Clinical trial · Interventional
USPIO Enhanced MR Imaging in CNS Tumours (UMIC)
USPIO Enhanced MR Imaging in CNS Tumours (UMIC) : A Pilot Study of Ferumoxytol (Feraheme ©) as an Imaging Biomarker of Tumour Associated Macrophage (TAM) Infiltration in Vestibular Schwannoma (VS) and Transforming Low Grade Glioma (LGG)
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
The immune response or inflammation is known to be a key driver of progression and growth in many solid tumours. Inflammatory cells called macrophages are present in high numbers in many brain tumours and these tumour associated macrophages or TAM are thought to have prognosis and treatment implications in these tumours. A key question, however, is how this inflammation or TAM abundance can be detected, measured and monitored in the clinic. A clinically applicable imaging test that can directly and accurately measure tumour macrophage content would be of considerable value and one technique that may provide this is USPIO enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Following intravenous injection, USPIO or ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, circulate in the bloodstream before being taken up by inflammatory cells/macrophages in tumour tissue, wherein they can be detected by MRI. This pilot study is to evaluate if a commercially available USPIO preparation called ferumoxytol (Feraheme ©) can accurately quantify macrophage abundance in brain tumours, with an exploratory focus on vestibular schwannoma (VS) and suspected transforming low-grade glioma (LGG). Patients with both non-growing (static) and growing VS, and patients with suspected transforming LGG will undergo dedicated MRI sequences before, immediately after (\< 2 hours) and at both 24 and 48hrs after ferumoxytol administration. In patients undergoing surgery, acquired imaging will be compared with resected tumour tissue so that markers of inflammation can be compared with USPIO uptake. Through advanced laboratory methods this study will seek to establish within resected VS and LGG specimens: the cellular destination/s of USPIO uptake; the nature of the inflammatory and/or tumour cells containing the USPIO; and the relationship between USPIO uptake and tumour blood vessel permeability or leakiness.
Conditions
Conditions (2)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glioma, Astrocytic | Glioma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.85 |
| Vestibular Schwannoma | Vestibular Schwannoma | ONTOLOGY_EXACT | 0.98 |
Interventions
Interventions (1)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPIO enhanced MRI | Diagnostic Test | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (1)
- type
- EXPERIMENTAL
- label
- Trial arm 1
- description
- Group A: Patients with sporadic VS undergoing radiological surveillance (n=12). The sample will include growing tumours (n=6) that are being considered for surgical resection, and non-growing/static tumours (n=6) that are being considered for either further radiological surveillance or surgery. Group B: Patients with suspected transforming low-grade glioma (n=5). Patients in this cohort will have a proven or suspected diagnosis of low-grade glioma (LGG) but with features on routine clinical imaging suggestive of malignant transformation to either grade III (anaplastic) or grade IV glioma. Patients with suspected transforming LGG who are listed to undergo surgical resection will be enrolled into the study so that acquired imaging can be compared with tissue datasets.
- interventionNames
- Diagnostic Test: USPIO enhanced MRI
Primary outcomes (6)
- measure
- Establish in a cohort of surgically resected sporadic VS if the enhancement pattern of delayed (24-48 hr) USPIO uptake correlates with tissue markers of TAM density and tissue microvascular markers.
- timeFrame
- Three years
- description
- Use correlation tests to establish the relationship between delayed (24-48 hr) USPIO related MRI signal intensity changes and tissue markers of TAM density and microvascular markers.
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 16 Years
- Maximum age
- 100 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: * Be at least 16 years old * Have a CNS tumour suspected to be one of the defined histological types (vestibular scwhannoma or low grade glioma) * Be able to lie still for up to 1 hour comfortably * Opinion of the treating clinician is that the patient will be able to successfully complete the research imaging protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Life expectancy less than 1 year * Previous CNS radiotherapy/ stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) * Females who are pregnant/ breastfeeding * Patients with an eGFR \< 30ml/min * Patients with known and documented history of iron overload/haemosiderosis/ haemochromatosis * Patients with immune or inflammatory conditions e.g. systemic lupus erythematous, rheumatoid arthritis * Patients with absolute (e.g. pacemaker) and relative (anxiety or claustrophobia) contraindications to MR scanning * Patients with a history of allergic reaction to iron or dextran * Patients with a history of allergic reaction to gadolinium contrast agents, asthma or renal problems * Patients who are unable to adequately understand verbal explanations or written information given in English.
References
Publications (1)
- DERIVEDBreese J, Lloyd W, Fothergill A, Djoukhadar I, Tyler A, Bullock E, Cloran K, Li K, Zhu X, Alfaifi B, Sereno T, Naveen Golchha P, McMahon A, Karabatsou K, D'Urso P, Maye H, Bailey M, Hannan C, King AT, Jackson A, Hinz R, Lewis D, Coope D. USPIO enhanced MR imaging in CNS tumors (UMIC): a study protocol. Nanomedicine (Lond). 2026 Jun;21(12):1713-1721. doi: 10.1080/17435889.2026.2681555. Epub 2026 Jun 10. PMID 42267547