GlycoDMI Brain Tumour Study
Research type
Research Study
Full title
OPTIMISING DEUTERIUM MAGNETIC RESONANCE FOR IN VIVO ASSESSMENT OF CEREBRAL GLYCOLYTIC FLUX IN BRAIN TUMOURS
IRAS ID
313696
Contact name
Milo Hollingworth
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Nottingham
Duration of Study in the UK
5 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
This study uses advanced MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) to study patients with brain tumours. Conventional MRI works by visualising the location of hydrogen atoms in water and other molecules in the body. Hydrogen atoms exist in different forms, 99.985% protium and 0.0156% deuterium. They have similar biological properties but they can be visualised separately. By giving deuterium-labelled substances (water, glucose, amino acids, drugs), we can visualise where the substances are, and how they are being broken down (metabolism) in the body. We want to study the body’s most important energy source, glucose, in brain tumours. This technological advance has several benefits: it could help identify resistance to chemotherapy and reduce the need for tissue diagnosis, which involves surgery.
We have recently established the protocol of oral intake of deuterated glucose and subsequent dynamic metabolite measurements using deuterium MRI at 7T (currently the strongest magnets for human MRI in the UK) in healthy volunteers. The aim of this study is to further refine the protocol for use in adult patients with brain tumours and to explore its added diagnostic value over conventional clinical MRI. We will do this by asking patients to take a deuterated glucose drink, containing the same amount of added sugar as a commercially available large hot chocolate. Patients will undergo deuterium MRI and glucose metabolism will be measured inside the tumour. Some participants will be invited to be scanned twice helping to understand how metabolism changes over time. No diagnoses can be made as part of this study but this will be a starting point to study glucose metabolism in patients with malignant brain tumours
REC name
South Central - Oxford B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
23/SC/0244
Date of REC Opinion
22 Sep 2023
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion