Glutamate Excitotoxicity and Its Role in Glioblastoma Biology

NCT ID: NCT05775458

Last Updated: 2025-06-11

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

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Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Total Enrollment

50 participants

Study Classification

OBSERVATIONAL

Study Start Date

2020-06-01

Study Completion Date

2029-09-30

Brief Summary

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Gliomas are the most frequent type of primary brain tumors in adults; among them glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most malignant, being associated with the worst prognosis. Glutamate (Glu) is an aminoacid, responsible for essential functions in the Central Nervous System (CNS), acting both as metabolite and neurotransmitter. It is essential for regulating cellular metabolism and developmental synaptogenesis, cellular migration, differentiation and death. Recent scientific evidences have demonstrated alteration in Glu synthesis and signaling being directly involved in GBM growth and invasion

Detailed Description

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Glu and its scavenger's levels are measurable both in serum and in the cerebral-spinal fluid (CSF), thus making them ideal markers for tumor aggressiveness and disease activity as well as a potential target for new therapeutic approaches.

Serum and CSF levels of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT1), Glutamate Pyruvate Transaminase (GPT) and glutamate and aspartate levels of a total of 40 patients will be collected.

Molecular biology analyses will be conducted and oncological and imaging data will be collected during follow-up in patients enrolled in the present studies. MRI imaging as well as blood sampling will be performed at definite timepoints (baseline and 3, 6 and 9 months follow-up).

Conditions

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Brain Tumor, Primary

Study Design

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Observational Model Type

COHORT

Study Time Perspective

PROSPECTIVE

Study Groups

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Adult neurosurgical patients

Adult neurosurgical patients with a brain lesion suspected for GBM, candidate to gross total tumor resection (GTR), followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy (concomitant and adjuvant).

Blood, CSF and tumor samples

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Blood, CSF and brain tissue sampling of Glu and Glu regulatory proteins.

Interventions

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Blood, CSF and tumor samples

Blood, CSF and brain tissue sampling of Glu and Glu regulatory proteins.

Intervention Type DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* Adult patients with a brain lesion suspected for GBM, candidate to gross total tumor resection (GTR), followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy (concomitant and adjuvant).
* Patient able to provide informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria

* Age \< 18 years
* Liver disease
* Severe anemia (Hb \<8mg/dl)
* Pregnancy
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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IRCCS San Raffaele

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Pietro Mortini, MD, Prof.

Head of department

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Pietro Mortini, MD, Prof.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

IRCCS San Raffaele

Locations

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IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute

Milan, Milan, Italy

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

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Italy

Central Contacts

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Sincinelli Laura

Role: CONTACT

0226436658 ext. 0039

Facility Contacts

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Laura Sincinelli

Role: primary

003926435568

References

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Olar A, Aldape KD. Using the molecular classification of glioblastoma to inform personalized treatment. J Pathol. 2014 Jan;232(2):165-77. doi: 10.1002/path.4282.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24114756 (View on PubMed)

Stupp R, Mason WP, van den Bent MJ, Weller M, Fisher B, Taphoorn MJ, Belanger K, Brandes AA, Marosi C, Bogdahn U, Curschmann J, Janzer RC, Ludwin SK, Gorlia T, Allgeier A, Lacombe D, Cairncross JG, Eisenhauer E, Mirimanoff RO; European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Brain Tumor and Radiotherapy Groups; National Cancer Institute of Canada Clinical Trials Group. Radiotherapy plus concomitant and adjuvant temozolomide for glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2005 Mar 10;352(10):987-96. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa043330.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 15758009 (View on PubMed)

Wang W, Shi G, Ma B, Hao X, Dong X, Zhang B. Chemotherapy for Adults with Malignant Glioma: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis. Turk Neurosurg. 2017;27(2):174-181. doi: 10.5137/1019-5149.JTN.15462-15.0.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27337236 (View on PubMed)

Robert SM, Sontheimer H. Glutamate transporters in the biology of malignant gliomas. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2014 May;71(10):1839-54. doi: 10.1007/s00018-013-1521-z. Epub 2013 Nov 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24281762 (View on PubMed)

de Groot J, Sontheimer H. Glutamate and the biology of gliomas. Glia. 2011 Aug;59(8):1181-9. doi: 10.1002/glia.21113. Epub 2010 Dec 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21192095 (View on PubMed)

