Overview
The general objective of this project is to evaluate the value of cell-free DNA circulating in plasma as a marker of tumor evolution in patients with high-grade gliomas and meningiomas.
To this end, we propose to longitudinally collect four samples of plasma at the following time points:
- T0: before surgery;
- T1: one month after surgery;
- T2: one month after the end of radiotherapy;
- T3 at the time of radiological progression.
The goal is to evaluate whether changes in plasma concentration of circulating cell-free DNA can help predict progression-free survival, overall survival, and response to therapies.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria:
- Age ≥ 18 years
- Finding, on an MRI scan of the brain with gadolinium, of a brain lesion compatible with a primary brain tumor, intra- or extra-axial, suspected for a high-grade glioma or a high-grade meningioma, manifested with new onset neurological symptoms
- Clinical indication to perform a biopsy or surgical resection of the lesion
- Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60
- Signature of informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Absolute contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging or to the administration of gadolinium (e.g. patients with pacemakers or other non-magneto-compatible devices)
- Known positivity for HIV, HCV or HBV
- There are clinical, biological or instrumental data suggesting that the brain lesion is non-neoplastic in nature (e.g., abscess, vascular malformation, inflammatory disease of the Central Nervous System)
- Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding