drug.

  15. Timing- Enrollment to occur prior to Day + 120 post-transplant, preferably when the participant is within 28 days after completing local radiation therapy (if given).

Exclusion Criteria (Part A and B)

  1. Participants who are 12-18 months of age with INSS Stage 4 and all stage 3 participants with favorable biologic features (ie, nonamplified MYCN, favorable pathology, and DNA index > 1) are not eligible.
  2. Lactating females are not eligible unless they have agreed not to breastfeed their infants.
  3. Participants receiving any investigational drug concurrently.
  4. Participants with any other medical condition, including but not limited to malabsorption syndromes, mental illness or substance abuse, deemed by the Investigator to be likely to interfere with the interpretation of the results or which would interfere with a participant's ability to sign or the legal guardian's ability to sign the informed consent, and participant's ability to cooperate and participate in the study
Terms in these criteria, in plain language(12)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

Investigational drug or device

A drug or device being studied in a clinical trial.

It may be new, or already approved and being studied for another use, dose or form. Criteria often leave out people who took part in another study of one within a recent period, commonly 30 days or five half-lives.

Contraindication

A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.

LVEF (left ventricular ejection fraction)

The share of blood the heart’s main pumping chamber (the left ventricle) pushes out with each beat, measured by an echocardiogram (heart ultrasound) or a MUGA scan. About 50–70% is normal.

Bilirubin

A yellow substance made when red blood cells are broken down, which the liver clears. A high level can mean a problem with the liver or the bile ducts.

Criteria often allow more for people with Gilbert’s syndrome, a harmless inherited condition that raises bilirubin.

ULN (upper limit of normal)

The top of the normal range for a blood test, as set by the laboratory that runs it. Each lab prints its own range next to your result.

“≤ 2.5 × ULN” means the result can be up to two and a half times that top value.

ALT and AST (liver enzymes)

Two enzymes measured in a routine blood test of the liver. Higher levels can mean the liver is under strain or damaged. SGPT and SGOT are older names for ALT and AST.

Criteria usually give a limit as a multiple of the upper limit of normal (ULN), often higher when cancer has spread to the liver.

GFR and eGFR (kidney filtering)

GFR (glomerular filtration rate) is how much blood the kidneys filter each minute. It is usually estimated from a blood test — eGFR, by formulas such as CKD-EPI or MDRD — and some studies ask for it to be measured directly instead. Usually given in mL/min/1.73 m².

Check the method, the units and the minimum the study states. A value of 90 or above is in the normal-or-high range, but kidney damage can show in other tests too.

Contraception

Ways of preventing pregnancy. “Highly effective” methods fail less than 1% of the time a year when used correctly — for example an IUD or an implant.

Criteria usually say which methods count and how long to keep using them after the last dose, sometimes for male participants too. Some studies accept a partner’s vasectomy if it was confirmed successful and that person is the participant’s only sexual partner.

Informed consent

Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.

You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.

Histologically or cytologically confirmed

The diagnosis was confirmed by looking at a sample under a microscope: tissue from a biopsy or surgery (histology), or cells from a fluid or needle sample (cytology).

Your pathology report is the document that shows this.

Relapsed and refractory

Relapsed: the illness came back after treatment had worked. Refractory: it did not respond to treatment, or stopped responding while still on it.

Biopsy and archival tissue

A biopsy takes a small piece of tissue to examine. “Archival tissue” is a sample already taken, for example at diagnosis, and kept by the hospital.

Whether a stored sample will do depends on when it was taken, how much there is and what the study needs. Ask whether the study accepts your stored sample or needs a new biopsy.

05

Study design

Phase
Phase 2
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention model
Parallel assignment
Masking
None (open label)
Enrollment
500 participants (estimated)

Study arms

  • Active comparator
    Standard Immunotherapy without DFMO

    One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by standard anti-GD2 immunotherapy and isotretinoin. At the end of immunotherapy, DFMO will be given to all subjects BID for 730 days.

    Drug: Ceritinib · Drug: dasatinib · Drug: sorafenib · Drug: vorinostat

  • Active comparator
    Standard Immunotherapy with DFMO

    One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by standard anti-GD2 immunotherapy and isotretinoin PLUS twice a day DFMO. At the end of immunotherapy, all subjects will go on to receive DFMO twice a day for 730 days.

