RATIONALE: Analyzing the number and structure of genes found in a child's cancer cells may help doctors improve methods of diagnosing and treating children with brain tumors.

PURPOSE: Clinical trial to study the number and structure of genes in cancer cells of children who have brain tumors.

Condition	Treatment or Intervention
untreated childhood supratentorial primitive neuroectodermal tumors untreated childhood medulloblastoma	Procedure: DNA ploidy analysis  Procedure: comparative genomic analysis  Procedure: cytogenetic analysis  Procedure: fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)  Procedure: genetic analysis

OBJECTIVES:

• Determine the chromosomal gains and losses by DNA ploidy analysis and comparative genomic hybridization in patients with primitive neuroectodermal tumors or medulloblastomas.
• Determine the frequency of specific chromosomal abnormalities, including deletions of chromosomal regions 6, 17, and 22, in these patients.
• Perform a statistical analysis to determine possible associations of chromosomal abnormalities and DNA ploidy with patient age, tumor histology, tumor location, extent of disease, and event-free survival.

OUTLINE: DNA ploidy analysis will be performed to determine the overall level of aneuploidy. The results are compared to the comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis, which is used to demonstrate tumor-specific losses or gains, including amplification, of specific chromosomal regions. Tumors are also screened for specific abnormalities by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), which detects chromosomal rearrangements, including balanced translocations, deletions, amplifications, etc. PCR-based microsatellite polymorphism analysis may also be performed.

Primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNETs) are screened by FISH with a distal 17p13.3 cosmid and a 17q25 cosmid to identify tumors with a 17p deletion. Atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors and PNETs without a 17p deletion are screened by FISH with a series of cosmids from 22q11.2. PNETs are also screened by interphase FISH with cosmids from chromosome 6 to identify tumors with deletions.

Patients do not receive the results of the genetic testing and the results do not influence the type or duration of treatment.

PROJECTED ACCRUAL: This study will accrue 360 specimens.

Ages Eligible for Study:  up to  20 Years,  Genders Eligible for Study:  Both

Criteria

DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:

• Histologically confirmed primary CNS malignancy consistent with primitive neuroectodermal tumor, medulloblastoma, or atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor
• Must be entered on CCG-9921, CCG-9931, CCG-A9961, CCG-99703 or other front-line studies developed from CCG-90024 or CCG-90025
• Retrospective specimens also obtained from CCG-921, CCG-923, CCG-9892, CCG-9921, and CCG-9931

PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS: Age:

• Under 21

Performance status:

• See Disease Characteristics

Life expectancy:

• See Disease Characteristics

Hematopoietic:

• See Disease Characteristics

Hepatic:

• See Disease Characteristics

Renal:

• See Disease Characteristics

PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY: Biologic therapy:

• Not specified

Chemotherapy:

• Not specified

Endocrine therapy

• Not specified

Radiotherapy

• No prior radiotherapy

Surgery

• Not specified

Arizona
      Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix,  Arizona,  85016,  United States; Recruiting
California
      Cedars-Sinai Comprehensive Cancer Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles,  California,  90048,  United States; Recruiting
      Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California Irvine Cancer Center, Orange,  California,  92868,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital and Research Center at Oakland, Oakland,  California,  94609-1809,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital Central California, Madera,  California,  93638-8762,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles,  California,  90027-0700,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange,  California,  92868,  United States; Recruiting
      City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte,  California,  91010-3000,  United States; Recruiting
      David Grant Medical Center, Travis Air Force Base,  California,  94535,  United States; Recruiting
      Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, Los Angeles,  California,  90095-1781,  United States; Recruiting
      Kaiser Permanente Medical Center - Sacramento, Sacramento,  California,  95825,  United States; Recruiting
      Loma Linda University Cancer Institute at Loma Linda University Medical Center, Loma Linda,  California,  92354,  United States; Recruiting
      Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital, Santa Barbara,  California,  93102,  United States; Recruiting
      Southern California Permanente Medical Group, Downey,  California,  90242,  United States; Recruiting
      UCSF Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco,  California,  94143,  United States; Recruiting
Colorado
      Children's Hospital of Denver, Denver,  Colorado,  80218-1088,  United States; Recruiting
      Presbyterian - St. Luke's Medical Center, Denver,  Colorado,  80218,  United States; Recruiting
Connecticut
      University of Connecticut Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington,  Connecticut,  06360-7106,  United States; Recruiting
Delaware
      Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington,  Delaware,  19899,  United States; Recruiting
      CCOP - Christiana Care Health Services, Newark,  Delaware,  19713,  United States; Recruiting
District of Columbia
      Children's National Medical Center, Washington,  District of Columbia,  20010-2970,  United States; Recruiting
      Lombardi Cancer Center at Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington,  District of Columbia,  20007,  United States; Recruiting
Georgia
      AFLAC Cancer Center and Blood Disorders Service of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta - Scottish Rite Campus, Atlanta,  Georgia,  30342,  United States; Recruiting
      Curtis & Elizabeth Anderson Cancer Institute at Memorial Health University Medical Center, Savannah,  Georgia,  31405,  United States; Recruiting
      Medical Center of Central Georgia, Macon,  Georgia,  31201,  United States; Recruiting
Idaho
      Mountain States Tumor Institute - Boise, Boise,  Idaho,  83712,  United States; Recruiting
Illinois
      Lutheran General Cancer Care Center, Park Ridge,  Illinois,  60068-1174,  United States; Recruiting
      Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield,  Illinois,  62794-9658,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Chicago Cancer Research Center, Chicago,  Illinois,  60601,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Illinois Medical Center, Chicago,  Illinois,  60612,  United States; Recruiting
Indiana
      Riley Children Cancer Center at Riley Hospital for Children, Indianapolis,  Indiana,  46202-5225,  United States; Recruiting
Iowa
      Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines,  Iowa,  50308,  United States; Recruiting
      Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Iowa, Iowa City,  Iowa,  52242-1009,  United States; Recruiting
Kentucky
      Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville,  Kentucky,  40202-3830,  United States; Recruiting
      Markey Cancer Center at University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center, Lexington,  Kentucky,  40536-0284,  United States; Recruiting
Louisiana
      MBCCOP - LSU Health Sciences Center, New Orleans,  Louisiana,  70112,  United States; Recruiting
Maryland
      Sinai Hospital of Baltimore, Baltimore,  Maryland,  21225,  United States; Recruiting
Massachusetts
      Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield,  Massachusetts,  01107,  United States; Recruiting
Michigan
      Bronson Methodist Hospital, Kalamazoo,  Michigan,  49007-5364,  United States; Recruiting
      CCOP - Beaumont, Royal Oak,  Michigan,  48073-6769,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital of Michigan, Detroit,  Michigan,  48201,  United States; Recruiting
      Josephine Ford Cancer Center at Henry Ford Health System, Detroit,  Michigan,  48202,  United States; Recruiting
      Spectrum Health and DeVos Children's Hospital, Grand Rapids,  Michigan,  49503,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Ann Arbor,  Michigan,  48109-0914,  United States; Recruiting
      William Beaumont Hospital - Royal Oak, Royal Oak,  Michigan,  48073-6769,  United States; Recruiting
Minnesota
      Children's Hospitals and Clinics - Minneapolis, Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  55404,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospitals and Clinics - Minnesota, Saint Paul,  Minnesota,  55102,  United States; Recruiting
      Mayo Clinic Cancer Center, Rochester,  Minnesota,  55905,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Minnesota Cancer Center, Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  55455,  United States; Recruiting
Missouri
      Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City,  Missouri,  64108,  United States; Recruiting
Nebraska
      Children's Hospital of Omaha, Omaha,  Nebraska,  68114,  United States; Recruiting
      UNMC Eppley Cancer Center at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha,  Nebraska,  68198-2168,  United States; Recruiting
Nevada
      Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center, Las Vegas,  Nevada,  89109,  United States; Recruiting
New Jersey
      Cancer Institute of New Jersey at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, New Brunswick,  New Jersey,  08903,  United States; Recruiting
      Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, Newark,  New Jersey,  07112-2094,  United States; Recruiting
      St. Barnabas Medical Center, Livingston,  New Jersey,  07039,  United States; Recruiting
      St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Paterson,  New Jersey,  07503,  United States; Recruiting
      Valerie Fund Children's Center at Atlantic Health, Summit,  New Jersey,  07901,  United States; Recruiting
New York
      Albert Einstein Clinical Cancer Center, Bronx,  New York,  10461,  United States; Recruiting
      Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center, Brooklyn,  New York,  11212,  United States; Recruiting
      Brooklyn Hospital Center, Brooklyn,  New York,  11201-5493,  United States; Recruiting
      Cancer Center of Albany Medical Center, Albany,  New York,  12208,  United States; Recruiting
      Comprehensive Cancer Center at Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn,  New York,  11219,  United States; Recruiting
      Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University, New York,  New York,  10032,  United States; Recruiting
      Long Island Cancer Center at Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook,  New York,  11794,  United States; Recruiting
      Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York,  New York,  10021,  United States; Recruiting
      Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York,  New York,  10029,  United States; Recruiting
      New York Medical College, Valhalla,  New York,  10595,  United States; Recruiting
      New York Weill Cornell Cancer Center at Cornell University, New York,  New York,  10021,  United States; Recruiting
      Schneider Children's Hospital, New Hyde Park,  New York,  11042,  United States; Recruiting
      SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn,  New York,  11203,  United States; Recruiting
      University Hospital at State University of New York - Upstate Medical University, Syracuse,  New York,  13210,  United States; Recruiting
North Carolina
      Blumenthal Cancer Center at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte,  North Carolina,  28232-2861,  United States; Recruiting
      Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill,  North Carolina,  27599-7295,  United States; Recruiting
North Dakota
      Dakota Cancer Institute at Innovis Health - Dakota Clinic, Fargo,  North Dakota,  58103-4940,  United States; Recruiting
      Meritcare Roger Maris Cancer Center, Fargo,  North Dakota,  58122,  United States; Recruiting
Ohio
      Children's Hospital Medical Center of Akron, Akron,  Ohio,  44308-1062,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Medical Center - Dayton, Dayton,  Ohio,  45404,  United States; Recruiting
      Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati,  Ohio,  45229-3039,  United States; Recruiting
      Columbus Children's Hospital, Columbus,  Ohio,  43205-2696,  United States; Recruiting
      Ireland Cancer Center, Cleveland,  Ohio,  44106-5065,  United States; Recruiting
      Toledo Children's Hospital, Toledo,  Ohio,  43601,  United States; Recruiting
Oregon
      CCOP - Columbia River Oncology Program, Portland,  Oregon,  97225,  United States; Recruiting
Pennsylvania
      Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  19104,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,  Pennsylvania,  15213-2583,  United States; Recruiting
      Geisinger Medical Center, Danville,  Pennsylvania,  17822-1320,  United States; Recruiting
      Penn State Cancer Institute at Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Hershey,  Pennsylvania,  17033,  United States; Recruiting
South Dakota
      Sioux Valley Hospital at University of South Dakota Medical Center, Sioux Falls,  South Dakota,  57117-5039,  United States; Recruiting
Tennessee
      East Tennessee Children's Hospital, Knoxville,  Tennessee,  37901,  United States; Recruiting
      East Tennessee State University Cancer Center at Johnson City Medical Center, Johnson City,  Tennessee,  37614-0622,  United States; Recruiting
      Vanderbilt Children's Hospital, Nashville,  Tennessee,  37232-6310,  United States; Recruiting
Texas
      CCOP - Scott and White Hospital, Temple,  Texas,  76508,  United States; Recruiting
      Children's Hospital of Austin, Austin,  Texas,  78701,  United States; Recruiting
      Covenant Children's Hospital, Lubbock,  Texas,  79410,  United States; Recruiting
      MBCCOP - South Texas Pediatrics, San Antonio,  Texas,  78229-3900,  United States; Recruiting
      Medical City Dallas Hospital, Dallas,  Texas,  75230,  United States; Recruiting
      Methodist Cancer Center at Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital, San Antonio,  Texas,  78229-3902,  United States; Recruiting
      Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Amarillo,  Texas,  79106,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Texas - MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston,  Texas,  77030-4009,  United States; Recruiting
Virginia
      Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, Norfolk,  Virginia,  23507,  United States; Recruiting
Washington
      Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center - Seattle, Seattle,  Washington,  98105,  United States; Recruiting
      Deaconess Medical Center, Spokane,  Washington,  99210-0248,  United States; Recruiting
      Group Health Central Hospital, Seattle,  Washington,  98112,  United States; Recruiting
      Mary Bridge Children's Hospital and Health Center, Tacoma,  Washington,  98415-0299,  United States; Recruiting
West Virginia
      Cabell Huntington Hospital, Huntington,  West Virginia,  25701,  United States; Recruiting
Wisconsin
      Bellin Memorial Hospital, Green Bay,  Wisconsin,  54301,  United States; Recruiting
      CCOP - Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation, Marshfield,  Wisconsin,  54449,  United States; Recruiting
      CCOP - St. Vincent Hospital Cancer Center, Green Bay, Green Bay,  Wisconsin,  54301,  United States; Recruiting
      Gundersen Lutheran Cancer Center at Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center, La Crosse,  Wisconsin,  54601,  United States; Recruiting
      Marshfield Clinic, Marshfield,  Wisconsin,  54449-5772,  United States; Recruiting
      St. Vincent Hospital, Green Bay,  Wisconsin,  54307-9070,  United States; Recruiting
      University of Wisconsin Comprehensive Cancer Center, Madison,  Wisconsin,  53792-6164,  United States; Recruiting
Australia, New South Wales
      Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick,  New South Wales,  2031,  Australia; Recruiting
Australia, Western Australia
      Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Perth,  Western Australia,  6001,  Australia; Recruiting
Canada, Alberta
      Cross Cancer Institute, Edmonton,  Alberta,  T6G 1Z2,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, British Columbia
      British Columbia Children's Hospital, Vancouver,  British Columbia,  V6H 3V4,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, Manitoba
      CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg,  Manitoba,  R3E 0V9,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, Newfoundland and Labrador
      Janeway Children's Health and Rehabilitation Centre, St. John's,  Newfoundland and Labrador,  A1B 3V6,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, Nova Scotia
      IWK Health Centre, Halifax,  Nova Scotia,  B3J 3G9,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, Ontario
      Children's Hospital of Western Ontario, London,  Ontario,  N6C 2V5,  Canada; Recruiting
Canada, Saskatchewan
      Allan Blair Cancer Centre at Pasqua Hospital, Regina,  Saskatchewan,  S4T 7T1,  Canada; Recruiting
      Saskatoon Cancer Centre, Saskatoon,  Saskatchewan,  S7N 4H4,  Canada; Recruiting
New Zealand
      Starship Children's Hospital, Auckland,  New Zealand; Recruiting
Switzerland
      Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group Bern, Bern,  CH 3010,  Switzerland; Recruiting
      Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group Geneva, Geneva,  CH 1211,  Switzerland; Recruiting
      Swiss Pediatric Oncology Group Lausanne, Lausanne,  CH 1011,  Switzerland; Recruiting

Study chairs or principal investigators

Jaclyn A. Biegel, PhD,  Study Chair,  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia   

Study ID Numbers:  CDR0000065814; COG-B971; CCG-B971
Record last reviewed:  May 2004
Record first received:  November 1, 1999
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:  NCT00003096
Health Authority: Unspecified
ClinicalTrials.gov processed this record on 2004-11-17