Active clinical trials for "Brain Neoplasms"

The study is designed to evaluate how the composition of a participant's body, diagnosed with a brain tumor (glioblastoma multiforme) as determined by bioelectrical impedance analysis can predict the progression and outcomes of disease.

The main goal of the study is to present a framework, which integrates DNA, RNA and tissue data to identify and prioritize genetic events that represent clinically relevant new therapeutic targets and prognostic biomarkers for different kinds of brain tumors. The investigators study the regulation of neoplastic cell growth by oncogenes, tumor-suppressor and other cancer related genes using modern molecular genetic methods, such as chromogenic-in-situ hybridization, comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), array-CGH, cDNA microarray etc. In these studies the investigators utilize disease-specific tissue microarrays (TMA) which the investigators have constructed since 1999. Until now up to 3000 different brain tumours have been sampled to our TMA:s. These permit high-volume simultaneous analysis of molecular targets at the DNA, mRNA and protein levels. Research group has also focused its interest on the neoplastic development of gliomas, particularly on their hereditary and environmental factors.

Autologous stem cell rescue is an established therapy in high risk neuroblastoma and relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma and an experimental therapy in some other solid and brain tumors to facilitate the use of very intense chemotherapy beyond bone marrow tolerance. It is usually tolerated with acceptable toxicity and graft failure is practically not existent. But whereas immune reconstitution in allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) setting is widely studied, the investigators have no comprehensive data available in the autologous setting regarding recovery of the innate and adaptive immune system. However, observations in patients with autoimmune disease undergoing autologous HSCT suggest not an exact recovery of the patient's pre-transplant immune system but some re-education during reconstitution of immune function. Also, recent developments of cancer-directed immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies and immunocytokines rely on activity of the patient's own immune system via complement-mediated or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity. These novel therapies are given either with or shortly after conventional chemotherapy. To find the optimal time point for administration of immunotherapy, it is important to know how and when immune effector cells recover after conventional myelosuppressive and/or immunosuppressive chemotherapy which are used in Induction regimens. Researchers at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital want to study the research participant's immune profile once prior and at multiple set time points after autologous stem cell infusion during the recovery process. In a subset of participants the investigators want to study the recovery of lymphocyte subsets and function after one course of conventional chemotherapy preceding the high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant. That way the investigators hope to learn about the pace and order of recovery and the functional capacity of different compartments of the immune system during reconstitution.

The Environmental Protection Agency has recognized that organophosphorus pesticides require close regulation and continued monitoring for human health effects and some (e.g chlorpyrifos) have been phased-out from the consumer market due to the special risk that it posed for children. There is growing evidence in support of the association between pesticide exposure and childhood leukemia. Studies of pesticides and their association with childhood cancer have been limited by study designs, self-reporting and lack of biological measurements. While several large studies in California found little evidence of an association between agricultural pesticide use and childhood leukemia, these results are in contrast with the associations observed with household exposures to pesticides. The real association may depend on timing of exposure, type of pesticide, dose and pathway of exposure. Furthermore, some persons may be more susceptible to the effects of specific pesticides due to inherited mutations in their detoxification pathways. We are conducting a pilot study to test the hypothesis that environmental exposure to pesticides in pregnancy or during the neonatal period, together with genetic susceptibility may lead to childhood ALL or brain cancer. The study is a multicenter, case-control study, based on collaboration between clinical researchers and basic science research to evaluate the risk for childhood cancer in relation to measured levels of pesticides (and their metabolites) and genetic polymorphisms. Biomarkers will be used to examine the risks of chronic low-dose exposures, and to characterize relationships between specific pesticides, childhood cancer and genetic susceptibility. Hypothesis: Interaction between environmental factors (pesticides) and maternal or child genetic polymorphisms may lead to childhood cancer.

