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Effect of Deep TMS on the Permeability of the BBB in Patients With Glioblastoma Multiforme: a Pilot Study

Study Purpose

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized interface allowing a unique environment for neuro-glia networks. BBB dysfunction is common in brain disorders. The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method of stimulating cortical motor neurons with the use of rapidly changing electromagnetic fields generated by a coil placed over the scalp. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and effects of the deep TMS (dTMS) on barrier integrity in patients with malignant glial tumors. BBB permeability will be quantified using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Permeability change will be compared between two DCE-MRI scans performed immediately after "real" and "sham" rTMS, randomly assigned within one week of each other.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

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

 Yes
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 - 65 Years
Gender All
More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  • - Histological diagnosis of glioblastoma multiforme (WHO grade IV) - Craniotomy with resection of the tumor at least one year prior to the study.
  • - Treatment with steroids or chemotherapy stable for at least four weeks prior to study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • - History of epilepsy.
  • - Presence of cardiac pacemaker.
  • - Presence of neurostimulators.
  • - Presence of surgical clips or medical pumps.
  • - Allergy to contrast medium for Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
  • - History of head injuries.
  • - Alcoholism or drugs abuse.
  • - State of pregnant or breastfeeding.
- Severe psychiatric disorders

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.

 NCT02474966
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.

 Phase 2
Lead Sponsor

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

 University of Roma La Sapienza
Principal Investigator

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

 Maurizio Inghilleri, Professor
Principal Investigator Affiliation University "Sapienza" of Rome
Agency Class

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

 Other
Overall Status Completed
Countries
Conditions

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

 Glioblastoma Multiforme of Brain
Additional Details

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a specialized interface allowing a unique environment for neuro-glia networks. BBB dysfunction is common in brain disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying BBB opening are poorly understood. The investigators suggest a novel mechanism modulating BBB integrity and therapeutic implications in patients with glioblastoma multiforme. The Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive method of stimulating cortical motor neurons through the scalp and skull capable of inducing electrical currents and depolarizing neurons in focal brain areas with the use of rapidly changing electromagnetic fields generated by a coil placed over the scalp. The objective of this study is to evaluate the safety and effects of the deep TMS (dTMS) on barrier integrity in 20 patients with malignant glial tumors (glioblastoma multiforme). BBB permeability will be quantified using dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Permeability change will be compared between two DCE-MRI scans performed immediately after "real" and "sham" dTMS, randomly assigned within one week of each other. Design of study: Randomized double-blind crossover study. Patients will present on two consecutive days in order to receive dTMS followed by DCE-MRI. Subjects will be randomized into two groups: the first group will be treated before with real-dTMS (the first day) and after with sham-dTMS (the second day); the second group will be treated before with sham-dTMS (the first day) and after with real-dTMS (the second day). At the end of each session of dTMS the patients will undergo by MRI exams. Enrolled patients: twenty patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated with craniotomy and gross tumor resection or maximal debulking at least a year prior to the study and treated with standard post-operative radiotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy. dTMS will be delivered at 1 Hz, on the anterior periphery of the resected tumor bed using the Hesed-coil (H-coil) (Brainsway Ltd., Jerusalem, Israel). Sham stimulation will be delivered with a sham coil placed in the same helmet able to produce similar sounds and scalp sensations.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Experimental: Real-Sham dTMS

This arm will be treated before with real deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) (the first day) and after with sham dTMS (the second day)

Experimental: Sham-Real dTMS

This arm will be treated before with sham deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) (the first day) and after with real dTMS (the second day)

Interventions

Device: - Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS)

Patients will present on two consecutive days in order to receive dTMS followed by dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). Subjects will be randomized into two groups: the first group will be treated before with real-dTMS (the first day) and after with sham-dTMS (the second day); the second group will be treated before with sham-dTMS (the first day) and after with realTMS (the second day). At the end of each session of dTMS the patients will undergo by MRI exams.

Contact Information

This trial has no sites locations listed at this time. If you are interested in learning more, you can contact the trial's primary contact:

For additional contact information, you can also visit the trial on clinicaltrials.gov.

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