Skip to main content
An official website of the United States government

Sargramostim and Trastuzumab in Treating Younger Patients with Recurrent Ependymoma

Trial Status: closed to accrual

This phase I clinical trial studies the side effects and best dose of trastuzumab when given together with sargramostim in treating younger patients with ependymoma that have returned after a period of improvement (recurrent). Trastuzumab is a form of targeted therapy because it attaches itself to specific molecules (receptors) on the surface of cancer cells, known as HER2 receptors. When trastuzumab attaches to HER2 receptors, the signals that tell the cells to grow are blocked and the cancer cell may be marked for destruction by the body's immune system. Colony-stimulating factors, such as sargramostim, may increase the production of blood cells and may help the immune system recover from the side effects of chemotherapy. Giving trastuzumab with sargramostim may work better in treating younger patients with recurrent ependymoma.