ALA-induced PpIX Fluorescence During Brain Tumor Resection
United States540 participantsStarted 2014-07
Plain-language summary
Removing a tumor from a patients brain is hard to do because, very often, brain tumors do not have boundaries that are easy for the patients surgeon to find. In many cases, the surgeon can't tell exactly where the tumor begins or ends. The surgeon usually can remove most of the patient's tumor by looking at the MRI images that were taken of the patient's brain before surgery. However, the surgeon does not have any good way to tell if the entire tumor has been removed or not. Removing the entire tumor is very important because leaving tumor behind may allow it to grow back which could decrease the chances of survival.
Who can participate
Age range
21 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion Criteria:
* Preoperative diagnosis of either presumed first-time low or high grade glioma, or recurrent glioma, or metastasis, or meningioma
* Tumor judged to be suitable for open cranial resection based on preoperative imaging studies.
* Patient or LAR able to provide written informed consent.
* No serious associated psychiatric illnesses.
* Age \> 21 years old.
Exclusion Criteria:
* Pregnant women or women who are breast feeding
* History of cutaneous photosensitivity, porphyria, hypersensitivity to porphyrins, photodermatosis, exfoliative dermatitis.
* History of liver disease within the last 12 months.
* Elevated liver function levels greater than 2.5 times the normal limit from laboratory tests conducted within 30 days prior to surgery.
* Inability to comply with the photosensitivity precautions associated with the study.
* Plasma creatinine in excess of 180umol/L within 30 days prior to surgery
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Comparison of intraoperative measurements of PpIX concentration to coregistered histopathology
Timeframe: Up to five years from the first surgery date