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Prognostic IntraOperative Biomarkers IdeNtification in Tumor RElatEd SuRgery

Not Applicable
Not yet recruiting
Conditions
Glioma
Glioblastoma (GBM)
Brain Tumor-Glioma
Interventions
Device: Neuropixel probe recording
Registration Number
NCT06617208
Lead Sponsor
Erasmus Medical Center
Brief Summary

INTRODUCTION AND RATIONALE

Aggressive brain tumors like glioma have the ability to infiltrate the surrounding healthy brain tissue, disrupting normal neuronal activities and leading to impaired motor and cognitive functions, as well as causing epilepsy. This malignant brain tumor is considered one of the most challenging cancers to treat, with a median survival of 12 to 15 months. Recent findings on direct neuron-tumor interactions indicate that abnormal brain activity in the regions surrounding brain tumors may contribute to develop epilepsy and accelerating tumor growth. Tumors tend to 'fuel' themselves with neurotransmitters released during its 'daily' neuronal firing. Hyperactive neurons in the peritumoral cortex can form excitatory electrochemical synapses with surrounding tumor cells, creating direct communication pathways within the peritumoral microenvironment, which aids in the progression and proliferation of tumor cells via direct and paracrine signalling pathways. However, the specific features of this abnormal brain activity in the peritumoral cortex have not been fully clarified and information on the pathological changes of neuronal activity in glioma patients is largely lacking. To advance more effective treatment strategies, it is crucial to better understand the complex interactions between the tumor and the brain.

This is especially important for the group of patients of which many perceive diminished quality of life because of epilepsy, cognitive functioning and language problems after tumor surgery. Furthermore, a thorough understanding is lacking of what tumor resection does to the original hyperactive peritumoral cortex and if resecting this is beneficial for improving postoperative outcome both for epilepsy as well as regarding survival. Therefore, identifying the hyperactive peritumoral cortex and directly addressing its impacts on the brain function and long-term surgical outcome could be a promising novel therapeutic strategy for treating glioma patients.

STUDY AIM

The measurement focuses on capturing neuronal activity at single-neuron resolution in the peritumoral cortex of glioma patients using cortical depth electrodes. It is well-established that gliomas can remodel the surrounding brain tissue, leading to abnormal neuronal hyperactivity, which contributes to tumor progression and epilepsy. However, the specific neuronal patterns and underlying mechanisms of these changes are not yet fully understood. This study will aim to collect detailed single-neuron recordings in this context, enabling us to map the precise neurophysiological disruptions caused by gliomas. On the long term, this research could lay the groundwork in identifying novel therapeutic approaches by providing critical in-sights into how gliomas alter brain function.

Detailed Description

Not available

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status
NOT_YET_RECRUITING
Sex
All
Target Recruitment
10
Inclusion Criteria
  • Age between 18 yrs and 90 yrs old with radiologically diagnosed GBM
  • Eligible for surgery according to standard practices. If suitable and necessary according to standard practices, awake surgery is also permitted.
  • Written Informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria
  • Inability to give consent because of or language barrier
  • Psychiatric history
  • Previous brain tumour surgery or radiotherapy
  • Severe aphasia or dysphasia
  • Patient has pacemaker or other implanted electrical device such as vagal nerve stimulator or other

Study & Design

Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Study Design
SINGLE_GROUP
Arm && Interventions
GroupInterventionDescription
Neuropixel probe recordingNeuropixel probe recordingCortical electrophysiology using the Neuropixel probe is performed to record brain activity in the peritumoral cortex
Primary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Number of Successful Neuropixels Probe Recordings During Glioma SurgeriesFrom the beginning to end of tumor surgery

Description:

The primary outcome measure is the number of successful Neuropixels depth electrode recordings achieved during glioma surgeries. Success is defined as:

Sterility: No postoperative infections, assessed by clinical follow-up and microbiological testing.

Signal Quality: Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) above 30 dB, as measured during and after surgery through electrophysiological software.

Device Integrity: No fractures or damage to the Neuropixels probe, verified by post-procedure inspection.

Training Efficiency: Setup time and error reduction during the recording process, recorded across surgeries to assess team proficiency.

Secondary Outcome Measures
NameTimeMethod
Prognostic Biomarker Identification (Unit: Number of Isolated Single Neurons with Tumor-Modulated Activity):From the beginning to end of surgery

The secondary outcome will focus on identifying prognostic biomarkers through intra-operative recordings using Neuropixels. This includes measuring the number of single neurons isolated with distinct spiking or waveform characteristics that correlate with tumor pathology. The outcome will be quantified as the number of neurons showing unique tumor-related activity patterns (e.g., altered firing rates, waveform morphology) across patients undergoing surgery.

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