Brain scans may reveal how to protect memory during radiation
NCT ID NCT04975139
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study follows 71 glioma patients before and after radiation therapy to see how their thinking skills change. Researchers use special brain scans (RS-fMRI) to map which brain networks are most harmed by radiation. The goal is to learn which areas to avoid during treatment planning to preserve cognitive function.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could help doctors plan radiation therapy to better protect brain areas responsible for memory and thinking in glioma patients.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early observational study with only 71 participants. It does not test a treatment, so it may not lead to immediate changes in patient care.
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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71 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Sep 2020
- Expected to finish
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Oct 2033
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
Patients seen at Siteman Cancer Center at Washington University School of Medicine.
- 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.
Inclusion Criteria: * Cohort A: histological diagnosis of IDH-mutant astrocytoma or oligodendroglioma, WHO grade II-IV. IDH-mutation may be either by immunohistochemistry (IHC) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) as per routine clinical care. * Cohort B: histological diagnosis of IDH-wildtype astrocytoma, WHO grade II-IV. IDH-wildtype status or absence of IDH-mutation may be either by IHC or NGS as per routine clinical care. The IDH-wildtype patients should have \>80% probability to be alive in 6 months, and the online nomogram calculator below may be used to estimate the 6-month probability: http://cancer4.case.edu/rCalculator/rCalculator.html (Gittleman et al., 2016). The ideal patients are favorable IDH-wildtype astrocytoma patients who are expected to have prolonged survival, such as age ≤ 40 or grade 2-3 tumors. * Cohort C: any non-infiltrative benign brain tumor histology, including but not limited to meningioma, pituitary tumor, schwannoma, craniopharngioma, hemangioblastoma, hemangiopericytoma, pineal tumor, pilocytic astrocytoma, and ganglioglioma. * At least 18 years of age. * Karnofsky performance status (KPS) of at least 70% * Eligible for and planning to receive standard fractionated RT, which can be either photon-based or proton beam therapy. * May be part of other clinical trials and can receive chemotherapy or experimental agents concurrently with or after RT as long as the other clinical trial does not exclude participation in this non-therapeutic study. * Females of childbearing potential (defined as a female who is non-menopausal or surgically sterilized) must be willing to use an acceptable method of birth control (i.e., hormonal contraceptive, intra-uterine device, diaphragm with spermicide, condom with spermicide, or abstinence) for the duration of the study. Should a woman become pregnant or suspect she is pregnant while participating in this study, she must inform her treating physician immediately. * Able to understand and willing to sign an IRB-approved written informed consent document (legally authorized representative permitted). Exclusion Criteria: * Prior cranial RT or RT to the head and neck where potential field overlap may exist * Gliomatosis, leptomeningeal, or metastatic involvement. * Medical contraindication to MRI (e.g., unsafe foreign metallic implants, incompatible pacemaker, inability to lie still for long periods, severe to end-stage kidney disease or on hemodialysis). * Require anesthesia to undergo MRI (e.g. severe claustrophobia), which would interfere with RS-fMRI acquisition and processing. * Pregnant or breastfeeding. * Non-English speaking, as the cognitive assessments will only be available in English.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Washington University School of Medicine
St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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