Neuromodulation-Induced Cortical Prehabilitation in High Grade Glioma Near the Motor Pathway: Cortical Plasticity Assessed by Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (nTMS)

Background. The Neuromodulation-Induced-Cortical-Prehabilitation (NICP) is a groundbreaking idea to promote plastic brain changes and, theoretically, to increase the Extent of Resection in brain gliomas improving the surgical outcomes. Moreover, given the infiltrative nature of brain gliomas, NICP could be consistently worthwhile for the patient's clinical outcome, reducing the likelihood of premeditated neurologic sequelae and/or the time-to-recovery during the post-surgical rehabilitation.

Hypothesis, Research Need. Up to date only small case series have analysed NICP-induced neuroplasticity, complicating data interpretation. Our study aims to thoroughly measure through neuronavigated Transcranial-Magnetic-Stimulation (nTMS) the plastic brain changes of Physical Therapy (in particular Constraint-Induced-Movements - CIM), repetitive-TMS (rTMS) and the combination of these two techniques in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) close to the motor pathway before surgery to improve surgical outcomes for the benefit of the patient.

Methodology. This is a multi-center, prospective, randomized pilot trial. The patients are randomized in 3 groups (A. Control Group, B. Physical Therapy Group, C. Physical Therapy+rTMS Group; randomization 1:2:2). The participants undergo motor cortex analysis through nTMS at the baseline - T0 - and the day before surgery - T1. Postoperative clinical, radiological and neurophyisiological outcomes are also gathered.

Patient Enrolment:

• Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano, Italy
• Department of Neurosurgery, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Integrata (AOUI) di Verona, Italy

Data analysis:

• Department of Neurosurgery, Hospital of Bolzano (SABES-ASDAA), Bolzano, Italy
• Center for Mind/Brain Sciences - CIMEC, University of Trento, Italy
• Department of Neurorehabilitation, Hospital of Vipiteno, SABES-ASDAA), Vipiteno, Italy

Analysis Tools:

• Measurement of neuroplasticity with TMS(Nextim NBS System 5 in Bolzano/EbNeruo STM9000 in Verona). Cortical changes in motor representations will be addressed with:a) nTMS mapping of the motor cortex representations (MEP amplitude and waveforms) on individual anatomical imagesb)
• Single-pulse indexes of motor cortical excitability:

• Cortical Silent Period
• Recruitment Curve
• Resting Motor Threshold (and intehemispheric ratio)
• Dual-pulse measures of cortical excitability:

• Short-latency intracortical inhibition/facilitation
• Short-latency afferent inhibition

Expected Outcomes. The investigators don't expect any variation in cortical neuroplasticity between T0 and T1 in group A. On the contrary, The investigators expect a variation in group B, in group C and in group B vs. C.

Inclusion criteria

• Age 18-80
• Suspect of High Grade Glioma in MRI
• Any case of cortical/subcortical HGG radiologically close to Motor Pathway and, thus, where intraoperative monitoring assistance is usually required
• Preservation of motor function (at least ≥ 3 according to Medical Research Council classification)
• Signed informed Consent

Exclusion criteria

• Refusal to Study participation
• Multifocal/Bilateral Disease