Post-Operative Dosing of Dexamethasone in Patients with Brain Tumors After a Craniotomy, PODS Trial

Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVES:

I. The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of a reduced dosage steroid schedule (RDS) in patients who have undergone craniotomy for high grade glioma (HGG), low grade glioma (LGG), brain metastasis (BM), and meningiomas as compared with the normal dosing schedule (NDS).

II. RDS after undergoing craniotomy for brain tumor has no impact on length of stay, 30 day readmission, and need for repeat imaging when compared to NDS.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. RDS after craniotomy for brain tumor has no impact on development of steroid related side effects (new onset or worsening hypertension, hyperglycemia, wound infection, impaired wound healing, steroid dependence, neuropsychiatric disturbance) when compared to NDS.

TERTIARY/EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. RDS after craniotomy has no effect on lymphocyte count and differential at 10-14 days after surgery.

OUTLINE: Patients are randomized to 1 of 2 arms.

ARM I (NDS): Patients receive tapering doses of dexamethasone on days 1-15. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at time of surgery, at follow up visits and optionally at wound check visit 10-14 days post operative at investigator availability. Patients additionally undergo magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) scan during inpatient stay as part of standard of care.

ARM II (RDS): Patients receive tapering doses of dexamethasone on days 1-4. Patients may receive dexamethasone intravenously (IV) and restart the taper if clinically indicated. Patients also undergo blood sample collection at time of surgery, follow up visits and optionally at wound check visit 10-14 days post operative at investigator availability. Patients additionally undergo MRI and CT scan during inpatient stay as part of standard of care.