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Evaluating Tumor Pseudoprogression With FLT-PET and MRI

Study Purpose

A standard treatment for glioblastoma is a combination of radiation and the drug temozolomide. This combination sometimes causing swelling (inflammation) of the brain tissue. When standard monitoring with MRI or CT scans is done within a few months of finishing treatment, it may be hard to tell if the scans are showing post-treatment brain inflammation or tumor growth and worsening of disease. Currently the only way to definitively distinguish inflammation from tumor growth is biopsy. However, biopsy is an invasive procedure that is associated with risks. Having a non-invasive method to distinguish post-treatment inflammation from tumor growth can help improve care for patients with glioma. For the PET scans in this research study, the investigators are using a radioactive substance called FLT (3'-deoxy-3'-[F-18] fluorothymidine), instead of the standard substance FDG (fluorodeoxyglucose). FLT gets absorbed by cancer cells but not by areas of inflammation. Because of that FLT may be better than FDG in differentiating cancer cells from inflammation. An MRI scan will also be done at the same time as each of the 2 FLT-PET scans done for this research study. The two MRI scans performed will also help give more information about the patient's tumor that is not routinely provided with a routine clinical scan, such as blood flow through the tumor or metabolic activity in the tumor. The information from these special MRI scans may provide more information about the blood supply to the tumor and how this changes in response to treatment. In addition, the MRI scans along with the FLT-PET scans may help how to distinguish inflammation due to radiation therapy from tumor growth.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms

No
Study Type

An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes.


An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.


Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.

Interventional
Eligible Ages 18 Years and Over
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Histologically confirmed newly diagnosed glioblastoma.
  • - Planned treatment for glioblastoma is standard radiation and temozolomide.
  • - Measurable disease.
  • - Life expectancy >/= 12 weeks.
  • - Lab values must be within limits specified in protocol.
  • - Able to undergo MRI and PET scans.
  • - On stable dose of steroids for 5 days prior to each MRI scan.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - Chemotherapy or radiotherapy within 4 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to entering study or not recovered from adverse events from prior therapy.
  • - Receiving any other study agents to treat tumor.
  • - History of allergic reactions to compounds of similar chemical or biologic composition to FLT.
  • - Uncontrolled intercurrent illness.
  • - Pregnant or nursing.
- HIV-positive

Trial Details

Trial ID:

This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.

NCT01105988
Phase

Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans.

Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data.

Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs.

Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.

Early Phase 1
Lead Sponsor

The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.

Massachusetts General Hospital
Principal Investigator

The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.

Elizabeth Gerstner, MD
Principal Investigator Affiliation Massachusetts General Hospital
Agency Class

Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.

Other
Overall Status Terminated
Countries United States
Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.

Glioblastoma
Additional Details

If you are eligible to participate in this study you will have a pre-treatment FLT-PET scan within 7 days before starting treatment with radiation and temozolomide. Two intravenous catheters (IVs) will be placed for each scan. One IV will be used to inject the FLT for the PET scan and the contrast agent for the MRI scan. The second IV will be used to draw blood for research tests. The PET scan will take about 2 hours. The MRI scan will take about 60-75 minutes. They will be done simultaneously. About 4 weeks after you finish radiation therapy you will have a second FLT-PET scan and MRI scan.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts

Status

Address

Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114