Brain vein blood test could replace risky biopsies
NCT ID NCT07467109
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Sep 10, 2026 · Updated 3 times
Summary
This study tests whether drawing blood directly from veins inside the brain can safely diagnose high-grade glioma, a type of brain cancer. Researchers will compare this liquid biopsy to traditional surgical biopsy. Only 20 adults with suspected or confirmed brain cancer will participate.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- blood sampling
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could provide a safer way to diagnose brain cancers without needing invasive surgery.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial with only 20 participants. The technique may not be safe or effective, and it's not yet proven to replace standard biopsy.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2026
- Expected to finish
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May 2029
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
Who is studied
MD Anderson Cancer Center
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Eligibility Criteria 1. Subjects over the age of 18 with suspected or confirmed, recently diagnosed, previously treated or recurrent high-grade glioma (WHO grade III and IV) in whom a diagnostic cerebral Angiogram is indicated as standard of care may be approached for participation in this study. 2. Subjects are eligible if review of relevant intracranial cerebrovascular anatomy by cross sectional imaging such as CTA head and MRI brain, is deemed suitable for endovascular intracranial venous sampling. 3. For subjects with suspected or recently diagnosed glioma, subjects are eligible if they have or are scheduled to undergo surgical biopsy or surgical resection of the tumor within 4 weeks (+/- 1 week) of the planned liquid biopsy. 4. For subjects with previously treated or recurrent glioma in whom tissue diagnosis and molecular profiling had been previously performed on surgical specimens at any time in the past, a planned surgical biopsy/resection is desirable but not necessary for inclusion in the study. • Ability to understand and the willingness to sign an informed consent document. 5. For participants with known history of chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, the HBV viral load must be undetectable on suppressive therapy within 6 months, if indicated. 6. Participants with a history of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection must have been treated and cured. For participants with HCV infection who are currently on treatment, they are eligible if they have an undetectable HCV viral load within 6 months. 7. Participants with a known history of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV on effective antiretroviral therapy with undetectable viral load within 6 months are eligible for this trial. 8. Karnofsky Performance Scale ≥ 60% 9. Participants must have adequate organ and marrow function as defined below: hemoglobin ≥ 7mg/dL absolute neutrophil count ≥ 1,000/mcL platelets ≥ 100,000/mcL International Normalized Ratio ≤ 1.7 AST(SGOT)/ALT(SGPT) ≤3 × institutional ULN creatinine ≤ 1.5mg/dL Exclusion Criteria 1. Subjects with suspected glioma or other brain cancers who do not have a tissue diagnosis and no surgical biopsy or resection is anticipated. 2. Subjects in whom diagnostic cerebral angiogram is contra-indicated defined as: * Severe contrast allergy * Acute/chronic renal dysfunction with eGFR \< 45 ml/min and Cr ≤ 1.5 mg/dL 3. For participants undergoing surgery, refractory coagulopathy or thrombocytopenia which cannot be corrected defined as: * Platelets ≤100,000/mcL * International Normalized Ratio ≤ 1.7 4. Subjects that have a known high risk in monitored anesthetic care or general anesthesia assessed by the treating physician. 5. Anatomic considerations: based on cross-sectional imaging such as CT angiogram of the head and neck, the anatomy for arterial and venous vascular access is deemed unsuitable for endovascular access such as high-grade carotid artery stenosis, absent or occluded internal jugular veins, sigmoid sinuses and/or transverse sinuses. 6. Participants with clinical cerebral edema evidenced from altered mental status 7. Pregnant women due to risk of radiation exposure to the fetus, as determined by pregnancy urinalysis or serum analysis test during screening. 8. Subjects with psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements at the physician's discretion.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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MD Anderson Cancer Center
RECRUITINGHouston, Texas, 77030, United States
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