Brain Tumor Clinical Trials

This Phase I dose-escalation trial is designed to determine the safety and feasibility of rapidly generated tumor multi-antigen associated specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (TAA-T) in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas DIPGs (Group A) or recurrent, progressive, or refractory non-brainstem CNS malignancies (Group B). Pediatric and adult patients who have high-risk CNS tumors known to typically have positivity for one or more Tumor Antigen Associated (TAA) (WT1, PRAME and/or Survivin) will be eligible. TAA-T will all be generated from patient peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Group A patients (DIPG): The first TAA-T dose will be infused any time 14 days or more after completion of radiotherapy. Group B patients (other recurrent/progressive/refractory CNS tumors): The first TAA-T dose will be infused any time 14 days or more after completing most recent course of conventional (non-investigational) therapy for their disease AND after appropriate washout periods as detailed in eligibility criteria. Read Less

The primary goal of this Phase I study is to determine the maximum tolerated dose of oncolytic adenovirus mediated double suicide-gene therapy in combination with fractionated stereotactic radiosurgery in patients with recurrent high-grade astrocytoma undergoing resection. Read Less

The neurosurgical standard of care for treating a patient with a tumor invading hand primary motor cortex (M1) includes performing a craniotomy with intraoperative direct electrical stimulation (DES) mapping and to resect as much tumor as possible without a resultant permanent neurological deficit. However, the subjective nature of current intraoperative hand motor assessments do not offer a comprehensive understanding of how hand strength and function may be impacted by resection. Additionally, there is a paucity of data to inform how altering DES parameters may effect motor mapping. Here, the investigators seek to demonstrate a feasible, standardized protocol to quantitatively assess hand strength and function and systematically assess several stimulation parameters to improve intraoperative measurements and better understand how cortical stimulation interacts with underlying neural function. Read Less

This is a prospective, cohort study to evaluate the impact of cerebellar functional topography on perioperative outcomes related to cognition and motor ataxia in patients with cerebellar tumors. Read Less

The goal of Phase IIa Trial is to determine the feasibility and acceptability of telehealth C-SMART for patients with primary brain tumor and mild neurocognitive deficits (N=36) and their caregivers (N=36) A subset (n=10) of participants will undergo rs-fMRI both pre- and post-C-SMART to test feasibility of advanced functional imaging in this population. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to test the safety and effectiveness of using brodalumab in patients who develop side effects from cancer immune therapy. Immune-related side effects are due to activation of the immune system in patients who previously received immunotherapy and the goal of this study is to help better control these side effects. Brodalumab is often used to treat patients with autoimmune diseases (diseases where the immune system is activated against normal organs) and safe doses and treatment schedules have been determined in these patients. Immune-related side effects appear to closely mirror these autoimmune conditions. Brodalumab has not been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in immunotherapy side effects but it has been approved for treatment of autoimmune conditions. Read Less

This research study is investigating the value of an imaging study of the brain called an MRI (which stands for magnetic resonance imaging), utilized in unique way, to delineate whether the tumor has recurred or whether radiation changes have occurred after a brain metastasis treated with focused radiation has enlarged. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine whether AGuIX (Activation and Guidance of Irradiation by X-ray) gadolinium-based nanoparticles make radiation work more effectively in the treatment of patients with brain metastases that are more difficult to control with stereotactic radiation alone. Read Less

Our preliminary work demonstrates that an integrated fMRI software solution, incorporating tb-fMRI, rs-fMRI, and CVR mapping, is clinically feasible and helps clinicians plan brain tumor resection. We have developed a novel automated seed selection method that can accurately map language networks from rs-fMRI. We hypothesize that our innovative approach to enhance, optimize, and validate our preliminary software and integrate it with an established fMRI platform will create robust solutions for clinical RSN and CVR mapping. Partnering with NordicNeuroLab (NNL) will leverage the professional software development by a seasoned commercial MRI software producer in coordination with leading clinical and research experts at MD Anderson. The research will be conducted through three specific aims: 1. Develop a clinical software platform for mapping RSNs and determine optimized workflow for presurgical localization of eloquent areas. 2. Develop a clinical software platform for mapping CVR and determine optimized workflow for identifying and visualizing brain areas with potential false-negative fMRI results. 3. Test and validate RSN and CVR mapping software in patients undergoing neurosurgery. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to determine the safety and feasibility of intra-operative Ommaya Reservoir placement during a clinically indicated operation for brain tumor. The Ommaya reservoir will facilitate a longitudinal access to cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) for analysis of potential biomarkers for brain tumor research and individualized monitoring. Read Less

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the treatment regimen of using Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (LITT) and Hypo-fractionated Radiation Therapy to treat patients with recurrent gliomas. Read Less

This research study is evaluating an investigational drug, an oncolytic virus called rQNestin34.5v.2. This research study is a Phase I clinical trial, which tests the safety of an investigational drug and also tries to define the appropriate dose of the investigational drug as a possible treatment for this diagnosis of recurrent or progressive brain tumor. Read Less