Clinical Research Directory

Brain Radiotherapy Imaging for High-grade Glioma Using Hypoxia Targeting Through Oxygen-Enhanced Response

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most common type of brain cancer in adults. Life expectancy for patients with HGGs is low. Radiotherapy aims to cure the tumour, but this is hard because HGGs are resistant to treatment. Among the possible causes of resistance may be tumour cells with low-oxygen levels (hypoxia). The investigators know that hypoxia reduces tumour sensitivity to radiotherapy. Using a special imaging technique called oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI), the investigators can try to identify areas of the tumour with hypoxia. The investigators could then give those areas a higher dose of radiotherapy. This might improve tumour control. This study aims to see if OE-MRI can find low-oxygen areas in HGGs. The study will also assess whether higher radiotherapy doses can be simulated in these regions. Project summary: 1. Set up the OE-MRI process at Leeds Cancer Centre (LCC). OE-MRI settings will be tested on healthy volunteer participants to ensure the images are as good as possible. 2. Participant Imaging. Patient participants with HGG will be recruited to take part. OE-MRI will be used to image participants during their treatment and track low-oxygen areas before treatment, halfway through treatment and 3 months after treatment has finished. 3. Dose Escalation Assessment. Computer programs will be used to design radiotherapy treatments to test if higher radiation doses to the tumour's low-oxygen areas can better control the cancer. This will help understand if this targeted approach has potential benefits. This is modelling and will not alter routine clinical patient participant management.

The RECMAP-study: Resection With or Without Intraoperative Mapping for Recurrent Glioblastoma

Resection of glioblastoma in or near functional brain tissue is challenging because of the proximity of important structures to the tumor site. To pursue maximal resection in a safe manner, mapping methods have been developed to test for motor and language function during the operation. Previous evidence suggests that these techniques are beneficial for maximum safe resection in newly diagnosed grade 2-4 astrocytoma, grade 2-3 oligodendroglioma, and recently, glioblastoma. However, their effects in recurrent glioblastoma are still poorly understood. The aim of this study, therefore, is to compare the effects of awake mapping and asleep mapping with no mapping in resections for recurrent glioblastoma. This study is an international, multicenter, prospective 3-arm cohort study of observational nature. Recurrent glioblastoma patients will be operated with mapping or no mapping techniques with a 1:1 ratio. Primary endpoints are: 1) proportion of patients with NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) deterioration at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery and 2) residual tumor volume of the contrast-enhancing and non-contrast-enhancing part as assessed by a neuroradiologist on postoperative contrast MRI scans. Secondary endpoints are: 1) overall survival (OS), 2) progression-free survival (PFS), 4) health-related quality of life (HRQoL) at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after surgery, and 4) frequency and severity of Serious Adverse Events (SAEs) in each arm. Estimated total duration of the study is 5 years. Patient inclusion is 4 years, follow-up is 1 year. The study will be carried out by the centers affiliated with the European and North American Consortium and Registry for Intraoperative Mapping (ENCRAM).

The SUPRAMAX Study: Supramaximal Resection Versus Maximal Resection for High-Grade Glioma Patients (ENCRAM 2201)

A greater extent of resection of the contrast-enhancing (CE) tumor part has been associated with improved outcomes in high-grade glioma patients. Recent results suggest that resection of the non-contrast-enhancing (NCE) part might yield even better survival outcomes (supramaximal resection, SMR). Therefore, this study evaluates the efficacy and safety of SMR with and without mapping techniques in HGG patients in terms of survival, functional, neurological, cognitive, and quality of life outcomes. Furthermore, it evaluates which patients benefit the most from SMR, and how they could be identified preoperatively. This study is an international, multicenter, prospective, 2-arm cohort study of observational nature. Consecutive HGG patients will be operated with supramaximal resection or maximal resection at a 1:3 ratio. Primary endpoints are: 1) overall survival and 2) proportion of patients with NIHSS (National Institute of Health Stroke Scale) deterioration at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. Secondary endpoints are 1) residual CE and NCE tumor volume on postoperative T1-contrast and FLAIR MRI scans 2) progression-free survival; 3) onco-functional outcome, and 4) quality of life at 6 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months postoperatively. The study will be carried out by the centers affiliated with the European and North American Consortium and Registry for Intraoperative Mapping (ENCRAM).