A trial looking at different ways of giving radiotherapy for children and young people with medulloblastoma (HIT - SIOP PNET 4) (CNS 2003 05)

This trial compared standard radiotherapy with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) for children and young people with medulloblastoma. This trial was supported by Cancer Research UK.

This trial was for children from 4 years old and young people up to and including the age of 21. We use the term 'you' in this summary, but of course if you are a parent, we are referring to your child.

Medulloblastoma is a type of brain tumour called a primitive neuroectodermal tumour (PNET). It grows in the hind brain (the cerebellum). It is the most common malignant brain tumour in children.

In some children, the medulloblastoma does not spread to the rest of the brain or spinal cord. Doctors call this ‘standard risk’. Treatment for standard risk medulloblastoma includes surgery to remove as much of the cancer as possible. But there may be cancer cells left behind. So children have radiotherapy and chemotherapy after surgery.

This trial tried to find the best way of giving radiotherapy to children with medulloblastoma. It compared the standard treatment of daily radiotherapy with hyperfractionated radiotherapy (HFRT). Children had HFRT twice a day instead of once. They had smaller doses, but the dose of radiotherapy overall was bigger. The researchers thought HFRT may kill more cancer cells than standard radiotherapy. The aim of the trial was to find out which method

• Was better at stopping the cancer from coming back

• Had the fewest side effects