The study participant will receive the drug methotrexate as a patient in the hospital. High
dose methotrexate will be given as a 24-hour infusion as part of the care determined to be
necessary by their doctor. Infusion means the drug is given using a needle or tubing inserted
into a vein (also called IV).
The standard of care in patients receiving high dose methotrexate is to give the entire dose
of methotrexate, without adjustment, and to then check the concentration of methotrexate in
the blood at the end of the infusion. Most patients will have a level of methotrexate in
their blood which is good to treat cancer and keep side effects at a minimum. However, other
patients have a level of methotrexate at the end of the 24-hour infusion which is very high
and is thought to lead to an increase in side effects.
In this study, investigators are testing a method of giving methotrexate which may reduce the
chances that the level of methotrexate in the blood at the end of the infusion is too high.
This will be done by checking the methotrexate level in the blood at two times during the
24-hour infusion and reducing the dose of methotrexate being given if the levels are not
thought to be in the correct range (the level is too high). Reducing the dose may result in
the patient receiving a lower total dose of methotrexate than initially ordered. However, it
may also result in a more preferred concentration of methotrexate in the blood at the end of
the infusion.
It is possible that in the past the patient's doctor may have chosen to reduce the amount of
methotrexate given because the patient had side effects. In this study, all patients will
start out receiving the standard dose of methotrexate. Therefore, by participating in this
study, the amount of methotrexate ordered at the start of the infusion may be higher than
what the patient received previously.
Before and after the patient receives high dose methotrexate, the patient will receive IV
fluids. In order to minimize side effects, methotrexate levels will also be closely monitored
after the infusion and the patient will receive supportive medicines as needed. The patient
will receive the drug Leucovorin (administered by mouth every 6 hours for minimum of 3
doses). The monitoring and supportive care that the patient will receive at the end of the
methotrexate infusion, the amount of IV fluids, and the dose or duration of Leucovorin
received will be done based on standard guidelines and are not part of this study.
After receiving the 24-hour high dose methotrexate, this individualized monitoring plan will
end and management of the patient's methotrexate levels will continue according to standard
guidelines.
High dose methotrexate may be given to the patient multiple times at the discretion of their
doctor. While on this study, the patient will receive methotrexate using the methods of this
study (however, they will only have blood drawn one time for optional DNA testing). The
patient, his/her parent, or the doctor may decide to withdraw the patient from this study at
any time if they do not think that it is in the patient's best interest to continue to
receive methotrexate in the manner being investigated in this study.
STUDY RELATED TESTS AND PROCEDURES
At study entry, the following will occur:
- The patient will have a physical exam
- Collection of blood samples for routine blood tests and research blood tests.
Approximately 1-2 teaspoons of blood will be taken for research blood tests.
- Review of the patient's medical and medication history to collect information.
During treatment and after treatment the following will occur:
- Collection of blood samples for routine blood tests and research blood tests.
Approximately ½ teaspoon of blood will be taken at times 2, 6 (or 8), 24, 36, 42, and 48
hours. The blood collected at 2 and 6 (or 8) and 24 hours is for the research blood
tests.
- Review of the patient's medical and medication history to collect information.
The research blood tests are done to see how much methotrexate is in the body, how the body
handles the drug, and to do DNA studies. The DNA will be tested to look for small changes
called Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP). These small changes sometimes explain why
different people have different reactions to drugs. The total amount of blood drawn for the
research studies is approximately 3 teaspoons.
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Age: Patients must be greater than or equal to 365 days and less than 23 years of age
at the time of enrollment.
2. Diagnosis: Patients with any malignancy who will receive high dose methotrexate
(HDMTX) given as a 5 g/m2 infusion over 24 hours and a history of ≥ 1 of the
following:
- Documented decreased renal function, defined as Creatinine greater than 1.5 x
baseline or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <65ml/min/1.73m2.
- History of prior nephrotoxicity with HDMTX as evidence by increased creatinine to
1.5 x baseline or need for dialysis or carboxypeptidase
- History of Grade 3 adverse event (AE) related to HDMTX (mucositis,
myelosuppression, nephrotoxicity, hepatotoxicity) based on the NIH Common
Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 4.0
- Provider concern patient is at risk for MTX toxicity, such as a prior history of
treatment with nephrotoxic chemotherapy, history of HDMTX-related neurotoxicity,
or antimicrobial/antifungal therapy
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Unable to draw labs for HDMTX serum concentration
2. Enrollment on a protocol (COG or other) which restricts proposed dose modifications
3. Patients with Trisomy 21
4. Patients with greater than grade 1 neurologic toxicity at the time of enrollment that
is attributed to unresolved prior methotrexate toxicity
5. Patients with greater than or equal to grade 3 chronic kidney disease at enrollment
(eGFR or creatine clearance (CrCl) less than 30ml/min/1.73m2)
