To study whether Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor (GM-CSF) increases macrophage infiltration in children with ependymoma (EPN) who are to have planned surgery as a standard procedure for incomplete resection or recurrent tumor. To correlate the extent of macrophage infiltration with other immune markers of the tumor at subsequent surgery with outcome. This is intended as a pilot protocol with the potential to be incorporated in the next COG (Children's Oncology Group) national ependymoma studies.~Recombinant Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor (rGM-CSF) is a hematopoietic growth factor which supports survival, clonal expansion, and differentiation of hematopoietic progenitor cells. rGM-CSF induces partially committed progenitor cells to divide and differentiate in the granulocyte-macrophage pathways. rGM-CSF stimulates the production of monocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, and sometimes, megakaryocytes in the bone marrow. It also induces mature macrophages to increase phagocytosis, superoxide generation, Antibody Dependent Cell-mediated Cytotoxicity (ADCC), tumoricidal killing and cytokine production (IL-1 and tumor necrosis factor).~Registration of all participants must occur before any study-related procedures. Staff will be available to register participants Monday thru Friday, from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain Standard Time.
This study plans to learn more about the use of Granulocyte Macrophage Colony Stimulation Factor (GM-CSF) on ependymoma tumors. The use of GM-CSF is a potential way of increasing the infiltration of immune cells and this study is looking at whether or not this will improve the outcome of patients with an ependymoma