Magnetic Resonance Elastography in Glioma: Exploring Tumor Stiffness and Adhesion

November 24, 2025 updated by: Yu Shi, Shengjing Hospital

Comprehensive Assessment of Tumor Stiffness and Adhesion in Glioma Using Magnetic Resonance Elastography: A Prospective Study

this study will investigate the relationship between tumor stiffness and adhesion in gliomas using MRE. By utilizing preoperative MRE and Intraoperative neuronavigation, followed by comprehensive molecular pathology analysis, we aim to explore the correlation of tumor stiffness and adhesion with molecular and genetic characteristics of gliomas. Additionally, the predictive value of MRE in terms of pathological staging and prognosis will be determined. This research may pave the way for improved clinical decision-making, personalized treatment approaches, and more accurate clinical trials for glioma patients.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Magnetic Resonance Elastography (MRE) is an advanced imaging technique that measures the mechanical properties of tissues, providing valuable information about tissue stiffness, elasticity, and adhesion. In the case of gliomas, a type of brain tumor arising from glial cells, MRE has shown promising potential in the diagnosis, classification, and prediction of pathological and molecular features.

This clinical trial aims to investigate the relationship between tumor stiffness, adhesion, glioma grading, and genetic alterations by combining magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) imaging findings with molecular pathological analysis. Moreover, the study aims to predict patient survival based on the physical properties of the tumor.

Preoperatively, we will use MRE to enhance the accuracy of navigation and determine tumor stiffness and adhesion properties. Intraoperatively, under the guidance of neuronavigation, tissue samples will be obtained, and the operating surgeon will assess the tumor's stiffness, elasticity, and degree of adhesion.

Postoperatively, all tissue specimens will undergo molecular pathological analysis. The integration of MRE findings with molecular pathology data will enable precise classification and subtyping of gliomas.

Furthermore, all patients will receive systematic treatment after surgery, and long-term follow-ups will be conducted. This comprehensive approach combining MRE, molecular pathology analysis, and clinical follow-up aims to investigate the predictive value of MRE in terms of molecular pathological features and prognosis in gliomas.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

100

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 Contact

Study Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Liaoning
      • Shenyang, Liaoning, China, 110000
        • Recruiting
        • Shengjing Hospital
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Yu Shi, MD
        • Contact:
        • Contact:
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Anhua Wu, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Wen Cheng, MD
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Xiufang Ren, MD

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. age older than 18 years
  2. Karnofsky performance status higher than 60
  3. with written informed consent
  4. MRE performed within one week before surgery
  5. tumor diameter > 2 cm

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. previous treatment for glioma
  2. inability to complete MRE due to intolerance (e.g., vibration-related discomfort or claustrophobia)
  3. completed MRE with suboptimal wave image quality (e.g., motion artifacts or inad-equate wave amplitude)
  4. failure to proceed with surgery after MRE
  5. missing IDH results

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 (MRE, tumor grade, tumor stiffness and adhesion)

Patients undergo a preoperative routine MRI scan and MRE the day before their scheduled surgery to assess tumor stiffness and adhesion. Additionally, molecular pathological analysis will be performed to identify genetic alterations in gliomas. During surgery, the tumor stiffness and adhesion will be assessed and recorded by the surgeon according to established evaluation criteria.

It is important to note that the surgeon does not have prior knowledge of the tumor's specific stiffness before the surgery. This information is typically obtained through intraoperative assessment and observation.
Diagnostic test: Magnetic Resonance Elastography
Undergo MRE and routine MRI
Other Names:
  • MRE
Procedure: Assessment and Recording
Undergo recording of tumor stiffness during surgery and molecular pathological classification through genetic analysis

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Surgical assessment of tumor stiffness
Time Frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
The surgeon will score the tumor stiffness in seven aspects, ranging from 1 to 5 points: Tumor size; Shape of tumor; Tumor texture; Stiffness of the tumor's capsule; Stiffness of the tumor's central region; Primary methods of tumor removal; Features of tumor's capsule.
Baseline to 6 weeks
Surgical assessment of tumor adhesion
Time Frame: Baseline to 6 weeks
The surgeon will score the tumor's adhesion based on seven aspects, ranging from 1 to 4 points: Stripping instruments; Frequency of use of sharp instruments; Adhesion range; Degree of tumor resection; Cranial nerve anatomy preservation; Brain tissue anatomy preservation; Neurological function (compared with preoperative).
Baseline to 6 weeks
Radiological assessment of tumor stiffness
Time Frame: MRE performed within one week before surgery
Tumor stiffness, measured in kilopascals (kPa), will be compared with its normal-appearing contralateral white matter using MRE by creating a lesion region of interest (ROI). Images were acquired on a 3T MR imaging unit with a vibration frequency of 60 Hz. The performance of the use of tumor stiffness to predict tumor grade was evaluated with the Wilcoxon rank sum, 1-way ANOVA, and Tukey-Kramer tests.
MRE performed within one week before surgery

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Shengjing Hospital

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yu Shi, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Anhua Wu, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Wen Cheng, MD, Shengjing Hospital
  • Principal Investigator: Xiufang A( Ren, MD, Shengjing Hospital

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

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)

January 1, 2017

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

August 6, 2023

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

August 6, 2023

First Posted (Actual)

August 14, 2023

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

December 2, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

November 24, 2025

Last Verified

November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • ShengjingH_glioma2023

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

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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