Clinical Research Directory

Evaluating Biomarkers of Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients With Cancer

This study investigates the effects of brain radiotherapy on cognitive function by evaluating plasma biomarkers and apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype in patients with primary or metastatic brain tumors. Standard brain radiotherapy is known to impact cognitive outcomes, yet the underlying biological mechanisms remain unclear.

Real Time Craniotomy Planning Using Mixed Reality

This study is a prospective observational study designed to evaluate the effectiveness of Brainlab's Mixed Reality Viewer in enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of preoperative craniotomy planning. The study will be conducted at a single site with two enrollment groups. Group 1 has a target enrollment of 38 subjects. Group 2 has a target enrollment of 16 subjects. By observing the device's use during standard surgical procedures, we can accurately measure its impact on incision planning accuracy, time efficiency, and overall ease of use compared to traditional neuronavigation systems. This design allows for the collection of both quantitative and qualitative data, providing a robust assessment of the Mixed Reality Viewer's potential to enhance surgical outcome

GD2-CAR T Cells for Pediatric Brain Tumours

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and efficacy of iC9-GD2-CAR T-cells, a third generation (4.1BB-CD28) CAR T cell treatment targeting GD2 in paediatric or young adult patients affected by relapsed/refractory malignant central nervous system (CNS) tumors. In order to improve the safety of the approach, the suicide gene inducible Caspase 9 (iC9) has been included.

Intraoperative Ultrasound for Brain Tumor Surgery Enhanced by AI

Intraoperative ultrasound is a versatile, low-cost imaging tool that has been shown to improve safety and efficacy in brain tumor surgery. However, its widespread adoption remains limited due to operator dependency, the complexity of image interpretation, the presence of artifacts, and a restricted field of view. This project aims to prospectively evaluate, in a multicenter and non-randomized setting, a prototype real-time deep learning-based segmentation model for brain tumor delineation in intraoperative ultrasound. The model is designed to facilitate the identification of tumor tissue during surgery, potentially enhancing intraoperative decision-making and surgical precision. By increasing the precision and accessibility of ioUS, this innovation is expected to enable safer and more complete resections, with the potential to improve both survival and quality of life for patients with brain tumors.

B7-H3.CD28Z.CART in CNS Neoplasms

The purpose of this research study is to test the safety and effectiveness of a cell therapy at different doses for children and young adults with recurrent or progressive brain tumors. Recurrent/recurred means a tumor that has gone away and then came back. This cell therapy is called B7- H3.CD28Z.CART, referred to as B7-H3 CAR T cells. B7-H3 is a protein that is over-expressed on many tumor cells, making it a good target for cancer cell therapy. The names of the study investigational therapies involved in this study are: * Fludarabine (a type of chemotherapy) * Cyclophosphamide (a type of chemotherapy) * B7-H3 CAR T cells (a type of cellular therapy)

Cancer-related Fatigue and Its Biological Contributors in Adolescent and Young Adult Brain Tumor Survivors: Effects of a Tele-exercise Intervention

The goal of this research study is to learn about the effects of the RISE-YA intervention on cancer-related fatigue in young adults who are brain cancer survivors.

Safety and Feasibility of Preoperative and Intraoperative Image-Guided Resection of Gliomas

This study evaluates the use of specialized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques including magnetic resonance (MR) perfusion and 2-hydroxyglutarate (2HG) spectroscopy in the surgical treatment of gliomas. Cohort 1 participants will undergo an MR perfusion scan or 2-HG spectroscopy prior to surgery and intra-operatively. Cohort 2 participants will only undergo standard of care imaging and tumor acquisition. Participant participation will end at the completion of surgery and will be transitioned to standard of care follow-up.

