Investigational Imaging Technique During Brain Surgery

April 21, 2026 updated by: Kimberly Bojanowski Hoang, Emory University

Towards In-Vivo, Intraoperative Image Guided Brain Tumor Margin Assessment With Quantitative Oblique Back Illumination Microscopy

This early phase I trial tests the safety and reliability of an investigational imaging technique called quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM) during brain surgery for detecting brain tumors and brain tumor margins in patients with glioblastoma, astrocytoma, or oligodendroglioma. Surgical margins refer to the edge or border of the tissue removed in cancer surgery. qOBM may be able to assess and reveal brain tumor surgical margins in a more safe and reliable manner.

Study Overview

Status

Suspended

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To perform a first-in-human study to assess the ability of a quantitative oblique back illumination microscopy (qOBM) handheld device to safely and reliably image brain tumor pathology intraoperatively in-situ and in-vivo.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVES:

I. To characterize the biophysical and structural features that enable detection of bulk tumor and tumor margins, including infiltrative disease, with qOBM.

II. To develop qOBM imaging probes with multimodal capabilities (analog black and white and color imaging, fluorescent imaging) and with the potential to clearly reveal brain tumor margins ex vivo and in vivo during neurosurgical procedures.

OUTLINE:

Patients undergo craniotomy with intraoperative ex vivo and in situ tumor assessment with qOBM. Patients then undergo postoperative exam with computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) any of days 1-5 after surgery.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

24

Phase

  • Not Applicable

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

  • United States
    • Georgia
      • Atlanta, Georgia, United States, 30322
        • Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

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

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age >= 18 years
  • Craniotomy is indicated for tumor management
  • Surgery planned for 14 or fewer days from enrollment
  • Evidence of a personally signed informed consent indicating that the subject is aware of the neoplastic nature of the disease and has been informed of the procedures to be followed, the experimental nature of the device evaluation, alternatives, potential risks and discomforts, potential benefits, and other pertinent aspects of study participation.
  • A newly discovered brain lesion requiring surgery who imaging is consistent with a new glioblastoma, astrocytoma, or oligodendroglioma or with a progressive histologically proven glioblastoma, astrocytoma, or oligodendroglioma whose management required surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:

  • Patients who are undergoing needle biopsy only
  • Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, cardiac arrhythmia, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.

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

  • Primary Purpose: Diagnostic
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Diagnostic (qOBM)
Patients undergo craniotomy with intraoperative ex vivo and in situ tumor assessment with qOBM. Patients then undergo postoperative exam with CT or MRI any of days 1-5 after surgery.
Procedure: Craniotomy
Undergo craniotomy
Other Names:
  • Open Craniotomy
Device: Quantitative Oblique Back-Illumination Microscopy
Undergo intraoperative microscopy utilizing qOBM
Other Names:
  • qOBM

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Incidence of Adverse Events
Time Frame: Up to 3 years
Adverse events will be assessed and graded according to the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. Summary statistics will be reported for categorical variables using descriptive statistics. Patient demographics will be summarized descriptively. 95% confidence intervals will be reported, unless otherwise specified. All tests will be two-sided.
Up to 3 years
Reliability of Quantitative Oblique Back Illumination Microscopy Device Determined by Frequency Distribution
Time Frame: Up to 3 years

Robustness will be defined as the device's ability to clearly reveal relevant cellular and subcellular histological structures that can lead to clinically actionable outcomes, is determined. Using standard clinical techniques such as loupe magnification, surgical microscopy, histology, intraoperative ultrasound, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as general points of historical reference.

Summary statistics will be reported for categorical variables using descriptive statistics measures of frequency. Patient demographics will be summarized descriptively. All tests will be two-sided.
Up to 3 years
Reliability of Quantitative Oblique Back Illumination Microscopy Device Determined by Standard Deviation
Time Frame: Up to 3 years

Robustness will be defined as the device's ability to clearly reveal relevant cellular and subcellular histological structures that can lead to clinically actionable outcomes, is determined. Using standard clinical techniques such as loupe magnification, surgical microscopy, histology, intraoperative ultrasound, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as general points of historical reference.

Summary statistics will be reported for categorical variables using standard deviation.Patient demographics will be summarized descriptively. 95% confidence intervals will be reported, unless otherwise specified. All tests will be two-sided.
Up to 3 years
Reliability of Quantitative Oblique Back Illumination Microscopy Device Determined by Central Tendency
Time Frame: Up to 3 years

Robustness will be defined as the device's ability to clearly reveal relevant cellular and subcellular histological structures that can lead to clinically actionable outcomes, is determined. Using standard clinical techniques such as loupe magnification, surgical microscopy, histology, intraoperative ultrasound, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as general points of historical reference.

Summary statistics will be reported for categorical variables using descriptive statistics measures of central tendency. Patient demographics will be summarized descriptively. 95% confidence intervals will be reported, unless otherwise specified. All tests will be two-sided.
Up to 3 years
Reliability of Quantitative Oblique Back Illumination Microscopy Device Determined by Measures of Position
Time Frame: Up to 3 years

Robustness will be defined as the device's ability to clearly reveal relevant cellular and subcellular histological structures that can lead to clinically actionable outcomes, is determined. Using standard clinical techniques such as loupe magnification, surgical microscopy, histology, intraoperative ultrasound, and postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as general points of historical reference.

Summary statistics will be reported for categorical variables using descriptive statistics interquartile range. Patient demographics will be summarized descriptively. 95% confidence intervals will be reported, unless otherwise specified. All tests will be two-sided.
Up to 3 years

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Emory University

Collaborators

National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Kimberly J. Hoang, MD, Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute

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)

March 11, 2024

Primary Completion (Estimated)

June 28, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

June 23, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 22, 2022

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 22, 2022

First Posted (Actual)

August 24, 2022

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 24, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 21, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • STUDY00004168 (Other Identifier: Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute)
  • P30CA138292 (U.S. NIH Grant/Contract)
  • NCI-2022-06212 (Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program))
  • WINSHIP5571-22 (Other Identifier: Emory University Hospital/Winship Cancer Institute)

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

Yes

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

No

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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