A study looking at 3 different ways of doing an MRI scan for brain tumours (LIFE-GlioB)

Cancer type:

Brain (and spinal cord) tumours

Status:

Open

Phase:

Other

This study is looking at 3 ways of doing an MRI scan to understand more about brain tumours and what happens to them during and after treatment.

MRI scans are one of the tests that doctors do to diagnose brain tumours.  After treatment you have regular MRI scans to check whether the tumour is coming back or starting to grow again. Researchers are looking for ways to improve the information obtained from the MRI scans..

In this study, the team are looking at 3 new ways of doing an MRI scan. These involve:

  • checking how your body processes a substance called lactate that is produced during the breakdown of sugar for energy. This is a carbon MRI scan.
  • checking how your body processes sugar (glucose). This is a Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) scan.
  • checking protein levels and tissue acidity. This is a Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) MRI scan.

The aims of the study are to find out:

  • whether they can detect the difference between normal tissue and tumour tissue in these MRI scans
  • whether either of these ways of doing an MRI scan can better predict how well treatment might work for people with a brain tumour

This study is being done at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge. You can’t volunteer to join the study. You can only take part if you are having care at Addenbrookes. Your healthcare team can check if you are suitable for the study and refer you.

Who can enter

The following bullet points are a summary of the entry conditions for this study. Talk to your doctor or the study team if you are unsure about any of these. They will be able to advise you. 

Who can take part

You may be able to join this study if all of the following apply. You:

  • have a brain tumour or your doctor thinks you might  
  • are willing to use reliable contraception for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after each scan if you are a woman and for 2 weeks after each scan if you are a man. This is if you or your partner could become pregnant. 
  • are at least 18 years old

Who can’t take part

You cannot join this study if any of these apply. You:

  • are not able to have an MRI scan. This could be because you have a pacemaker, bits of metal in the body such as surgical clips or you are not comfortable in small, confined spaces. If you are a woman using a copper coated coil (IUD) for contraception the team will confirm if it is okay for you to have the MRI scan.
  • are pregnant or breastfeeding 
  • have high levels of sugar in the blood that could affect you taking part. Your doctor will test for this.
  • have any other medical conditions or mental health conditions that could affect you taking part.

Trial design

The study team need:

  • 11 people to have the carbon MRI scan
  • 11 people to have the Deuterium Metabolic Imaging (DMI) scan
  • 11 people to have the DMI and CEST MRI scan 

You do not need to have all three scans. 

You have an MRI scan done in the usual way and one of the newer MRI scans:

  • before starting radiotherapy
  • within 10 weeks of starting radiotherapy

The team might ask you to fast for up to 6 hours before your scan. This means if you are having the scan in the morning, you delay having breakfast. If you are having your scan in the afternoon you delay having lunch. The team will let you know if they want you to fast before your scan. You can drink small amounts of water so you don’t feel very thirsty or dehydrate. The team do not want you to have a full stomach of water. 

Before the scans you have either injections or a drink. For the carbon MRI, you have an injection of pyruvate before the scan. Pyruvate is a sugar-like substance that is found naturally in the body. You have this through a small plastic tube (cannula) into a vein in your arm. 

For the DMI scan, you drink a small sugar drink, about 200mls (a glassful), before the scan.

The maximum number of injections or drinks you have in the study is 4. So you have either:

  • a maximum of 4 injections for the carbon MRI scan or
  • a maximum of 4 drinks for the DMI study

For the MRI scans, you lie on a couch that slides into the MRI scanner. Both scans use an MRI coil. This is to make sure your head stays still during the scan. It also helps to get clear images of the inside of your head. Your head gently slides into the coil before having the scan. You are face up in the coil and go into the scanner headfirst. Your head stays in the coil during the scan. 

The team will ask if you are willing to have more scans done. You don’t have to agree to have these scans done.  This can be between 2 and 5 extra visits.

Samples for research
If you are having surgery to remove your brain tumour, the team will ask for a small piece of it. They will use these samples to learn more about brain tumours.

Hospital visits

You see the doctor to talk about the study and have tests before taking part. The tests can include:

  • a physical examination Open a glossary item
  • a standard MRI scan
  • blood tests

The number of extra visits you have depends on how many MRI scans you agree to have.

Side effects

The study team monitor you during the scans. MRI scans are safe and don’t use radiation.

The pyruvate used for the carbon MRI scan is a natural substance found in the body. It has been used in other studies and there have been no safety problems. 

Side effects that people have had include:

  • a weird taste in the mouth
  • headaches 
  • flushing
  • diarrhoea 
  • dizziness

These have been mild and did not last long.

The drink used for the DMI scan is a natural substance found in the body and in food. It is already in use and has not caused any side effects.

Your doctor will talk to you about surgery to remove your brain tumour before you agree to have the surgery.

We have more information about:

Location

Cambridge

Recruitment start:

Recruitment end:

How to join a clinical trial

Please note: In order to join a trial you will need to discuss it with your doctor, unless otherwise specified.

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Chief Investigator

Professor Ferdia Gallagher
 

Supported by

Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Lundbeck Foundation
National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR)
University of Cambridge

If you have questions about the trial please contact our cancer information nurses

Freephone 0808 800 4040

Last review date

CRUK internal database number:

19899

Please note - unless we state otherwise in the summary, you need to talk to your doctor about joining a trial.

Last reviewed:

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