Cancerify Logo
Log inSign up
Back to clinical trials
RecruitingInterventional

A Feasibility Study of Interim PET-MRI in High-grade Glioma Patients Undergoing Chemoradiation

NCT ID: NCT05212272Sponsor: Wake Forest University Health SciencesLast updated: 2026-03-23

Summary

The purpose of this research study is to see if investigators can predict how brain functioning changes after radiation treatment based on PET scans and blood tests. Most participants experience at least mild decreases in their memory or attention after radiation therapy. Investigators hope that PET scans, lumbar puncture, and blood tests might help investigators predict who might have larger changes in their brain function after radiation.

Detailed description

Primary Objective: To determine the feasibility of interim PET-MRI in high-grade glioma patients undergoing chemoradiation by quantifying the proportion of high-grade glioma patients who are alive at 4 months post-radiation treatment and who have completed two PET scans and abbreviated cognitive testing pre-radiation treatment and at 4 months post radiation treatment. Secondary Objectives * To determine by machine learning if early changes on FDG-PET correlate with cognitive decline after radiation treatment. Cognitive impairment will be defined as a 1 standard deviation decline on any test. * To determine if baseline serum or cerebrospinal fluid markers or the change from baseline to 1-month are associated with patients with cognitive decline at 4-months after radiation treatment (defined as a 1 standard deviation decline on any test) compared to those without decline.

Arms & interventions

  • ProcedurePET-MRI Brain Scan

    Before starting radiation, participants will have a PET scan and MRI scan of the brain. After 2 to 3 weeks of radiation treatments, participants will have a repeat PET scan. Then 1 month after radiation participants will have another PET scan

  • Diagnostic TestBlood draw

    Blood draws will be taken at baseline, one month after radiation treatment and 3 to 4 months after radiation treatment.

  • BehavioralMemory testing

    3 sessions with simple tests to evaluate how the brain is working. These tests primarily check things like memory, attention, and thought process. The whole set of tests will take 1 hour each time.

  • ProcedureOptional lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid collection

    Participants that consent for cerebrospinal fluid collection will have 6 and 20 ml of cerebrospinal collected at baseline.

Outcome measures

Primary

  • Number of Participants to Complete Two PET scans

    Feasibility is defined as 70% of patients who complete two PET scans. This proportion and its 95% confidence interval will be calculated at 4 months

    Time frame: At baseline and at 4 months post-treatment

  • Number of Participants to Complete Cognitive Testing

    Using a customized abbreviated cognitive battery designed for brain tumor patients to measure a range of cognitive functions affected by cancer and radiation treatment including basic attention, information processing speed, language, learning and recent memory, executive functions (spanning verbal fluency, cognitive set-shifting, and abstract reasoning), and visual perceptual/spatial skills. Premorbid functioning (assessing cognitive reserve) will also be assessed via a single word reading test that is strongly associated with overall intellectual functioning. Most tests have multiple forms to allow for assessment at sequential time points. All tests have well-validated normative data and have been used previously with cancer patients. Fatigue, depression, anxiety, and quality of life will be evaluated simultaneously using standard and validated patient questionnaires

    Time frame: At baseline and at 4 months post-treatment

Secondary

  • Change in PET measure Related to Cognitive Decline after Radiation Treatment

    Time frame: At baseline and 4 months post-treatment

  • Change in Cerebrospinal Fluid (CSF) Biomarkers Related to Cognitive Decline after Radiation Treatment

    Time frame: At baseline and 4 months post-treatment

Eligibility criteria

Sex: AllAge: 18 Years and olderHealthy volunteers: No
Inclusion Criteria: * Pathologically confirmed diagnosis of high-grade glioma (grade III or IV) or WHO grade II glioma, IDH wildtype (molecular glioblastoma multiforme \[GBM\]). * ≥18 years of age. * ECOG performance status of 0 to 3 * Anticipated to receive 6 weeks of chemoradiation Exclusion Criteria: * Does not speak or read English * Unable to participate in cognitive testing due to aphasia or other severe cognitive impairment as determined by the PI, or Dr. Cummings or her designee. * Unable to give informed consent * Past medical history of any kind of dementia or diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment prior to diagnosis with their brain tumor * Unable to safely fast for 8 hours prior to bloodwork or 6 hours prior to PET scan * Currently taking cognition-enhancing medications including: * Donepezil * Memantine * Armodafinil * Methylphenidate * Pregnant or nursing mothers. * Patients taking blood thinners will be excluded from the optional Lumbar Puncture only, they are eligible for participation in the main study-provided they meet inclusion/exclusion criteria

Study locations (1)

Wake Forest Baptist Comprehensive Cancer Center

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157

Recruiting
Study Coordinator · Contact
Christina Cramer, MD · Principal Investigator