Brain tumour clinical trial title
Identifying the origin of circulating DNA to detect and diagnose neuro (Study ID: 36279)
Brain tumour type
Anaplastic astrocytoma,
Anaplastic glioma,
Anaplastic oligodendroglioma,
Astrocytoma,
Glioblastoma,
Glioma,
Medulloblastoma,
Meningioma,
Ependymoma,
oligoastrocytoma,
Neuroblastoma,
Brain metastases,
Pituitary,
Schwannoma,
Website
public-odp.nihr.ac.uk/QvAJAXZfc/opendoc.htm?document=CRNCC_Users%2FFind%20A%20Clinical%20Research%20Study.qvw&host=QVS%40crn-prod-odp-pu&anonymous=true&sheet=SH01&bookmark=Document\BM02&select=LB01,=StudyID=36279
Description:
Damaged and dying cells release DNA into the circulation. This circulating, cell-free DNA (cfDNA) can be easily detected in blood and other bodily fluids such as urine and in some conditions in the cerebrospinal (brain) fluid. The amount of DNA present in the blood increases in conditions such as cancer, tissues trauma, stroke, myocardial infarction, inflammatory conditions. Epigenomics is a term used to describe a number of modification to the DNA and to the proteins that scaffold the DNA (histones). These modifications (methylation and hydroxymethylation) change gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Each cell type carries specific DNA modifications i.e. epigenomic marks which correlate with its gene-expression profile and are fundamental in the determination of tissue identity. Epigenomic patterns are unique to each cell type, are conserved among cells of the same type in the same individual and among individuals, and are highly stable under physiologic or pathologic conditions. When DNA is released into the circulation, it carries these epigenomic marks. Testing the cfDNA in a blood, urine or brain fluid sample allows us to identify these marks which then inform us of the tissue of origin. The development of minimally invasive methods to detect and monitor tumours, neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions continues to be a challenge. cfDNA is emerging as a biomarker that has diagnostic, prognostic and predictive potential in these instances. Using epigenomic signatures of DNA provides more precise information about the cell type of origin. Further research is needed to accurately define the epigenomic profile of the main cell lineages in the central nervous system. This would maximize the sensitivity and specificity of circulating epigenomes for diagnostic, prognostic and predictive purposes. We will explore if we can differentiate between the different cell lineages in the human brain based on their epigenomic profile. We shall subsequently use our experience in obtaining cfDNA to identify epigenomic signatures within the plasma, urine of cerebrospinal fluid of individuals with multiple central nervous system related diseases (brain tumours, stroke, trauma).
Date added:
12th January 2019
Open/Closed:
Open
Trial ends:
April 2021
Provider
Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust
Contact details