Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

This is a multi-cohort, open label, Phase II study with Dabrafenib (GSK2118436) and Trametinib (GSK1120212) combination therapy in subject with BRAF mutation-positive melanoma that has metastasized to the brain. This study will evaluate the safety and efficacy of 4 cohorts. Cohorts will consist of; V600 E, D, K, R mutations, metastases to the brain, symptomatic and asymptomatic, with or without prior local (brain) therapy, with or without prior local (brain) therapy, and range of ECOG scores from 0-2.

Verify the effect of Erlotinib concurrent whole-brain radiation therapy as first-line treatment for patients with multiple brain metastases from non-small-cell lung cancer to compare with WBRT alone. Verify pre-built EGFR mutation prediction model for NSCLC brain metastases

This clinical trial studies optical imaging in assessing activity during surgery in patients with brain tumors. New procedures, such as optical spectroscopy, may help doctors maximally remove brain tumors and minimize damage to normal brain.

The purpose of this trial is to study the activity of MK-3475 in untreated brain metastases from melanoma or non-small cell lung cancer.

Background. Patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures experience higher rates of postoperative respiratory failure compared to the broader surgical population. Lung-protective ventilation strategies, including alveolar recruitment maneuvers may be beneficial. Despite this potential benefit, the effect of high levels of continuous airway pressure on intracranial pressure, brain swelling and cerebral perfusion must be defined prior to applying this intervention to the neurosurgical population. Objectives. The primary objective is to determine the effect of an alveolar recruitment maneuver on subdural pressure in patients undergoing supratentorial tumour resection. The secondary objectives are to determine the effect of an alveolar recruitment maneuver on 1) brain bulk score and 2) cerebral perfusion pressure in patients undergoing supratentorial tumour resection. Hypothesis. The investigators hypothesize that an alveolar recruitment maneuver of 30 cm of water over 30 seconds will not result in a clinically-important (>3 mmHg) increase in subdural pressure. Methods. This single center, randomized, cross-over study will enroll 30 American Society of Anesthesiologists Classification I-III patients scheduled to undergo supratentorial brain tumour resection at Vancouver General Hospital. All patients will receive a standardized general anesthetic including invasive blood pressure monitoring. After removal of the bone flap, subdural pressure will be measured using a sterile 22-gauge plastic cannula. Brain bulk will be assessed using a validated 4-point scale. After baseline arterial and subdural pressure determination and brain swelling assessments, patients will be randomized to receive either a recruitment maneuver of 30 cm of water for 30 seconds or a sham recruitment maneuver of 5 cm of water for 30 seconds. Maximal subdural pressure and minimum mean arterial pressure during the maneuver will be noted, and the neurosurgeon will be asked to score the brain bulk. After a 2-minute equilibration period, the protocol will be repeated with the alternate group allocation. Statistical Analysis. Our sample size calculation, based on our primary outcome (subdural pressure), determined that a sample size of 22 patients would allow us to detect a difference of 3.5 mmHg in subdural pressure assuming a type I error of 0.05, a type II error of 0.2 and two-sided significance testing. The subdural pressure during the recruitment maneuver as compared to the sham maneuver will be analyzed using a paired t-test. The brain bulk score will be compared using a Wilcoxon signed rank test. All data analysis will be performed with STATA 12.1 (StataCorp, College Station, TX).

The purpose of this study is to see if there are any differences in patient reported neurotoxicity between patients who receive Levetiracetam tablets for one week after surgery to remove a brain tumor versus those who receive Levetiracetam tablets for six weeks after surgery. Specifically, we will see if one group has less side effects than the other, and whether or not one group has more seizures than the other.

Lung cancer is the first cause of death among cancer patients. Non Small Cell lung cancer (NSCLS) represents about 80-85% of the cases. Of this, about 80% presents with locally advanced or metastatic disease. Important to mention the number of patients that progress or recur in central nervous system (CNS). It has been reported that patients with adenocarcinoma, who are under 60 years and with elevated carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) are in the highest risk to develop brain metastasis. In small cell lung cancer, treatment with prophylactic cranial irradiation (PCI) is the standard of care in patients without progression after locoregional or systemic treatment because the proven benefit in overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). However, in NSCLC PCI has not been able to prove any survival benefit, only in CNS PFS, probably because there is no trial, to our knowledge, of PCI in NSCLC that include only the specific group of patients considered in high risk of developing brain metastasis.

This phase II open-label study will be performed to evaluate the response rate of brain metastases from lung and breast tumors under treatment with WBRT and lapatinib.

RATIONALE: Genetically-modified neural stem cells (NSCs) that convert 5-fluorocytosine (5-FC) into the chemotherapy agent 5-FU (fluorouracil) at sites of tumor in the brain may be an effective treatment for glioma. PURPOSE: This clinical trial studies genetically-modified NSCs and 5-FC in patients undergoing surgery for recurrent high-grade gliomas.

This study is designed to assess the efficacy, pharmacokinetics, safety, and tolerability of an oral, twice daily dose of 150 mg GSK2118436 administered to subjects with BRAF V600E or V600K mutation-positive metastatic melanoma to the brain. Subjects in Cohort A will not have received any local brain therapy, and subjects in Cohort B will have received prior local therapy for brain metastases. Subjects will continue on treatment until disease progression, death, or unacceptable adverse event.