Analysis of Brain Metastasis in Patients With Lung Cancer

Sponsor
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) (NIH)
Overall Status
Completed
CT.gov ID
NCT00071344
Collaborator
(none)
78
1
12
6.5

Study Details

Study Description

Brief Summary

This study will examine patients with non-small cell lung cancer metastasis, that is, the distant spreading of tumors to the brain, and compare them with patients without brain metastasis. The molecular and genetic events that permit tumor metastasis are not well understood. There is intense investigation going on into the process in which tumor cells escape the primary local tumor, spread to distant places in the body, and find and create conditions that promote growth in those tissues. Metastasis of tumors such as lung cancer to the brain is a common problem. Tumor cells will be analyzed with the use of microarrays. A microarray is a tool for analyzing gene expression, consisting of a small membrane or glass slide containing samples of many genes arranged in a regular pattern. The goal is to identify a potential molecular signature. It is hoped that there will be discovery of why some patients are more likely than others to develop a brain metastasis, which can have a major negative effect on the quality of life and survival.

Patients 18 years of age with known or evidence by radiology of a non-small cell lung cancer metastatic to the brain, either squamous cells or adenocarcinoma tumors, or those who have had a removal of a brain tumor for diagnosis or treatment may be eligible for this study.

Participants will undergo the following procedures and tests:
  • Craniotomy, that is, surgical opening of the skull, and removal of the brain tumor.

  • Blood specimens taken from a central vein or artery before the operation, throughout as needed, and for several days afterward, to measure blood chemistries, blood count, and so forth.

  • Physical examination and imaging of the central nervous system before and after surgery.

  • Urine or serum, or both, pregnancy test of women of childbearing potential.

Patients will also undergo blood tests at 3-month intervals after surgery for up to 5 years. The purpose is to determine if there are tumor cells in the blood, which may explain how they reached the brain.

Condition or Disease Intervention/Treatment Phase

    Detailed Description

    Introduction: The molecular and genetic events that permit tumor metastasis are not well understood. The process whereby tumor cells escape the primary, local tumor, spread to distant sites in the body and find and create conditions conducive to growth in these disparate tissues remains an area of intense investigation. Metastasis of epithelial tumors, such as lung cancer, to the brain is a common problem, with significant consequences with respect to neurological dysfunction and shortening of survival.

    Objective: To study two subset of patients with non small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) metastatic to the brain, to identify genes and proteins that facilitate metastasis.

    Study Population: 78 patients with NSCLC (n=39 squamous cell (SQ), and n=39 adenocarcinoma (AC) tumors) metastatic to the brain to compare with published microarray studies of non-metastatic NSCLC patients with these tumor types as well as with one another to help explain the differential trend toward metastasis in some patients with NSCLC and not others, as well as the differential trend to brain metastasis in the AC subtype.

    Anticipated Risks and Benefits: Less than minimal risk to the patients to sample tissue already removed from the brain as part of medically-necessary surgery and to sample blood. No direct benefit to the patient is expected.

    Outcome Estimate and Potential Meaning for the Field: That this very detailed investigation of the genes and proteins expressed differentially between the non-metastatic and metastatic NSCLCs, as well as between SQ and AC subtypes will identify new or previously-unsuspected targets for new therapies to either prevent the development of brain metastasis or to treat brain metastases more effectively.

    Study Design

    Study Type:
    Observational
    Official Title:
    Analysis of Brain Metastasis in Patients With Lung Cancer
    Study Start Date :
    Oct 1, 2003
    Study Completion Date :
    Oct 1, 2004

    Outcome Measures

    Primary Outcome Measures

      Eligibility Criteria

      Criteria

      Ages Eligible for Study:
      N/A and Older
      Sexes Eligible for Study:
      All
      Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
      No
      Inclusion Criteria:
      1. A patient with a known or with radiographic evidence of a NSCLC neoplasm metastatic to the brain, either SQ or AC.

      2. Medically-indicated (diagnostic and/or therapeutic) brain tumor resection.

      3. Informed consent from female patient, age 18 or older. In general, patients less than 18 years of age rarely have NSCLC metastatic to the brain.

      Exclusion Criteria:
      1. Inability to provide informed consent prior to surgery.

      2. Medical conditions that cannot be corrected prior to surgery that would be standard contraindications for craniotomy (brain tumor patients).

      Contacts and Locations

      Locations

      Site City State Country Postal Code
      1 National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Bethesda Maryland United States 20892

      Sponsors and Collaborators

      • National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

      Investigators

      None specified.

      Study Documents (Full-Text)

      None provided.

      More Information

      Publications

      Responsible Party:
      , ,
      ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
      NCT00071344
      Other Study ID Numbers:
      • 040004
      • 04-N-0004
      First Posted:
      Oct 13, 2003
      Last Update Posted:
      Mar 4, 2008
      Last Verified:
      Oct 1, 2004

      Study Results

      No Results Posted as of Mar 4, 2008