Active clinical trials for "Glioma"

The purpose of this research study is to see if a higher strength MRI procedure provides better images to use in planning radiation treatments for patients with brain tumors in the future.

To establish a clinic based case control study for examination of potential risk factors for primary adult brain tumors.

To advance understanding of environmental, behavioral and genetic causes of brain tumors in adults, DCEG investigators initiated a multicenter case-control study of malignant and benign tumors in adults in 1994. This four-year study was conducted at participating hospitals in Boston, Phoenix, and Pittsburgh. Eligible cases were individuals greater than or equal to 18 years newly diagnosed with an intracranial glioma, meningioma or acoustic neuroma and treated at one of the participating hospitals. The controls were patients admitted to neurological, neurosurgical or general surgical services at the same three hospitals for any of a variety of non-neoplastic conditions. By the end of the study, 811 brain tumor cases had been accrued. Information about a broad range of possible environmental, lifestyle, and genetic risk factors was obtained from both cases and controls through a computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI). The family history component obtained history and age at diagnosis of cancer or benign brain tumors and selected other diseases, for all living and deceased first degree relatives. A supplemental self-administered questionnaire covered diet, vitamin supplements, alcohol consumption, and household use of electrical appliances. Blood samples were obtained as a source of DNA. Currently, data analysis is in the early stages. To increase our ability to examine both genetic and environmental components of brain tumor risk, we decided to add a family studies component to the case-control study, focusing on families of glioma cases. Initial contact with each family is made through the cases or, if a case is deceased, through the next of kin. Cases or next of kin are asked to complete a Family Health Questionnaire that updates the family medical history and provides contacting information for all adult first degree relatives and more distant relatives with cancer. Then, we contact all first degree relatives greater than or equal to age 18 years, and the next of kin of deceased eligible relatives and invite them to complete a modified risk factor interview conducted over the telephone. This interview obtains information about each relative s personal and family history of cancer and other diseases, and history of risk factor exposures, including all the major categories covered in the case-control study. Study participants who complete the interview are then asked to provide buccal cells as a source of DNA for future genotyping. The glioma cases and their relatives will serve as a unique resource for both epidemiologic and genetic analyses. Selected relatives can serve as controls for association thereby eliminating concerns and population stratification. The study design also permits assessment of specific genetic hypotheses that cannot be evaluated in a traditional case-control study. Data from all first degree relatives of the glioma cases will be used in association studies and segregation analysis. In addition, we can screen DNA from members of multiplex families (families with 2 or more relatives with a primary CNS tumor) for mutations in candidate genes known to be associated with glioma, and contribute data from selected multiplex families to collaborative linkage studies to search for new genes conferring susceptibility to brain and possibly related tumors.

The treatment for patients with malignant brain tumors is disappointing. The disease is incurable and virtually all patients die from their disease. Despite the devastating nature of this illness which affects all age groups, its cause remains unexplained. Family identification with careful clinical and molecular study have led to the discovery of the genes that cause a number of other devastating diseases like retinoblastoma, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's chorea. The investigators propose to study the genetic changes in patients with familial glioma as a first step in identifying the gene(s) that cause these tumors.

The objective of this study is to determine the survival status of patients enrolled in study GLI01S (all-case observational study).

The purpose of this study is to identify and quantify circulating tumor markers, which are associated with the presence of tumors. The current imaging available does not allow specificity of tumor size as it relates to pseudoprogression (a temporary enlargement or "swelling" of the tumor after treatment before it shrinks). Our hope is that CTCs will provide a more accurate description of tumor state for high grade glioma patients.

The purpose of this study is to learn more about the understanding patients with brain tumors have of their disease and their communication with their physician. Ultimately, we hope to use these findings to improve communication between patients and their doctors.

This study builds on the limited body of existing literature combined with the results from the investigators' previous research conducted with 30 newly diagnosed patients with high-grade glioma (HGG) and 33 of their caregivers. This research established an overview of the daily life experiences when diagnosed with a HGG or being a caregiver. Descriptions of needs and preferences from time of diagnosis to one year exist. However, such data are still lacking the representation from long-term survivors (LTS) and their caregivers. This mixed methods study aims to address perspectives on daily life experiences of long-term survivors with HGG and their caregivers as well as the needs and preferences for support, rehabilitation and palliation. Separate telephone interviews with patients and their caregivers and self-reported questionnaires for patients will be conducted. The mixed methods design is a convergent sequential design using an identical sampling.

This qualitative study explores the lived experience of high-grade glioma patients and their close relatives at time of recurrence. With focus on the decision-making about treatment and care..

The study is undertaken at three German neurosurgical centers (Ulm, Mainz, Stuttgart) between March 2014 and March 2015. Inclusion criteria were age ≥ 18 and ≤ 80, diagnosis of glioma WHO° II-IV, absence of aphasia impairing communication or consent. In an outpatient setting all eligible patients with gliomas were screened for distress (Distress Thermometer (DT)) and their need for psychosocial support (Supportive Care Needs Survey-SF34-G (SCNS)). Simultaneously their HRQoL was assessed (EORTC QLQ-C30+BN-20 Vers. 3). Patients at different disease stages were asked to fill out the questionnaires. At two study centers patients were asked to complete the questionnaires prior to their appointment with personal instructions in randomly selected cases. At the third study center, they completed the questionnaires after their outpatient appointment with personal aid and instructions. At the time of investigation, patients were at different stages of treatment (chemotherapy, radiation, re-chemotherapy, re-radiation, none, etc.).