This study will examine long-term health effects of cosmetic breast augmentation (enlargement) with silicone gel breast implants. There has been concern for some time about the possible effects of breast implants on the immune system particularly regarding the development of certain connective tissue disorders and on the possibility that implants may interfere with the ability to detect breast cancers. More recently, concerns have been raised regarding the possible cancer-causing effect of the implants themselves. These concerns were heightened by reports that the polyurethane foam coating that envelops the silicone gel in some implants may dissolve and produce a chemical called 2,4,-diamino toluene (TDA), which has been linked to an increased risk of breast and other cancers in rats and mice. To address this issue, this study will gather information from the medical records and a questionnaire survey of approximately 12,000 breast implant patients. The questionnaire will request information on perceived complications of the implants; history of breast examinations and mammograms; frequency of breast self examination; development of diseases (particularly cancers and connective tissue disorders) developed subsequent to the augmentation surgery; potential risk factors for these diseases, such as age at menarche (onset of menstruation), age at first birth, age and type of menopause (natural or due to surgery); history of breast biopsies; immune system and connective tissue disorders; cigarette smoking; alcohol consumption; family medical history, and so forth. To evaluate the results, the information will be compared with the same data on 4,000 women who underwent other plastic surgery procedures, such as rhinoplasty, facelift, liposuction, dermabrasion, eyelifts, and others, from the same practices as the breast augmentation patients. Participants will be recruited for the study from several large reconstructive and plastic surgery practices. Among the breast implant patients, women who have had bilateral breast implants for cosmetic purposes only, and not as breast reconstruction after breast cancer surgery, will be eligible. Women with a history of breast cancer may not participate.

Hemiplegia (weakness or poor muscle function on one side of the body) is a neurological impairment which can occur in children as a result of a brain tumor or related treatment. This impairment can negatively impact the child's functional abilities and movement development, making it difficult for them to play, learn to feed, dress or bathe themselves, and to participate fully in home, daycare, or school environments. Poor movement skills may also impact overall quality of life. Constraint Induced Therapy is a rehabilitation technique which has been found to improve the child's abilities to move their arms following neurological injuries like stroke and traumatic brain injury in both adults and children. The aim of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of implementing a constraint induced movement therapy program in a small group of children with a brain tumor and hemiplegia. Children who participate in the program may experience improved ability to use their weak arm leading to increased participation in meaningful activity and improved quality of life.

Background: There are no standardized sets of tests to measure changes in neuropsychological functioning in patients treated for brain metastasis (cancer that has spread beyond the original site to the brain). Neuropsychological function has an important effect on quality of life and should be included when determining treatment options. Objectives: To find out if there is a change in patients cognitive (thinking) and daily functioning after standard radiation treatment for brain metastasis that can be measured with tests. To see if any changes on these tests are related to patients response to radiation therapy. Eligibility: - Patients 18 years of age or older who have cancer that has spread to the brain. Design: Patients receive a 2-week course of radiation therapy to the brain, given daily 5 days a week. Some patients may require stereotactic radiosurgery (an additional boost of radiation therapy to specific sites of brain metastasis). Patients have the following evaluations before and after treatment to determine changes in cognition and functioning: Neuropsychological testing to measure cognitive (thinking) abilities like memory, attention, processing speed, and reading, and fine motor skills. Questionnaires to assess quality of life and daily living skills. Patients have MRI scans and blood and urine tests. At the completion of radiation treatment, patients return to the clinic for follow-up visits at 1, 2, 4, 6, 9 and 12 months for blood and urine tests, physical examination, MRI of the brain, neuropsychological testing and assessments of quality of life and daily living skills.

Treatment for brain cancer may include radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is the treatment of tumors with X-rays. This study is related to understanding the side effects of radiation treatment for brain tumors. This study is being conducted by the University of Rochester Cancer Center to compare the extent of side effects of brain cancer treatment with changes in levels of blood proteins called cytokines.

3D ultrasound is a new modality used in image guided neurosurgery. a multicentre study is started for the evaluation of this tool as a means for achieving total resection of brain tumors at greater safety.

The purpose of this study is to proof and investigate the effectiveness and safety of the invented device named "Human Lumbar Puncture Assist Device (LPat)" as an assist tool to be utilized to improve the success rate of performing lumbar puncture (LP), avoid side effects from multiple punctures, avoid excess radiation if the LP need to be done under fluoroscopy, and need to obtain none traumatic tap for better CSF analysis.