Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

Awake craniotomy for resection of brain tumor located in close proximity to areas of eloquent brain function, such as speech, motor and sensory, is an accepted procedure used to minimize neurological injury during resection. During awake craniotomy, anesthesia is usually provided using a combination of local anesthesia (regional scalp block and/or local infiltration) and intravenous (IV) agents to provide sedation, anxiolysis and analgesia. Propofol sedation, commonly in combination with a shorter acting opioid such as fentanyl, or remifentanil, is an effective and popular technique during awake craniotomy, achieving a high degree of patient satisfaction and acceptance. Most of the anesthetic agents are associated with some respiratory depression. The anesthetic agent called dexmedetomidine is a potent, highly selective α2-adrenoceptor agonist. The effects of dexmedetomidine are anxiolysis, analgesia, sedation and sympatholysis, and it is not associated with respiratory depressive effect. Bekker et al. first reported the successful use of dexmedetomidine in awake craniotomy in 2001. The purpose of this blinded, prospective, randomized study is to compare the efficacy of dexmedetomidine versus propofol-remifentanil based sedation in patients undergoing awake craniotomy for resection of tumors. The study hypothesis is that the efficacy of performing intra-operative brain mapping is identical between dexmedetomidine and the propofol-remifentanil based sedation. The primary end-points are to assess the ability to perform intraoperative mapping during awake craniotomy. Secondary end-points will assess the incidence of complications (respiratory depression, failure to provide adequate analgesia), as well as patient and surgeon satisfaction to the corresponding anesthetic technique.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Icotinib at different dose levels in combination with whole brain radiotherapy for NSCLC patients with brain metastases and EGFR mutation.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether erlotinib plus pemetrexed, cisplatin are effective and safe in treating lung adenocarcinoma with brain metastases.

The main purpose of this part of the study is to determine the Central Nervous System bioavailability of sulfasalazine.

This research will leverage novel pilot research conducted by the investigators to take important first steps in addressing neurocognitive late effects by intervening early, during treatment, with a promising computerized cognitive remediation program to prevent the downward trajectory of neurocognitive function experienced by pediatric brain tumor survivors. Specifically, we propose to test the feasibility, acceptability, and initial proof of concept of a neuroplasticity-based adaptive cognitive training program (Cogmed) to train working memory (WM) and attention in newly diagnosed youth with a brain tumor. Further, we will test the feasibility of using this intervention in a true prospective design beginning pre-surgery to examine the effects of this intervention in deflecting the downward trajectory of cognitive function in children with brain tumors during treatment. We will also use functional neuroimaging (near infrared spectroscopy - "NIRS") to examine the effects of this program on brain activation in frontal regions that are affected by treatment. Findings from this pilot study will inform the development of a large multi-site randomized efficacy trial to test an individualized cognitive training program. Aim 1. To test the feasibility and acceptability of enrolling youth (7 to 16 years-old) with newly diagnosed brain tumors at time of diagnosis, following patients for 10 weeks, delivering the Cogmed computer-based training program in a randomized trial at 10-weeks post-diagnosis, and following patients to 1 year post-diagnosis. Aim 2. To test the initial acceptability and efficacy of the Cogmed training program on cognitive function in newly diagnosed pediatric brain tumor patients.

The best dose of radiation to be given with bevacizumab is currently unknown. This study will use higher doses of radiation with bevacizumab than have been used before. This study will test the safety of radiation given at different doses with bevacizumab to find out what effects, good and/or bad, it has on the patient and the malignant glioma or related brain cancers.

Purpose of Study This exploratory clinical study will investigate FMISO (fluoromisonidazole) in patients with (1) newly diagnosed primary malignant brain tumors (WHO [World Health Organization] Grade III or IV glial-based tumors) who have not had a complete surgical resection and by contrast MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) have residual tumor > 1.0 cm in diameter and will be receiving radiotherapy or (2) newly diagnosed brain metastasis (> 1.0 cm in diameter who will be receiving radiotherapy. The ability to accurately assess tumor hypoxia and accurately determine the amount/degree of tumor hypoxia could potentially change patient management once validated as tumor hypoxia is known to be associated with a poor prognosis [Eyler 2008].

RATIONALE: Radiation therapy uses high energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase II trial is studying how well avoiding the hippocampus during whole-brain radiation therapy works in treating patients with brain metastases.

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the efficacy of bevacizumab, etoposide and cisplatin in treating breast cancer patients with central nervous system metastasis (including brain parenchymal and leptomeningeal metastasis).

RATIONALE: Sorafenib tosylate may stop the growth of tumor cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth or by blocking blood flow to the tumor. Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) may be able to send x-rays directly to the tumor and cause less damage to normal tissue. Giving sorafenib tosylate together with SRS may kill more tumor cells. PURPOSE: This phase I trial is studying the side effects and the best dose of sorafenib tosylate when given together with SRS in treating patients with brain metastases