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Diagnostic Performance of Fluorescein as an Intraoperative Brain Tumor Biomarker

Diagnostic Performance of Fluorescein as an Intraoperative Brain Tumor Biomarker: Correlation With Preoperative MR, ALA-induced PpIX Fluorescence, and Histopathology

Status
Recruiting
Phases
Phase 2
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT02691923
Enrollment
30
Registered
2016-02-25
Start date
2016-03-31
Completion date
2026-12-31
Last updated
2025-08-03

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Brain Cancer

Keywords

High Grade Glioma, Low Grade Glioma, Brain Tumor

Brief summary

This clinical research will evaluate the diagnostic potential of fluorescein as visualized through an operating microscope relative to 1) contrast enhancement on co-registered preoperative MR scans, 2) intraoperative ALA-induced PpIX fluorescence and 3) gold-standard histology obtained from biopsy sampling during the procedure. Subjects will include those people with operable brain tumor with first-time presumed pre-surgical diagnosis of high-grade glioma or low-grade glioma.

Detailed description

Consenting subjects who have met inclusion and exclusion criteria will be enrolled to receive either fluorescein+ALA or fluorescein alone. HGG patients will be randomized on a 2 to 1 basis to receive either both fluorescein and ALA or fluorescein alone, and LGG patients will be randomized on a 1 to 1 basis. This study is a diagnostic trial of fluorescein fluorescence as an intraoperative imaging biomarker during open cranial surgery for tumor resection of first-time (preoperatively) presumed high or low grade glioma. Subjects participate in a one-time event/visit (i.e, surgery) as part of this protocol. Images and data from the patient's pre- and post-operative MR scans are used for analysis in the study, but these acquisitions are part of the patient's standard-of-care, would occur independently of whether the participant is enrolled; and thus, are not considered to be research study visits. No post-surgical follow-up visit is part of the protocol data collection or analysis. Patients are monitored for possible adverse events through the routine follow-up under the care of the operating surgeon involved in the study procedures, post-operatively and subsequently through the medical record. Hence, this information is already being collected as part of standard-of-care and is available for adverse event surveillance. Patients receiving ALA who present with abnormally elevated LFTs beyond the peri-operative observation period are monitored on a regular basis until resolution and this blood testing is considered to be part of the study. Administration of study drug: Patients enrolled in the fluorescein+ALA arm will be administered orally 5-ALA (DUSA Pharmaceuticals, Tarrytown, NY) at 20 mg/kg body weight, dissolved in 100 ml of water, approximately 3 hours prior to the induction of anesthesia. For patients receiving only fluorescein, the operating surgeon will request bolus injection (at a dose of 5 mg/kg) approximately 30 minutes prior to the start of tumor resection. For especially long cases (e.g., \> 4 h) or if fluorescein fluorescence dissipates substantially during the course of the procedure, a second bolus injection may occur later in the case.

Interventions

DRUGFluorescein + ALA

Sponsors

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
CollaboratorNIH
Carl Zeiss Meditec, Inc.
CollaboratorINDUSTRY
David W. Roberts
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
DIAGNOSTIC
Masking
NONE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
21 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

1. Preoperative diagnosis of either presumed first-time low or high grade glioma (astrocytoma, oligodendroglioma, mixed oligo-astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and glioblastoma multiforme). 2. Tumor judged to be suitable for open cranial resection based on preoperative imaging studies. 3. Valid informed consent by subject or subject's LAR. 4. No serious associated psychiatric illnesses. 5. Age ≥ 21 years old.

Exclusion criteria

1. Pregnant women or women who are breast feeding. 2. History of hypersensitivity to fluorescein. 3. History of cutaneous photosensitivity, porphyria, hypersensitivity to porphyrins, photodermatosis, exfoliative dermatitis. 4. History of liver disease within the last 12 months. 5. Elevated LFTs (AST, ALT, ALP or bilirubin levels greater than 2.5 times the normal limit) from laboratory tests conducted within 30 days prior to surgery. 6. Serum creatinine in excess of 180µmol/L (2.04 md/dL) within 30 days prior to surgery. 7. Inability to comply with the photosensitivity precautions associated with the study.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Fluorescein performance as an intraoperative biomarker for tumor tissue will be reported.24 monthsThe predictive performance of fluorescein fluorescence as an intraoperative imaging biomarker of tumor during surgery in patients with a clinical diagnosis of high grade glioma (HGG) and patients with a clinical diagnosis of low grade glioma (LGG) will be measured. Fluorescence will be measured both quantitatively via an intraoperative probe and visually by the neurosurgeon through the operating microscope. Endpoints will be assessed separately for HGG and LGG groups.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Fluorescein performance as visualized and measured with an intraoperative probe will be reported24 monthsThe performance of fluorescein as visualized by the neurosurgeon and measured quantitatively with an intraoperative probe will be analyzed to the contrast-enhancement on coregistered preoperative MR scans in patients with a clinical diagnosis of high grade glioma.
Fluorescein versus fluorescein + ALA performance will be reported in patients in patients with 2 different types of tumors24 monthsThe performance of fluorescein versus fluorescein + ALA as visualized by the neurosurgeon and measured quantitatively with an intra-operative probe will be analyzed in patients with a clinical diagnosis of either high grade glioma (HGG) or low grade glioma (LGG).

Countries

United States

Contacts

Primary ContactSally B Mansur, MS
Sally.B.Mansur@Dartmouth.edu
Backup ContactKeith D Paulsen, PhD
Keith.D.Paulsen@Dartmouth.edu

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026