DSC-MRI for Recurrent Glioblastoma

This trial aims to evaluate how well a special MRI technique, DSC-MRI, measures blood flow changes in brain cancer, specifically glioblastoma, after treatment with bevacizumab (also known as Avastin). Bevacizumab targets blood vessels in tumors to slow their growth. The trial seeks participants whose glioblastoma has returned after initial treatment and who have not previously received certain immunotherapies. Participants should be comfortable with MRI scans and must not have any non-removable metal in their bodies.

As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to cutting-edge research that could improve future treatment options for glioblastoma patients.

The trial protocol does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it does require that you have not been previously treated with immunotherapies.

Research has shown that bevacizumab is generally well-tolerated by patients with glioblastoma. While side effects occur, they are often manageable. Common side effects include high blood pressure, nosebleeds, and headaches, but these are usually not life-threatening.

The FDA has already approved bevacizumab for treating certain cancers, indicating a known safety profile. However, because reactions can vary, regular check-ups with healthcare professionals remain important.

Unlike the standard care options for recurrent glioblastoma, which often involve surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, this trial is exploring the use of DSC-MRI in combination with bevacizumab. Researchers are excited because DSC-MRI is a novel imaging technique that can provide detailed information about blood flow in the brain. This could allow doctors to assess how well bevacizumab, a drug that targets blood vessel growth, is working much earlier than traditional methods. By using DSC-MRI, they hope to tailor treatments more effectively and improve outcomes for patients.

Research has shown that bevacizumab, which participants in this trial may receive, can help treat recurrent glioblastoma by targeting the blood vessels that feed the tumor. It blocks a protein that aids these blood vessels' growth, potentially starving the tumor. Studies have found that bevacizumab can shrink the tumor and slow its growth in some patients with glioblastoma. In this trial, doctors will use a special type of MRI scan, called DSC-MRI, to monitor changes in blood flow to the tumor. This scan can help determine how well bevacizumab is working. Previous research has shown that changes in blood flow, measured by this scan, can indicate how the tumor responds to the treatment. This helps doctors assess the treatment's effectiveness early on.²⁶⁷⁸⁹