O'Kane RL, Martinez-Lopez I, DeJoseph MR, Vina JR, Hawkins RA. Na(+)-dependent glutamate transporters (EAAT1, EAAT2, and EAAT3) of the blood-brain barrier. A mechanism for glutamate removal. J Biol Chem. 1999 Nov 5;274(45):31891-5. doi: 10.1074/jbc.274.45.31891.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 10542215 (View on PubMed)

Ruban A, Biton IE, Markovich A, Mirelman D. MRS of brain metabolite levels demonstrates the ability of scavenging of excess brain glutamate to protect against nerve agent induced seizures. Int J Mol Sci. 2015 Feb 2;16(2):3226-36. doi: 10.3390/ijms16023226.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25648322 (View on PubMed)

Teichberg VI, Cohen-Kashi-Malina K, Cooper I, Zlotnik A. Homeostasis of glutamate in brain fluids: an accelerated brain-to-blood efflux of excess glutamate is produced by blood glutamate scavenging and offers protection from neuropathologies. Neuroscience. 2009 Jan 12;158(1):301-8. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2008.02.075. Epub 2008 Mar 18.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 18423998 (View on PubMed)

Rijpkema M, Schuuring J, van der Meulen Y, van der Graaf M, Bernsen H, Boerman R, van der Kogel A, Heerschap A. Characterization of oligodendrogliomas using short echo time 1H MR spectroscopic imaging. NMR Biomed. 2003 Feb;16(1):12-8. doi: 10.1002/nbm.807.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12577293 (View on PubMed)

Roslin M, Henriksson R, Bergstrom P, Ungerstedt U, Bergenheim AT. Baseline levels of glucose metabolites, glutamate and glycerol in malignant glioma assessed by stereotactic microdialysis. J Neurooncol. 2003 Jan;61(2):151-60. doi: 10.1023/a:1022106910017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12622454 (View on PubMed)

Willard SS, Koochekpour S. Glutamate signaling in benign and malignant disorders: current status, future perspectives, and therapeutic implications. Int J Biol Sci. 2013 Aug 9;9(7):728-42. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.6475. eCollection 2013.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23983606 (View on PubMed)

Chung WJ, Lyons SA, Nelson GM, Hamza H, Gladson CL, Gillespie GY, Sontheimer H. Inhibition of cystine uptake disrupts the growth of primary brain tumors. J Neurosci. 2005 Aug 3;25(31):7101-10. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5258-04.2005.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16079392 (View on PubMed)

Ruban A, Berkutzki T, Cooper I, Mohar B, Teichberg VI. Blood glutamate scavengers prolong the survival of rats and mice with brain-implanted gliomas. Invest New Drugs. 2012 Dec;30(6):2226-35. doi: 10.1007/s10637-012-9799-5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 22392507 (View on PubMed)

Takano T, Lin JH, Arcuino G, Gao Q, Yang J, Nedergaard M. Glutamate release promotes growth of malignant gliomas. Nat Med. 2001 Sep;7(9):1010-5. doi: 10.1038/nm0901-1010.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 11533703 (View on PubMed)

Corsi L, Mescola A, Alessandrini A. Glutamate Receptors and Glioblastoma Multiforme: An Old "Route" for New Perspectives. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Apr 11;20(7):1796. doi: 10.3390/ijms20071796.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30978987 (View on PubMed)

Campos F, Rodriguez-Yanez M, Castellanos M, Arias S, Perez-Mato M, Sobrino T, Blanco M, Serena J, Castillo J. Blood levels of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase are more strongly associated with good outcome in acute ischaemic stroke than glutamate pyruvate transaminase levels. Clin Sci (Lond). 2011 Jul;121(1):11-7. doi: 10.1042/CS20100427.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21265738 (View on PubMed)

Campos F, Sobrino T, Ramos-Cabrer P, Castellanos M, Blanco M, Rodriguez-Yanez M, Serena J, Leira R, Castillo J. High blood glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase levels are associated with good functional outcome in acute ischemic stroke. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab. 2011 Jun;31(6):1387-93. doi: 10.1038/jcbfm.2011.4. Epub 2011 Jan 26.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 21266984 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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NCH02-2020

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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