Investigating Endothelial Precursor Cells (EPCs)

Completed

Conditions studied: Central Nervous System

In brief

Recent studies suggest that cells in the bone marrow-endothelial precursor cells (EPCs)-can provide a blood supply to cancerous tumors. The purpose of this study is to collect brain tumor and blood samples to look for these EPCs in the samples and analyze the growth signals that may help blood vessels to grow in tumors. Researchers will study the following in the samples: 1) the number of blood vessels in the tumor; 2) the levels of growth factors in the tumor and blood; 3) the levels of circulating EPCs in the blood; and 4) the changes in the genes and proteins in the blood and tumor that influence growth factor levels. Participants will be 18 years of age or older and have evidence of a brain tumor that requires surgery. From this surgery they will donate blood and tumor samples. Participants will have follow-up visits 4 to 8 weeks after surgery, then at 3-month intervals for two-and-one-half years, then at 6-month intervals thereafter. At these visits, participants will undergo a physical exam, a brain scan, and blood work.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT00067067

Run by

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

People needed

84

Starts

2003-08-01

Expected to finish

2004-10-01

Last updated by the study team

2008-03-04

Who can join

Age: any. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Radiographic evidence of a primary glial neoplasm of the CNS (WHO grade II-IV) or any patient with a known primary neoplasm of the CNS.
• Medically indicated (diagnostic and/or therapeutic) tumor resection.
• Informed consent from patient, age 18 or older to 75 years of age.
• No racial or ethnic group or gender is excluded.

You may not qualify if…

• Inability to provide informed consent prior to surgery.
• Medical conditions that cannot be corrected prior to surgery that would be standard contraindications for neurosurgery.
• Pregnant Women: Women of child-bearing age will be tested before surgery for pregnancy.

Where it is running

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) — Bethesda, Maryland, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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