Neuronal and Network Mechanisms of Electrocortical Stimulation

Electrocortical stimulation (ECS) mapping is a procedure used during brain surgeries, for example when treating diseases like epilepsy or when removing brain tumors. ECS mapping helps surgeons locate areas of the cerebral cortex (the outer part of the brain) that are important for everyday tasks like movement and speech. ECS mapping has been used for decades, and is considered the "gold-standard" tool for locating important areas of cortex. Despite this long history, there is still no clear understanding of exactly how ECS works. The goal of this study is to learn details about the effects ECS has on the brain. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1) how ECS affects the neurons of the cortex at the stimulation site; and 2) how ECS impacts brain regions that are critically important for human speech and language. These so-called "critical sites" can be physically distant from one another on the brain's surface, requiring extensive ECS mapping and long surgeries. Critical sites are thought to be part of a speech/language network of brain areas, and so the study's goal is to learn about how they are connected. In some participants, the brain's surface will also be slightly cooled. This is a painless procedure that does not harm the brain's function, but could provide insight as to which parts of the brain (the surface, or deeper parts) are responsible for the effects of ECS. By improving the understanding of how ECS affects the brain and improving the ability to identify critical sites, this study could potentially lead to shorter surgeries and better outcomes for future individuals who need this care. Participants will be recruited from among individuals who are undergoing brain surgery for epilepsy treatment or tumor removal. Participants will complete simple tasks like reading words or naming pictures, similar to standard testing that is already performed during their hospital stay.

EEG-Guided Cognitive Function Preservation in Patients With Brain Tumors

Brain tumors and their surgical treatment may impair cognitive function, affecting patients' quality of life. This prospective single-arm study aims to evaluate the feasibility and clinical utility of an EEG-based neural signal decoding strategy for cognitive function preservation in patients undergoing brain tumor surgery. Participants will undergo standardized neuropsychological assessments together with preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative electrophysiological recordings. The study will investigate whether EEG-based neural decoding can improve objective cognitive function assessment and support individualized functional preservation during brain tumor surgery.

The Impact of Paramedic Training in Simulation on the Experience of Patients Treated for Malignant Brain Tumors in Neurosurgery (IPSIMANON)

The goal of this clinical trial is to demonstrate that simulation training for paramedical staff in neurosurgery departments, in announcing and accompanying patients with a brain tumor, improves patient satisfaction when a (potentially malignant) brain tumor is discovered, compared with usual care. The main question it aims to answer is: \- Are patients more satisfied (as measured by scores on the EORCT IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire) with their neurosurgical hospitalization following the discovery of a brain tumor in centers where paramedics have been trained by simulation? Researchers will compare the results of the EORTC IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire to determine whether paramedic training improves patient satisfaction between simulation-trained and untrained centers. Participants will be asked to complete the EORT IN-PATSAT32 questionnaire at the end of their hospital stay.

Movie-Watching Functional MRI for Mapping Brain Function in Neurosurgical Patients

This research will compare a new type of functional MRI (fMRI) called naturalistic viewing (also called movie watching) to standard clinical fMRI techniques. Standard clinical fMRI currently uses multiple tasks such as reading and responding to words or sentences to determine which areas of the brain are responsible for language. Surgeons can use this information to help plan brain surgeries. This research will help determine if the movie-watching fMRI is equivalent or better than the standard task-based fMRI. If so, it could be useful for planning patients' surgeries in the future, without the need for multiple tasks.

Feasibility Assessment of Adapted Physical Activity in Patients Treated for a Brain Tumor

The goal of this clinical trial is to assess the feasibility of an adapted physical activity (APA) program in adult patients (≥18 years) with primary brain tumors, regardless of tumor type, grade, treatment stage, or the presence of motor, sensory, attention, concentration, or memory deficits. The main question it aims to answer is: What is the effective adherence rate to an APA program among eligible patients with primary brain tumors? Additional questions include: * What is the observance rate (number of sessions completed, intensity achieved, and duration) during the 3-month supervised APA program? * What is the retention rate (proportion of patients completing the program and continuing APA beyond the initial period)? * What is the impact of APA on quality of life, anxiety-depression, and cancer-related symptoms (measured via QLQ-BN20, HADS, and MFI-20 questionnaires at baseline, 3, and 4 months)? Participants will: * Undergo a 3-month supervised APA program (with possible continuation beyond this period). * Use connected watches to monitor physical activity (if they accept the general conditions of use). * Complete self-questionnaires (IPAQ, BREQ-2, QPP, QLQ-BN20, HADS, MFI-20) at inclusion, 3 months, and 4 months. * Be followed for a total of 4 months after inclusion.

Oral Capecitabine and Temozolomide (CAPTEM) for Newly Diagnosed GBM

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and efficacy of administering the medication capecitabine along with temozolomide when you start your monthly regimen of oral temozolomide for the treatment of your newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Capecitabine is an oral chemotherapy that is given to patients with other types of cancer. The study will evaluate whether the dosage of 1500 mg/m2 of capecitabine is tolerable after radiation, when taken along with temozolomide. It will also try to determine if the medication capecitabine helps patients respond to treatment for a longer period of time compared to just temozolomide alone, which is the standard of care.

