CNS and Extracranial Tumor Tissues, CSF, and Blood From Patients With Melanoma Brain Metastases (13-052)

October 2, 2019 updated by: John Kirkwood, University of Pittsburgh

Procurement of Central Nervous System and Extracranial Tumor Tissues, Cerebrospinal Fluid, and Blood From Patients With Melanoma Brain Metastases

The purpose of this study is to collect and bank samples of blood and tissues (such as brain tissue or lymph nodes), as well as cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which is the fluid that bathes and cushions the spinal cord. The investigator will analyze DNA biomarkers in the samples. The investigator hopes that by studying the biomarkers, he can develop tests in the future that can detect central nervous system (CNS) metastasis in blood samples before they show up on x-ray and develop medicines that can specifically target CNS metastasis.

Study Overview

Detailed Description

Among the different sites to which melanoma can spread, the Central Nervous System (CNS) has the highest chance of developing metastases. Prognosis for metastatic melanoma involving the CNS is worse than that of CNS metastases from other cancers. Therefore, it is felt that early identification of this condition, even before it is found on x-ray (either MRI or CT scan), would be beneficial so that patients can undergo treatment earlier.

The investigator hypothesizes that the tumor cell genetics, expressed proteins, and/or signaling pathways of melanoma brain metastases may exhibit features that distinguish melanoma brain metastases. The investigator further hypothesizes that melanoma brain metastases may be associated with changes in the cerebrospinal fluid, where protein fragments expressed by melanoma brain metastases may be shed that cannot be found in normal CNS tissues, extracranial metastases (MEM) or at the same levels in the peripheral blood.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

7

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

      • Sydney, Australia
        • Melanoma Institute Australia- Westmead Institute for Cancer Research
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
        • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center- Hillman Cancer Center
    • Texas
      • Houston, Texas, United States, 77030
        • The University of Texas- MD Anderson Cancer Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

Patients with biopsy-proven melanoma who present with melanoma CNS metastases, a condition that has been previously either biopsy-proven or there is strong suspicion based on the radiologic imaging (brain MRI or brain CT with intravenous contrast) will be considered for the study.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Subjects must have provided written Informed Consent prior to any study procedure.
  • Regarding patients with distant metastatic melanoma and established melanoma CNS metastases who are scheduled for craniotomy:

    • Histologically confirmed, primary cutaneous melanoma, metastatic to the CNS (brain OR spinal cord OR carcinomatous meningitis) based on:
    • Pathologic confirmation (i.e. prior craniotomy) OR
    • Radiography (brain MRI or CT scan with intravenous contrast)
    • Patients must have no contraindications for lumbar puncture for CSF collection
    • Hemoglobin level of 8g/dL or higher within the prior 30 days
    • FFPE tissue block containing a biopsy from the primary site available for retrieval.
  • Regarding patients with distant metastatic melanoma and established melanoma CNS metastases who are not having a craniotomy and before they undergo external beam irradiation or stereotactic radiosurgery (patient's and/or neurosurgeon's preference):

    • Histologically confirmed melanoma (unknown primary, mucosal, ocular are allowed), metastatic to the CNS (brain OR spinal cord OR carcinomatous meningitis) based on
    • Pathologic confirmation (i.e. prior craniotomy) and/or
    • Radiography (brain MRI or CT scan with intravenous contrast)
    • Patients without contraindications to undergo lumbar puncture for the component that relates to CSF collection as determined by the neurosurgeon. An external ventricular drain (EVD) may be utilized if clinically indicated and the source of CSF (LP or EVD) clearly recorded (this is not required for enrollment in the overall protocol if there are any contra-indications to performance of this procedure)
    • Hemoglobin level of 8g/dL or higher within the prior 30 days

Exclusion Criteria:

  • For study subjects, patients with extradural lesions, i.e. those that originate from the bone (calvarium or vertebrae), will not be considered.
  • Any significant psychiatric disease, medical intervention, or other conditions, which in the opinion of the Investigators, could impair proper discussion of the informed consent or compromise participation to the clinical trial.
  • Active systemic treatment for metastatic melanoma within 2 days from the collection of specimens (brain tumor tissue, peripheral blood, CSF). Corticosteroids, other immunosuppressive anti-inflammatory and anti-epileptic medications are allowed.
  • Patients who have undergone whole brain irradiation therapy within the last 30 days. Therefore neither CNS lesions nor CSF are considered suitable for collection.
  • Patients with growing CNS lesions at an area that has previously undergone radiosurgery within 3 months prior to enrollment in this study. Therefore CNS tumors from previously irradiated areas using radiosurgery are not considered suitable for collection although CSF is allowed for collection.
  • Brain abscess.
  • Other conditions that at the opinion of the investigator are contraindicated.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Craniotomy scheduled

Patients who have scheduled craniotomy with melanoma brain metastases will have the following specimens collected:

  1. CNS tumor specimens, specifically the remaining portion from the resected melanoma CNS metastasis
  2. the remaining portion from the adjacent "normal" CNS tissue. No additional normal brain tissue will be collected for research purposes only, however the routinely collect peritumoral tissue will be retained.
  3. melanoma specimens from other extracranial, clinically palpable metastatic sites.
  4. CSF taken at around the time of the craniotomy procedure
  5. peripheral blood prior to craniotomy.
Resection of affected brain tissue
Collection for non-craniotomy

For those eligible patients who are not having a craniotomy:

  1. collection of CSF will be performed by lumbar puncture or from the patient's Ommaya reservoir, if present.
  2. collection of peripheral blood.

NOTE: Only patients who have no absolute contraindications or up to two relative contraindications will be considered for lumbar puncture

CSF, Blood, biopsy

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Collection of blood, tumor tissue samples and adjacent uninvolved tissue and Cerebrospinal Fluid
Time Frame: 2 years
Collection of these samples to help determine: if CNS melanoma metastases are similar to primary cutaneous melanomas, and assist in efforts to develop biomarkers that predict development of CNS melanoma metastases from the cutaneous primary lesion; or if CNS melanoma metastases are similar to extracranial metastases, and assist in efforts to develop effective systemic therapies for extracranial MM that also take into account the molecular profile of CNS melanoma metastases would more likely have an impact upon development of CNS melanoma metastases.
2 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Collaborators

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: John Kirkwood, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

August 12, 2014

Primary Completion (Actual)

August 19, 2019

Study Completion (Actual)

August 19, 2019

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

February 6, 2014

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

February 6, 2014

First Posted (Estimate)

February 11, 2014

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 4, 2019

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 2, 2019

Last Verified

October 1, 2019

More Information

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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Clinical Trials on Craniotomy scheduled

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