Pediatric Radiation Oncology Clinical Research

The Francis H. Burr Proton Therapy center is actively conducting MGH lead clinical trials for pediatric cancer patients treated with Proton Therapy here at Massachusetts General Hospital. While all of these trials are led by doctors at Massachusetts General Hospital, a number of these studies enroll patients from numerous hospitals across the country adding to the cooperative nature of our research.

Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry

Mass General Hospital is the lead institution for the Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry (PPCR). The PPCR was established to expedite proton outcomes research to ensure access to those pediatric patients who can benefit the most from it. It is the most comprehensive multi-institutional radiation based patient registry in existence and unique in its scope and depth. Learn more.

Faculty

Torunn Yock, MD

Director, Pediatric Radiation Oncology
Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School
Chair, Radiation Oncology Quality Assurance

Shannon MacDonald, MD

Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Nancy Tarbell, MD

CC Wang Professor of Radiation Oncology
Dean for Academic and Clinical Affairs
Pediatric Radiation Oncologist

Oncology Fellow

Clayton Hess, MD

Pediatric Proton Therapy Clinical and Research Fellow
NIH K12 Grant Researcher, Training Program in Nervous System Tumors, Dept. of Radiation Oncology
Candidate for Masters in Public Health Degree ‘19, Harvard University, Boston, MA

Research Team

Sara Gallotto

Project Manager – PPCR
Email: sgallotto@mgh.harvard.edu
Sara is the Project Manager for the Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry (PPCR). She manages all aspects of the PPCR, coordinates with the external sites and oversees the management of the entire registry.

Jessica Nartowicz

Senior Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: jnartowicz@mgh.harvard.edu
Jess is a Senior Clinical Research Coordinator within the Pediatric Proton Clinical Research Group. She coordinates 4 trials within the group

Miranda Lawell

Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: mlawell@mgh.harvard.edu
Miranda is a Clinical Research Coordinator managing three trials within the Pediatric Proton Clinical Research Team. She is the coordinator for the Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry, the Quality of Life Project and 09-361 Medulloblastoma.

Megan Giblin

Clinical Research Coordinator
Email: mgiblin@mgh.harvard.edu
Meg is a Clinical Research Coordinator managing three trials within the Pediatric Proton Clinical Research Team. She manages 10-206, 04-188 and 05-300.

Elizabeth Weyman

Program Manager
Email: eweyman@mgh.harvard.edu
Liz is the Program Manager of the Pediatric Oncology Clinical Research Team. She oversees the research mission of the Radiation Oncology and Hematology Oncology Groups.

Ladra, Matthew M., et al. "Preliminary results of a phase II trial of proton radiotherapy for pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma." Journal of Clinical Oncology32.33 (2014): 3762-3770.

Kasper, Hallie B., et al. "The Pediatric Proton Consortium Registry: A Multi-institutional Collaboration in US Proton Centers." International Journal of Particle Therapy 1.2 (2014): 323-333.

Yock, Torunn I., et al. "Quality of life outcomes in proton and photon treated pediatric brain tumor survivors." Radiotherapy and Oncology 113.1 (2014): 89-94.

Kuhlthau, Karen A., et al. "Prospective study of health-related quality of life for children with brain tumors treated with proton radiotherapy." Journal of Clinical Oncology (2012): JCO-2011.

Houtrow, Amy J., et al. "The Family Impacts of Proton Radiation Therapy for Children With Brain Tumors." Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing 29.3 (2012): 171-179.

Open and Enrolling

PPCR - A Multi Center Registry of Pediatric Patients treated with Proton Radiation Therapy
DFCI# 12-103
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Team: Sara Gallotto, Miranda Lawell
Email: Pedsprotonreg@mgh.harvard.edu
Description: This study is a multi-center registry of patients 22 years and under treated with Proton Beam Radiation Therapy (PBRT) in the United States. The PPCR aims to describe the population that currently receives PBRT and its primary aim is to collaborate with other institutions to more quickly define the potential benefits of proton radiotherapy in the pediatric patients requiring radiotherapy.

A Phase II Study of Proton Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumors
DFCI# 04-188
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Coordinator: Megan Giblin
Description: This study aims to assess both disease control and side effects from proton radiation and includes pediatric patients 21 years and under with newly diagnosed rhabdomyosarcoma tumors

A Phase II Study of Protons for Pediatric Neuroblastoma
DFCI# 13-443
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shannon MacDonald
Research Coordinator: Jessica Nartowicz
Description: This study aims to assess both disease control and side effects from proton radiation and includes patients with high risk neuroblastoma requiring radiotherapy

Proton Craniospinal Irradiation With Bone Sparing to Decrease Growth Decrement From Radiation
DFCI# 17-283
Principal Investigator: Dr. Shannon MacDonald
Research Coordinator: Jessica Nartowicz
Description: This research study is a Pilot Study to determine whether using proton therapy in participants that require craniospinal radiation (whole brain and spinal cord radiation therapy) with sparing of the bony spine will work.

Closed trials undergoing analysis

A Phase II Study of Craniospinal and Posterior Fossa Irradiation Using Proton Beam Radiotherapy for Medulloblastoma and Pineoblastoma: Assessment of Acute and Long Term Sequelae
DFCI# 99-271
Principal Investigator: Dr. Nancy Tarbell
Research Coordinator: Elizabeth Weyman
Description: This study aims to assess acute and long term side effects of proton radiation as compared to photon radiation in pediatric medulloblastoma patients.

A Phase II Study –of Proton Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Bone & Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma Tumors
DFCI # 05-326
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Coordinator: Jessica Nartowicz
Description: This study aims to assess both disease control and side effects from radiation and includes pediatric patients aged 1 year to 25 years with pediatric non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas and bone tumors

Prospective Assessment of Quality of Life (QoL) in Pediatric Patients Treated with Radiation Therapy
Partners # 2005P001629
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Coordinator: Miranda Lawell
Description: This survey based study of children and their care givers examines patient and parent reported health outcomes during radiation therapy and annually thereafter. The QoL study takes a holistic view of the child’s health and augments the clinical data collected on the phase II proton studies currently active at Massachusetts General Hospital.

A Phase II Study of Proton Radiation Therapy for Pediatric Brain Tumors
DFCI# 10-206
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Coordinator: Megan Giblin
Description: This study seeks to measure disease outcomes including tumor control as well as other health outcomes such as endocrine, hearing and neurocognitive outcomes in patients treated with proton radiotherapy. This study includes patients aged 1 year to25 years with low grade gliomas, astrocytomas, ependymomas, craniopharyngiomas, meningiomas, neurocytomas, medulloblastomas, gangliogliomas, high grade gliomas with a complete resection, or any other rare tumor requiring tumor bed or tumor irradiation.

A Phase II Study- Proton Beam Radiotherapy for Medulloblastoma and Pineoblastoma: an Assessment of Acute Toxicity and Long Term Neurocognitive, Neuroendocrine, and Ototoxicity Outcomes
DFCI#09-361
Principal Investigator: Dr. Torunn Yock
Research Coordinator: Miranda Lawell
Description: This study seeks to measure disease outcomes including tumor control as well as other health outcomes such as endocrine, hearing and neurocognitive outcomes in patients with medulloblastoma treated with proton radiotherapy.