RecruitingNot Applicable

Brain Connectivity Changes in Glioma Patients During Treatment

Austria20 participantsStarted 2026-05

Plain-language summary

The goal of this observational study is to better understand how the brain changes during the treatment of glioma. In particular, the study looks at changes in important brain areas that are responsible for functions such as movement, language, or sensation, as well as the nerve fiber pathways that connect these areas. The main question this study aims to answer is: How do important brain areas and their connections adapt and reorganize over the course of glioma treatment? Patients with glioma will undergo repeated brain imaging examinations as part of their regular medical care. These images will be analyzed over time to observe changes in brain activity and structure during different stages of therapy. By studying these changes, researchers hope to gain new insights into the brain's ability to adapt (neuroplasticity) throughout the entire course of glioma treatment.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 64 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: * Patients with diffuse gliomas (WHO grade 2-4). * Age \>18 years and \<65 years. * Written participant information and informed consent provided and signed. * Signed informed consent for functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Exclusion Criteria: * Age \<18 years or \>65 years. * Pregnancy. * Contraindications to MRI, including but not limited to: * Active medical implants (e.g., pain pump, defibrillator, cardiac pacemaker), * Orthodontic braces, * Metallic tattoos, * Non-removable piercings, * Known metallic foreign bodies, * Claustrophobia. * Cerebral metastases from secondary (non-primary) tumors. * Absence of baseline BOLD functional MRI and/or baseline neurocognitive assessment. * Failure to provide written participant information and informed consent. * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) \<60, unless feasibility of clinical-psychological testing and BOLD fMRI is confirmed by the investigator in consultation with clinical psychology, radiology staff, and the patient.

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

Treatment-related changes in BOLD signal and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) outcomes across different stages of treatment.

Timeframe: Day 0 (pre-neurosurgery baseline), Day 28 (post-surgery/pre-radiotherapy), and Day 126 to Day 140 (post-treatment)

Treatment-related changes in neurofunctional activation patterns and cerebral organizational and reorganization processes assessed by functional MRI and diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) at 1-year follow-up from treatment initiation.

Timeframe: Day 0 (pre-neurosurgery baseline) and Day 365 (one-year follow-up)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07612917

SponsorJohannes Kepler University of Linz

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2029-09

Contact for this trial

Raimund Kleiser, PD Dr.

+43 5 7680 87 - 26701 raimund.kleiser@kepleruniklinikum.at

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Glioma (Any Grade) in the Brain trials