fMRI Reveal Functional Preservation in Glioma Peritumoral Edema

he goal of this observational study is to investigate the functional and biological characteristics of the brain tissue surrounding diffuse gliomas, known as peritumoral edema (PTE). The study aims to determine if a non-invasive brain imaging technique, resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), can identify which parts of this edematous tissue are functionally preserved. The main questions it aims to answer are:

Can individualized rs-fMRI mapping accurately distinguish functionally active subregions from non-functional subregions within the peritumoral edema?

Do these functionally preserved regions, identified by imaging, correspond to areas with lower tumor cell infiltration and higher neuronal integrity when examined microscopically?

Participants prospectively enrolled for glioma resection surgery as part of their standard clinical care will undergo preoperative rs-fMRI. This imaging data will be used to create individualized functional network maps of the PTE. During the planned surgery, biopsies will be taken from PTE areas identified by the rs-fMRI analysis as "functionally preserved" and "non-preserved." These tissue samples will then undergo molecular analysis to assess markers for tumor proliferation (Ki-67), invasiveness (Nestin), neuronal integrity (NeuN), and synaptic density (PSD-95, Synapsin-1). Finally, the functional characteristics derived from the preoperative imaging will be correlated with the molecular profiles of the corresponding tissue samples.

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Key information

Conditions

Glioma Neoplasms Neoplasms by Histologic Type Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial Neuroectodermal Tumors

Age range

18 year–65 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Primary location

Department of radiology

Chengdu, Sichuan, 610041, China

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Right-handedness Pathologically confirmed diffuse glioma (WHO grade 2-4, based on 2021 WHO classification) Clinical indication for preoperative MRI Clearly delineated FLAIR hyperintensity surrounding the tumor Age 18 years or older Willing and able to provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

Prior brain biopsy or treatment for glioma Contraindications to MRI (e.g., pacemaker, ferromagnetic implants, severe claustrophobia) Comorbid psychiatric or neurological conditions that may affect functional imaging Head motion exceeding 1.0 mm translation or 1.0° rotation during rs-fMRI acquisition Framewise displacement (FD) greater than 0.2 mm during rs-fMRI

Treatment and study plan

Primary outcomes

Functional connectivity strength of peritumoral edema regions measured by resting-state fMRI

Time frame: 1-2 weeks before surgery

Nodal connectivity strength between peritumoral edema (PTE) subregions and 17 canonical Yeo functional networks, computed from resting-state fMRI data using individualized functional parcellation. Connectivity strength is calculated as the Pearson correlation coefficient between mean BOLD time series.
Shannon entropy of edge-centric functional connectivity in peritumoral edema regions

Time frame: 1-2 weeks before surgery

Normalized Shannon entropy (range 0-1) calculated from edge-centric functional connectivity analysis, reflecting the diversity of edge community participation for peritumoral edema subregions. Higher entropy indicates greater integrative complexity.
Ki-67 proliferation index in functionally preserved versus non-preserved peritumoral edema regions

Time frame: During surgery (intraoperative sampling)

Percentage of Ki-67 positive cells assessed by immunofluorescence staining in intraoperative tissue samples from functionally preserved and non-functionally preserved PTE compartments.
Synaptic marker expression (PSD-95, Synapsin-1) in peritumoral edema subregions

Time frame: During surgery (intraoperative sampling)

Percentage of PSD-95 and Synapsin-1 positive cells assessed by immunofluorescence in paired tissue samples from functionally preserved and non-preserved PTE regions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

West China Hospital

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Individualized fMRI and Molecular Profiling Reveal Functional Preservation in Glioma Peritumoral Edema

Important dates

Study start: 2020
Primary completion: 2025
Study completion: 2025
First posted: Jan 15, 2026
Registry last updated: Jan 15, 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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