Brain Radiotherapy Imaging for High-grade Glioma Using Hypoxia Targeting Through Oxygen-Enhanced Response

High-grade gliomas (HGGs) are the most common type of brain cancer in adults. Life expectancy for patients with HGGs is low. Radiotherapy aims to cure the tumour, but this is hard because HGGs are resistant to treatment. Among the possible causes of resistance may be tumour cells with low-oxygen levels (hypoxia). The investigators know that hypoxia reduces tumour sensitivity to radiotherapy. Using a special imaging technique called oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI), the investigators can try to identify areas of the tumour with hypoxia. The investigators could then give those areas a higher dose of radiotherapy. This might improve tumour control. This study aims to see if OE-MRI can find low-oxygen areas in HGGs. The study will also assess whether higher radiotherapy doses can be simulated in these regions.

Project summary:

1. Set up the OE-MRI process at Leeds Cancer Centre (LCC). OE-MRI settings will be tested on healthy volunteer participants to ensure the images are as good as possible. 2. Participant Imaging. Patient participants with HGG will be recruited to take part. OE-MRI will be used to image participants during their treatment and track low-oxygen areas before treatment, halfway through treatment and 3 months after treatment has finished. 3. Dose Escalation Assessment. Computer programs will be used to design radiotherapy treatments to test if higher radiation doses to the tumour's low-oxygen areas can better control the cancer. This will help understand if this targeted approach has potential benefits. This is modelling and will not alter routine clinical patient participant management.

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Key information

Conditions

High Grade Gliomas Astrocytoma Brain Diseases Brain Neoplasms Brain Neoplasms, Adult Central Nervous System Diseases Central Nervous System Neoplasms Glioblastoma Glioblastoma (GBM) Glioma Hypoxia Hypoxia Brain Hypoxia, Brain Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms by Site Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Neoplasms Neuroectodermal Tumors Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

≥18yrs.
Participants able to communicate with staff and safely comply with the study procedures.
Participants to provide informed written consent.

Exclusion criteria

Participants with any MRI contraindications including inability to lie flat in MRI scanner, claustrophobia and no foreign bodies, medical devices or other items which are considered an MRI contraindication.
Geographically remote patients unable to agree to imaging schedule.
Participants with illness or condition which means they cannot understand the requirements of the study.
Participants with cardiac or pulmonary disease that are unable to tolerate the flow of oxygen delivered via a mask.
Participants who have previously been treated with bleomycin (a chemotherapy used to treat some cancers including Hodgkin lymphoma and germ cell tumours).
Participants with contraindications to gadolinium-based contrast agent

Treatment and study plan

Oxygen-Enhanced MRI (OE-MRI)

Diagnostic Test

Oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OE-MRI) is performed to assess tumour hypoxia. Participants undergo MRI scanning while breathing oxygen administered as a physiological stimulus to generate contrast related to tissue oxygenation. Imaging is conducted at multiple time points during standard treatment. The procedure is used for assessment only and does not alter clinical management.

Primary outcomes

Quantification of tumour hypoxia using oxygen-enhanced MRI (OE-MRI)

Time frame: From enrolment to the 3 month post-radiotherapy follow-up imaging

This study aims to determine whether a special MRI- oxygen-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OE-MRI)- can effectively show regions of low oxygen in patients with aggressive brain tumours (high-grade glioma (HGG)), and whether this information can help doctors target radiotherapy more accurately and improve patient outcomes.

Study contacts

Contact information is provided by the study sponsor or research team.

Christopher J. H. Pagett, MSc, MPhys

CONTACT

[email protected]

+441132067969

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

The Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

Other

Registry information

Acronym: BRIGHTER

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2028
Study completion: 2028
First posted: Jun 26, 2026
Registry last updated: Jun 30, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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