    Drug: Ceritinib · Drug: dasatinib · Drug: sorafenib · Drug: vorinostat · Drug: DFMO

Interventions

  • One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: Ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by consolidation, immunotherapy +/- DFMO, and then all subjects will receive DFMO for 2 years as maintenance.

    Also known as: Zykadia

  • One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: Ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by consolidation, immunotherapy +/- DFMO, and then all subjects will receive DFMO for 2 years as maintenance.

    Also known as: Sprycel

  • One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: Ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by consolidation, immunotherapy +/- DFMO, and then all subjects will receive DFMO for 2 years as maintenance.

    Also known as: Nexavar

  • One of the following drugs will be chosen for each subject based on molecular guided results: Ceritinib, dasatinib, sorafenib or vorinostat. This will be followed by consolidation, immunotherapy +/- DFMO, and then all subjects will receive DFMO for 2 years as maintenance.

    Also known as: ZOLINZA

  • DrugDFMO

    DFMO will be given to Arm B during immunotherapy and then for 2 years as maintenance to all subjects completing immunotherapy.

    Also known as: Eflornithine, α-difluoromethylornithine

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Number of days from start of therapy to date of first relapse

    To measure the response of treatments chosen based on: • Event free survival (EFS)

    Time frame: Up to 8 years

  2. Number of subjects that have a targeted agent chosen for treatment.

    At completion of the induction therapy, the investigators will determine feasibility of adding molecularly guided targeted therapy to standard of care chemotherapy. Feasibility will be defined as: 1. Subject has a targeted agent identified 2. Receives 75% of dosing of medications while on study protocol during cycles 3-6 3. Subject is not removed from study due to targeted agent drug related toxicity.

    Time frame: 2 years

  3. Number of subjects that receive 75% of dosing of medications while on study protocol during cycles 3-6.

    At completion of the induction therapy, the investigators will determine feasibility of adding molecularly guided targeted therapy to standard of care chemotherapy. Feasibility will be defined as: 1. Subject has a targeted agent identified 2. Receives 75% of dosing of medications while on study protocol during cycles 3-6 3. Subject is not removed from study due to targeted agent drug related toxicity.

    Time frame: 2 years

Secondary outcomes

  1. Number of days that subjects remain alive

    To measure the response of treatments chosen based on: * Overall response rate (ORR) after induction therapy * Overall survival (OS)

    Time frame: 3 years plus 5 years follow up

  2. Overall Response Rate (ORR) of Participants by the presence of radiologically assessable disease by cross-sectional CT or MRI imaging and/or by MIBG or PET scans.

    To measure the response of treatments chosen based on: • Overall response rate (ORR) after induction therapy

    Time frame: Up to 8 years

  3. Number of participants with treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0

    To compare toxicity effects of difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in combination with anti-GD2 immunotherapy and isotretinoin versus anti-GD2 immunotherapy and isotretinoin alone.

    Time frame: 3 years

  4. Amount of pain medicine required by Arm A versus Arm B

    To compare level of pain medicine needed during immunotherapy in patients receiving difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) in combination with anti-GD2 immunotherapy and Isotretinoin versus those receiving anti-GD2 immunotherapy and isotretinoin alone.

    Time frame: 3 years

  5. Number of subjects required to go off therapy due to treatment-related adverse events as assessed by CTCAE v4.0.

    At completion of the induction therapy, the investigators will determine feasibility of adding molecularly guided targeted therapy to standard of care chemotherapy. Feasibility will be defined as: 1. Subject has a targeted agent identified 2. Receives 75% of dosing of medications while on study protocol during cycles 3-6 3. Subject is not removed from study due to targeted agent drug related toxicity.

    Time frame: 1 year

07

Study locations

24 of 28 sites recruiting
08

References and documents

09

Updates

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Sep 4, 2026, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT02559778
Lead sponsor
Giselle Sholler
Collaborators
Dell, Inc., Beat NB Cancer Foundation, K C Pharmaceuticals Inc., Team Parker for Life
Responsible party
Giselle Sholler (Beat Childhood Cancer Chair, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center) — Sponsor-investigator
First posted
Sep 24, 2015
Start date
Sep 2015
Primary completion
Sep 2030 (estimated)
Completion
Sep 2035 (estimated)
Last update
Sep 4, 2026

Study contacts

BCC Enroll
Contact
BCCEnroll@pennstatehealth.psu.edu
7175310003
Giselle Sholler, MD
study chair · Beat Childhood Cancer

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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