Assessment of 5-ALA derived fluorescence in brain tumours
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Assessment of 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) derived fluorescence in patients with brain tumours through the use of retinal imaging and tissue analysis.
IRAS ID
263324
Contact name
Richard Mair
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
R&D/NIHR BRC Manager
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
High grade brain tumours have been shown to fluoresce following administration of the oral prodrug 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA). This fluorescence enables a greater degree of resection at surgery and has benefit for patient overall survival.
Few data exist exploring the mechanism of intraoperative fluorescence. We plan to use metabolic and genomic techniques to explore how fluorescence occurs in high grade but not low grade brain tumours.
We also note that cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (that bathes the brain) also fluoresces within the context of high grade brain tumours following 5-ALA administration. CSF can be visualised at the optic nerve head via the eye. We wish to test the utility oral 5-ALA for the non-invasive detection of high grade brain tumours via imaging of the eye in a cohort of brain tumour and control patients.
REC name
East of England - Cambridge Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
19/EE/0341
Date of REC Opinion
5 Mar 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion