USPIO enhanced MR Imaging in CNS tumours (UMIC)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
USPIO enhanced MR Imaging in CNS tumours (UMIC): A pilot study of ferumoxytol (Feraheme ©) as an imaging biomarker of tumour associated macrophage (TAM) infiltration in vestibular schwannoma (VS) and transforming low grade glioma (LGG)
IRAS ID
314251
Contact name
David Coope
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 10 months, 31 days
Research summary
The immune response or inflammation is known to be a key driver of progression and growth in many solid tumours. Inflammatory cells called macrophages are present in high numbers in many brain tumours and these tumour-associated macrophages or TAM are thought to have prognosis and treatment implications in these tumours. A key question, however, is how this inflammation or TAM abundance can be detected, measured and monitored in the clinic. A clinically applicable imaging test that can directly and accurately measure tumour macrophage content would be of considerable value and one technique that may provide this is USPIO enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Following intravenous injection, USPIO or ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, circulate in the bloodstream before being taken up by inflammatory cells/macrophages in tumour tissue, wherein they can be detected by MRI. This pilot study is to evaluate if a commercially available USPIO preparation called ferumoxytol (Feraheme ©) can accurately quantify macrophage abundance in brain tumours, with an exploratory focus on vestibular schwannoma (VS) and suspected transforming low-grade glioma (LGG). Patients with both non-growing (static) and growing VS, and patients with suspected transforming LGG will undergo dedicated MRI sequences before, immediately after (< 2 hours) and at both 24 and 48hrs after ferumoxytol administration. In patients undergoing surgery, acquired imaging will be compared with resected tumour tissue so that markers of inflammation can be compared with USPIO uptake. Through advanced laboratory methods this study will seek to establish within resected VS and LGG specimens: the cellular destination/s of USPIO uptake; the nature of the inflammatory and/or tumour cells containing the USPIO; and the relationship between USPIO uptake and tumour blood vessel permeability or leakiness.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
22/NW/0384
Date of REC Opinion
3 Feb 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion