Shh Signaling in Brain AVMs: Novel Player & Therapeutic Target (SHAM)
Sonic Hedgehog Signaling: Novel Player and Potential Therapeutic Target in Brain Arteriovenous Malformations
The present study, entitled "SHAM Study," is a prospective observational translational study aimed at investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying brain arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). In particular, the study seeks to explore the role of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, which has recently been hypothesized as a potential key player in pathological angiogenesis and in the maintenance of the malformative nidus.
The study will be conducted through the analysis of brain tissues obtained exclusively as residual material from neurosurgical procedures performed for clinical indications. Under no circumstances will additional procedures be carried out or modifications made to the patients' therapeutic pathway for research purposes. Samples will include tissues from adult patients undergoing AVM resection and, as controls, non-pathological brain tissues derived from surgeries performed for other indications, such as drug-resistant epilepsy.
The methodological approach involves the isolation of endothelial cells from collected samples and their characterization using multi-omics techniques, including transcriptomic analysis, microRNA profiling, and quantitative proteomics. The resulting data will be integrated through advanced bioinformatics analyses in order to identify specific molecular patterns, altered pathways, and potential biomarkers. Particular attention will be given to the evaluation of Shh pathway activation and its interactions with other signaling systems involved in AVM pathogenesis.
The collected biological material may also be used, subject to specific informed consent, for preclinical studies conducted on animal models, with the aim of further investigating the identified pathogenetic mechanisms and assessing their functional relevance. Such activities will be carried out in compliance with current regulations on animal experimentation and subject to approval by the relevant authorities.
The primary objective of the study is to identify significant differences in gene expression between endothelial cells derived from AVMs and control brain tissue. Secondary objectives include the identification of integrated molecular profiles (RNA, microRNA, and proteins), the correlation of these profiles with patients' clinical and radiological characteristics, and the identification of potential therapeutic targets.
The study is designed so as not to entail additional risks for participants, as it is based exclusively on the use of biological material that would otherwise be discarded. All subjects will be enrolled only after providing written informed consent. Data will be processed in pseudonymized form in compliance with current regulations on personal data protection.
The total expected duration is 36 months, and the study is part of a targeted research project aimed at generating new knowledge with potential translational impact, laying the groundwork for the future development of targeted therapeutic strategies.
Study duration and number of patients:
The overall duration of the study will be 36 months. Enrollment will begin immediately after ethical approval and will be completed by month 24.
A total of 30-45 adult patients are expected to be enrolled, including 20-30 undergoing resection of brain arteriovenous malformations and 10-15 patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures for drug-resistant epilepsy, from whom non-pathological cortical tissue will be obtained.
Studieoversigt
Status
Status
Betingelser
Betingelser
Undersøgelsestype
Undersøgelsestype
Tilmelding (Anslået)
Tilmelding
Kontakter og lokationer
Studiesteder
-
-
Rome
-
Rome, Rome, Italien, 00168
- Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli IRCCS
-
Kontakt:
- Roberto Pola, Professor, MD
- Telefonnummer: +39 0630151
- E-mail: roberto.pola@policlinicogemelli.it
-
-
Deltagelseskriterier
Berettigelseskriterier
Berettigelseskriterier
Aldre berettiget til at studere
- Voksen
- Ældre voksen
Tager imod sunde frivillige
Prøveudtagningsmetode
Studiebefolkning
Beskrivelse
Inclusion Criteria:
- Adult patients aged 18 years or older undergoing neurosurgical resection who provide written informed consent for research use of residual tissue.
Exclusion Criteria:
- Tissue with extensive necrosis or contamination, lack of valid consent, or known infectious agents that preclude safe handling.
Studieplan
Hvordan er undersøgelsen tilrettelagt?
Design detaljer
Antal grupper/kohorter
Kohorter og interventioner
Gruppe / kohorteGruppe / kohorte |
|---|
|
AVM group (cases)
Adult patients undergoing neurosurgical resection of brain arteriovenous malformations for clinically indicated reasons.
Residual AVM tissue obtained during surgery will be used for molecular analyses.
|
|
Control group
Adult patients undergoing neurosurgical procedures for drug-resistant epilepsy or other clinical indications, from whom non-pathological brain tissue is resected as part of standard care.
Residual tissue will be used as control.
|
Hvad måler undersøgelsen?
Primære resultatmål
Primære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
Differential endothelial gene expression between AVM and control tissues.
Tidsramme: Up to 34 months
|
Endothelial differential gene expression measured as log2 fold change and adjusted p value from bulk RNA seq.
|
Up to 34 months
|
Sekundære resultatmål
Sekundære resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
MicroRNA and proteomic profiles, pathway activity scores, histological markers, and clinical correlations.
Tidsramme: Up to 34 months
|
MicroRNA abundance (normalized counts); protein abundance (LFQ intensity); pathway activity scores (Shh, Notch, VEGF, TGF β/ALK1, MAPK); histological metrics (percent positive area; mean staining intensity for Shh, Gli1, CD31, α SMA).
|
Up to 34 months
|
Andre resultatmål
Andre resultatmål
Resultatmål |
Foranstaltningsbeskrivelse |
Tidsramme |
|---|---|---|
|
Single-cell analyses, integrated biomarkers, and potential therapeutic targets.
Tidsramme: Up to 36 months
|
Identification of single-cell transcriptional clusters and inferred cell-type composition, where single-cell data are available. Identification of integrated multi-omics biomarker panels based on concordant transcriptomic and proteomic signals. Identification of candidate druggable targets prioritized through network centrality analyses and cross-platform validation. |
Up to 36 months
|
Samarbejdspartnere og efterforskere
Sponsor
Sponsor
Datoer for undersøgelser
Studer store datoer
Studiestart (Anslået)
Studiestart
Primær færdiggørelse (Anslået)
Primær færdiggørelse
Studieafslutning (Anslået)
Studieafslutning
Datoer for studieregistrering
Først indsendt
Først indsendt
Først indsendt, der opfyldte QC-kriterier
Først indsendt, der opfyldte QC-kriterier
Først opslået (Faktiske)
Først opslået
Opdateringer af undersøgelsesjournaler
Sidste opdatering sendt (Faktiske)
Sidste opdatering sendt
Sidste opdatering indsendt, der opfyldte kvalitetskontrolkriterier
Sidste opdatering indsendt, der opfyldte kvalitetskontrolkriterier
Sidst verificeret
Sidst verificeret
Mere information
Begreber relateret til denne undersøgelse
Andre undersøgelses-id-numre
Andre undersøgelses-id-numre
- 27587
Plan for individuelle deltagerdata (IPD)
Planlægger du at dele individuelle deltagerdata (IPD)?
Lægemiddel- og udstyrsoplysninger, undersøgelsesdokumenter
Studerer et amerikansk FDA-reguleret lægemiddelprodukt
Studerer et amerikansk FDA-reguleret enhedsprodukt
Disse oplysninger blev hentet direkte fra webstedet clinicaltrials.gov uden ændringer. Hvis du har nogen anmodninger om at ændre, fjerne eller opdatere dine undersøgelsesoplysninger, bedes du kontakte register@clinicaltrials.gov. Så snart en ændring er implementeret på clinicaltrials.gov, vil denne også blive opdateret automatisk på vores hjemmeside .