Active clinical trials for "Astrocytoma"

This pilot clinical trial studies gallium Ga 68-edotreotide (68Ga-DOTATOC) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in finding brain tumors in younger patients. Diagnostic procedures, such as gallium Ga 68-edotreotide PET/CT imaging, may help find and diagnose brain tumors.

The objective of this study is to evaluate patients with tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) for eligibility in the National Cancer Institute s research studies. These patients will undergo a series of procedures, usually including a complete medical history and physical examination; laboratory testing of blood, CSF, urine, bone marrow, or other samples; an evaluation of tumor location and size by x-rays, CT (computed tomography) or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans, or nuclear medicine scans; lumbar puncture; electrocardiogram and echocardiogram; and procedures to evaluate the function of specific organs. A bone marrow biopsy is occasionally performed. Research samples may also be collected and stored to avoid having to do a painful test more than once. Tissue specimens collected during this process may be stored and used in future studies. Patients of both genders, any age, and all racial and ethnic groups with tumors of the CNS or a history of a CNS tumor are eligible. Up to 100 people are expected to participate. The physician will discuss the results of these procedures with the patient and his or her family. On the basis of the eligibility screening and the patient s wishes, the patient may then be enrolled in a primary research protocol.

This study will analyze tissue and blood samples from patients with gliomas (a type of brain tumor) to develop a new classification system for these tumors. Tumor classification can help guide treatment, in part by predicting how aggressive a tumor may be. Gliomas are currently classified according to their grade (how quickly they may grow) and the type of cells they are composed of. This system, however, is not always accurate, and sometimes two tumors that appear to be identical under the microscope will have very different growth patterns and responses to treatment. The new classification system is based on tumor genes and proteins, and may be used in the future to better predict a given tumor s behavior and response to therapy. Patients with evidence of a primary brain tumor and patients with a known glioma who will be undergoing surgery to remove the tumor may participate in this study. A sample of tumor tissue removed in the course of a participant s normal clinical care will be used in this study for laboratory analysis of genes and chromosome abnormalities. A small blood sample will also be collected for genetic analysis. In addition, clinical information on patients condition and response to treatment will be collected every 6 months over several years. This information will include findings from physical and neurologic examinations, radiographic findings, and response to therapy, including surgery, radiation and chemotherapy.

Patients with a high grade glioma have an increasing overall survival and progression free survival after initial treatment. Because of a better performance status these patients are more often eligible for re-treatment with for example radiotherapy. However, to date only a few prospective studies on re-irradiation of gliomas exist and very little is known about the effects of re-irradiation on quality of life and cognition. This trial is designed to longitudinally establish the effects of re-irradiation on quality of life, cognition and physical performance in patients with a high grade glioma. Based on the currently available information the investigators hypothesize that quality of life after re-irradiation can be kept stable until further tumour progression.

Background: Children with brain tumors often have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans to see if the tumor has responded to therapy or to see if the tumor has grown. Sometimes, it is difficult to tell if the scan is abnormal because of tumor size or shape, swelling, scar tissue, or dead tissue. Because brain tumor biopsies require surgery, researchers are looking for more noninvasive ways of evaluating brain tumors. Positron emission tomography (PET) scans use a radioactive sugar known as 18F-FDG to try to determine if a tumor is active or not. Active tumors generally take up more sugar than the surrounding tissue, but because normal brain tissue uses the same sugar as brain tumors, it is then difficult to tell if tumor tissue is taking up sugar or not. A different radioactive agent, 18F-FLT, is now being studied in some adults with different kinds of tumors. Researchers are interested in determining whether it is possible to use this agent as a marker of tumor activity in children. Objectives: To determine the safety and effectiveness of 18F-FLT for pediatric glioma scans. To compare the results of 18F-FLT studies with studies using the radioactive agents 18F-FDG and 1H-MRSI. Eligibility: - Children less than 18 years of age who are having radiation therapy to treat malignant gliomas. Design: Participants will have scanning tests before radiation therapy, 1 to 3 weeks after radiation therapy, and if researchers suspect that the tumor is growing. This study will involve three separate imaging tests (1H-MRSI, 18F-FDG PET, and 18F-FLT PET). Proton spectroscopy (1H-MRSI) is a procedure that is similar to MRI and is performed in the same scanner as an MRI. Because this scan is long (2-3 hours), most children will receive medications from an anesthesiologist so that they can sleep through the procedure. Within 2 weeks of the 1H-MRSI scan, participants will have the PET scans with both the standard contrast agent (18F-FDG) and the experimental agent (18F-FLT). These scans will last approximately 1 hour each.

This study plans to learn more about if fluorescein with intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is as good as intraoperative MRI (iMRI) alone in detecting the presence of tumor tissue during surgery. Both fluorescein and intraoperative MRI have been studied and routinely used to aid the neurosurgeon in distinguishing normal brain from tumor, helping the neurosurgeon to safely resect more tumor tissue during surgery. This study will enroll patients with malignant high grade glioma who are going to have a surgery to remove their brain tumor. For half of the patients, fluorescein and intraoperative MRI will be used together during surgery. For half of the patients, only intraoperative MRI will be used during surgery. iMRI is used as final verification of complete, safe resection in both arms.

This research trial studies qualitative, qualitative, and functional studies over the first year in measuring immune system response in patients with brain tumors. Measuring the number of immune cells, whether these immune cells work correctly, and response to 2 vaccines at several times during the first year of treatment may help find out how active the immune system responds to fight infection and cancer.

There is limited knowledge regarding the quality of life and needs of patients with advanced high grade gliomas, especially during the end of life. By doing this research, we are able to assess caregiver and patient symptoms and needs during the end of life phase of patients with brain tumors.

The Investigators will examine the disease specificity of 2-hydroxyglutarate in non-glioma brain lesions, and the clinical utility of 2-hydroxyglutarate, glycine and citrate in IDH mutated gliomas and IDH wild type gliomas.

The purpose of this study is to collect and store brain tissue samples and blood from children with brain cancer that will be tested in the laboratory. Collecting and storing samples of tumor tissue and blood from patients to test in the laboratory may help the study of cancer in the future.