Analysis of Cerebrospinal Fluid Leakage After Surgery for Intracranial Tumors

Cerebrospinal fluid is a clear fluid that surrounds and protects the brain. During surgery for brain tumors, neurosurgeons often need to open the covering of the brain (the dura) to reach the tumor. At the end of the operation, this covering is carefully closed again. In some cases, the closure might not be completely adequate leading to cerebrospinal fluid leak. This leakage may collect under the scalp or flow out through the surgical wound. When this happens, the surgical wound may not heal properly, and the risk of infection can increase. These complications can delay recovery and may postpone additional treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, that are often needed after brain tumor surgery. Although cerebrospinal fluid leakage is less common after supratentorial craniotomy (surgery on the upper part of the brain) than after other types of brain surgery, it remains a challenging complication and has not been well studied in this group of patients. The aim of this study is to determine how often cerebrospinal fluid leakage occurs after supratentorial craniotomy for intracranial tumors, identify factors that increase the risk of leakage, and evaluate how these leaks are managed. Understanding these factors may help reduce the occurrence of cerebrospinal fluid leakage and improve postoperative recovery in the future.

Comparison of Skin Closure Techniques in Oncological Neurosurgical Procedures: Intradermal Running Suture Versus Transdermal Interrupted Sutures

The purpose of this study is to compare two commonly used methods of closing the skin after surgery for an intracranial tumor. Skin closure is one of the most important steps in neurosurgical procedures, as it has a major influence on how well the wound heals. In patients with brain tumors, proper wound healing is especially important because it may affect how soon additional treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy, can be started. There are different ways to close the skin after surgery, including running sutures and interrupted sutures. Both methods are widely used and considered safe. However, in oncological neurosurgery, there is limited scientific evidence comparing their effects, and the choice of technique is often based on the surgeon's personal experience. In this study, investigators will compare skin closure using running absorbable sutures with interrupted non-absorbable sutures. Investigators will evaluate how well, depending on used suturing methods, the wound heals and how often wound-related complications occur, such as infection, separation of the wound edges, or leakage of cerebrospinal fluid. Investigators believe that the results of this study will help improve wound care in patients undergoing neurosurgical treatment for brain tumors and, as a result, may contribute to better recovery and overall quality of life.

PIRe 2.0: A Stepped-Care Model for Involving Relatives Across Sectors

Serious brain diseases and injuries affect not only the person who becomes ill or injured, but also their family. Relatives of people with acquired brain injury (ABI) or malignant brain tumor (MBT) often take on a major role in daily care, decision-making, and coordination across healthcare services. This role can include managing information, supporting rehabilitation, and acting as a link between hospital care and community rehabilitation. Many relatives report high levels of stress, uncertainty, and emotional burden, especially during transitions between care settings. Despite recommendations for greater involvement of relatives, support for this group is often uneven and poorly coordinated across healthcare sectors. Relatives frequently experience lack of overview, limited guidance, and unclear expectations regarding their role. These challenges may increase caregiver burden and negatively affect both relatives' well-being and the continuity of care. The PIRe 2.0 study aims to further test, and implement a structured intervention to support systematic involvement of relatives of people with ABI or MBT across hospital and community rehabilitation services. The intervention is designed as a "caregiver compass" that helps relatives understand their role, clarify their needs and wishes for involvement, and gain better overview of the care pathway. PIRe 2.0 is delivered through a stepped-care model, which allows the level of support to be adjusted over time based on each relative's level of burden and support needs. All relatives receive basic information and screening for caregiver burden using the 4-item Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI-4). Relatives who show signs of increased burden are offered additional support in steps, ranging from structured conversations with nurses to extended cross-sector coordination and specialized support for relatives with high or complex needs. Decisions about stepping up or down are based on both screening results and clinical assessment to ensure flexibility and person-centered care. The study includes two groups of relatives: an intervention group receiving support through the PIRe stepped-care model, and a control group receiving usual care only. A total of 160 relatives will participate. Data are collected at baseline, at transitions between hospital and community care, and three to six months after the intervention. The primary outcome is change in caregiver burden, measured with the Caregiver Burden Scale (CBS). Secondary outcomes include relatives' roles and responsibilities, perceived support and involvement in care, and mental well-being, assessed using validated patient-reported outcome measures. In addition to evaluating the effect of the intervention, the study examines how the PIRe model can be implemented and sustained in everyday practice across healthcare sectors. The results are expected to show whether a structured, stepped-care approach can reduce caregiver burden, improve coordination between hospital and community services, and support more coherent and secure care pathways for people with ABI or malignant brain tumor and their relatives.

A Study of Cognitive Changes in Patients Receiving Brain Radiation

Cranial radiation therapy (RT), commonly used to treat benign and malignant brain tumors, can lead to cognitive impairments in domains not related to neuroanatomic structures directly impacted by the tumor. The study will prospectively enroll 75 patients with benign and low-grade brain tumors who will undergo partial brain RT, with either conventionally fractionated or hypofractionated schedules. Subjects will receive MRI scans at baseline, 6 months, and 12 months. Given the role of the limbic system in key cognitive functions affected by RT, researchers have a particular interest in characterizing MRI changes in the limbic system and thalamus in relation to memory and related processes. Specific Aims: 1. To examine objective neurocognitive changes over time. The investigators hypothesize that they will see RT-induced neurocognitive impairment in up to 50% of patients after cranial RT. 2. To examine changes in brain tissue (via MRI) induced by off-target RT in patients with benign and low-grade brain tumors. The investigators specifically hypothesize that comapping of RT dose and MRI changes in the thalamus and limbic system (i.e., thalamic nuclei, hippocampus, fornix, hypothalamus/mammillary bodies, limbic lobe, cingulum) will be most distorted by off-target RT. 3. To examine the relationship between MRI changes for key neuroanatomic structures identified in Aim 1 with objective neurocognitive testing. The investigators hypothesize that cognitive decline will be correlated with damage revealed by MRI to limbic and thalamic structures. This research will help to define which neuroanatomic structures are most at risk from RT-induced damage and will help ultimately establish new dose constraint guidelines for important structures to improve cognitive outcomes.

A Study to Test a New Fluid to Improve the Quality of Images Obtained by Using Sound Waves (Ultrasound) During Surgery

The objective of this clinical investigation is to assess the safety and performance of the SonoClear® System. Performance will be assessed by analysis of the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and assessment of image quality by using the Surgeon Image Rating (SIR) Scale. This is a prospective, multi-centre single arm study where the performance of the SonoClear® System relative to routinely used acoustic coupling fluid is investigated by each patient being their own control. Patients with the diagnosis of high-grade glioma (HGG) and low-grade glioma (LGG) at up to 5 sites in Germany will be included. Additionally, safety data are collected at 72 hours, 30 days and 6 months post procedure.

Development and Implementation of an Intervention Enhancing Involvement of Relatives to Patients With Acquired Brain Injury or Malignant Brain Tumour

Caring for a loved one with a serious illness like acquired brain injury (ABI) or primary malignant brain tumors (PMBT) can be a challenging and burdensome experience, often affecting the well-being and quality of life of relatives. While family and friends can provide some support, this is not always enough to address the diverse needs of caregivers. Relatives often have different requirements for support, information, and involvement in the patient's care. Understanding these varying needs is key to ensuring both the patient and their caregivers are effectively supported during the illness journey. This study aims to develop and test an intervention that helps healthcare professionals better support relatives in their caregiving role. The intervention uses a dialogue tool, which is designed to help nurses assess and follow up on the differing needs of relatives for involvement in the care of patients with ABI and PMBT. The goal is to enhance the experience of both the patient and their caregivers throughout the illness process. The study will take place across seven units in two regions of Denmark, and it involves relatives of patients with ABI or PMBT. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Can an intervention that involves relatives improve their role in the care of patients with ABI and PMBT? * Will this intervention help both patients and their relatives feel more supported and satisfied during the treatment process? Participants will receive support through an intervention that includes several key components: * Nurse training on how to use the dialogue tool to assess and address the varying needs of relatives for involvement. * A list created by relatives, for relatives, to share experiences and advice with one another. * Video materials explaining the background and purpose of the intervention to help relatives understand how it can benefit them. * Guidelines for documenting the involvement of relatives in the patient's electronic health record. By offering targeted support to relatives, this intervention aims to enhance their involvement in the treatment process, ensuring that both patients with ABI or PMBT and their families are better supported throughout the course of the illness.

APT-weighted and Diffusion MRI for Characterizing Tumor Infiltration in High-Grade Gliomas

High-grade gliomas are the most common primary malignant brain tumors and are characterized by infiltration of the surrounding brain tissue beyond the visible tumor margins. This infiltrative growth represents a major challenge for treatment planning and contributes to tumor recurrence. Conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is limited in its ability to distinguish tumor infiltration from non-tumoral changes such as vasogenic edema in the peri-tumoral region. This prospective single-center observational study aims to improve the characterization of the peri-tumoral microenvironment in patients with suspected high-grade gliomas using advanced MRI techniques, including amide proton transfer-weighted (APTw) imaging and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). These techniques provide complementary information about tissue composition and microstructure and may help identify areas of tumor infiltration that are not visible on conventional imaging. APTw- and DTI-derived maps will be combined to generate imaging-derived maps describing the likelihood of tumor infiltration within the peri-tumoral region. These maps will be compared with histopathological findings obtained from tissue samples collected during biopsy or tumor resection performed as part of standard clinical care. Histological analyses will include assessment of tumor cellularity using hematoxylin and eosin staining and additional immunohistochemical markers routinely used in neuropathological evaluation. Patients will undergo routine clinical follow-up and the prognostic significance of the imaging-derived map will be assessed. The overall goal of the study is to develop and validate imaging-based biomarkers capable of identifying infiltrated tissue within the peri-tumoral region. These findings may contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy and support future treatment planning strategies in patients with high-grade gliomas.

Evaluate the Safety and Preliminary Efficacy of the Combination of NaviFUS System With Re-irradiation for rGBM Patients

This is an open label, single arm, prospective, and pilot study. Eligible patients will be enrolled after acquiring the signed informed consent and then will receive the treatment of re-RT combined with FUS (FUS + re-RT) on an outpatient basis. The re-RT in FUS + re-RT treatment will include fractioned stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) treatment (FUS + SRS) or conventional radiotherapy (cRT) treatment (FUS + cRT). The treatment of SRS or cRT treatment given to patients is determined by the investigator depending on the volume and location of the treatment region.

Picture Naming Decoding From Intraoperative Recordings

The clinical investigation evaluates whether speech can be decoded from neural activity recorded with cortical surface electrocorticography (ECoG) electrodes during awake brain tumor surgery. Neural signals and voice recordings are collected while patients perform a picture naming task as part of standard intraoperative mapping. The study assesses the ability of machine learning algorithms to predict the named item from intraoperative electrophysiological recordings.

Neuromodulation-Induced Cortical Prehabilitation in High Grade Glioma Near the Motor Pathway: Cortical Plasticity Assessed by Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS)

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether Neuromodulation-Induced-Cortical-Prehabilitation (NICP)-using physical therapy (constraint-induced movement training, CIM) alone or combined with repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)-can promote motor-cortex neuroplasticity before surgery in adults with high-grade gliomas near the motor pathway. It will also learn about the feasibility and safety of these prehabilitation strategies around the time of surgery. The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Does CIM (with or without rTMS) produce measurable motor-cortex plasticity from baseline to pre-surgery as assessed by neuronavigated TMS (nTMS)? 2. Does adding rTMS to CIM lead to greater neuroplastic changes than CIM alone? 3. What clinical, radiological, and neurophysiological outcomes are observed after surgery in participants who receive prehabilitation compared with controls? Researchers will compare standard care (control) vs CIM-based physical therapy vs CIM plus rTMS to see if these approaches induce preoperative neuroplastic changes that may support better surgical outcomes. Participants will: 1. Be randomized to one of three groups: control, CIM physical therapy, or CIM + rTMS• Undergo nTMS motor mapping and excitability testing at baseline (T0) and the day before surgery (T1) 2. Undergo planned tumor surgery (according to standard methods of care) and complete postoperative clinical, imaging, and neurophysiological follow-up assessments.

Metabolic Characteristics of Brain Tumors Using Hyperpolarized Carbon-13 Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopic Imaging (MRSI)

This is a non-randomized, purely observational, feasibility study to detect metabolic changes in patients with brain malignancy using a novel hyperpolarized \[1-13C\]pyruvate MRSI.