Circulating Tumor DNA in Cerebrospinal Fluid as an Early Biomarker of Leptomeningeal Metastasis (LM)

Completed

Conditions studied: Leptomeningeal Metastasis

In brief

The purpose of this study is to learn whether the DNA from cancer tumor cells can be found in the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) that bathes the brain and spinal cord of patients before malignant the cancer cells themselves are able to be found in the CSF. The researchers doing this study hope this information can be used to develop a way to diagnose LM earlier .

Key facts

Study ID

NCT02071056

Run by

Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center

People needed

5

Starts

2014-05-01

Expected to finish

2015-11-25

Last updated by the study team

2020-08-18

Who can join

Age: 18 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Patient must have a previously diagnosed solid tumor malignancy originating from a visceral organ (i.e., outside of the CNS), and present with signs and/or symptoms consistent with carcinomatous meningitis (headache, vision dysfunction, hearing loss, cranial nerve deficit, cognitive dysfunction, focal weakness or numbness suggestive of cranial neuropathy or radiculopathy, cauda equine syndrome, meningismus, and/or bowel or bladder dysfunction).
• Age ≥ 18 years.
• Patients will meet accepted standard of care and follow FDA guidance for low molecular weight heparin use prior to lumbar puncture, specifically INR < 1.4 and PT within normal range for DHMC laboratory, and platelet count >50,000. For enoxaparin use, delay of Lumbar puncture to allow at least 12 hours after administration of prophylactic doses, such as those used for prevention of deep vein thrombosis. Longer delays (24 hours) are appropriate to consider for patients receiving higher therapeutic doses of enoxaparin (1 mg/kg twice daily or 1.5 mg/kg once daily). A postprocedure dose of enoxaparin should usually be given no sooner than 4 hours after lumbar puncture. Aspirin and other antiplatelet therapy is permitted without timing constraints prior to or after lumbar puncture.
• Patient must consent to provide up to additional CSF (10 mL) and blood (10 mL) when these fluids are drawn as part of clinically indicated procedures.
• Patient must consent to permit genetic analysis of their cancer.
• Patient capable of giving informed consent.
• MRI of clinically symptomatic area (spine and/or brain) and/or head CT within the last 3 months to exclude brain disease that would contraindicate lumbar puncture.

You may not qualify if…

• Evidence of a CNS mass creating mass-effect or midline shift such that lumbar puncture is contraindicated.
• Previous or current hematological malignancy.
• Previous or current primary CNS malignancy.
• Prior treatment for CNS metastasis.
• Known CNS autoimmune or inflammatory disease (i.e., Multiple Sclerosis, neurosarcoidosis, chronic fungal, rickettsial or bacterial meningitis).
• Patient is currently receiving treatment for LM.
• Patient was previously diagnosed with LM.

Where it is running

• Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center — Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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