Two-Part Study to Evaluate the Safety and Efficacy of Image Guided Surgery Using Indocyanine Green for Intramolecular Imaging of Nervous System Tumors Compared to Standard of Care, (TumorGlow)

Primary malignant and non-malignant brain tumors account for an estimated 21.42 cases per 100,000 for a total count of 343,175 incident tumors based on worldwide population estimates [1]. These entities result in variable but disappointing rates of survival, particularly for primary brain tumors (5-year survival rates: anaplastic astrocytoma 27%; glioblastoma multiforme 5%) [2, 3]. Metastatic brain tumors outnumber primary brain tumors (estimates as high as 10:1) as they affect approximately 25% of patients diagnosed with cancer [4-6]. In terms of brain tumor surgery, the extent of surgical resection-a factor that is greatly impacted by a Neurosurgeon's ability to visualize these tumors-is directly associated with patient outcomes and survival [7-9]. Although spinal cord tumors are lower in terms of their incidence [10], data correlating extent-of-resection to outcomes and survival have been demonstrated in patients with intramedullary tumors [11].

Using systemically delivered compounds with a high sensitivity of detection by near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence, it would be possible for us to improve surgical resection thus minimizing chances of recurrence and improving survival. Simply, if the tumor cells will "glow" during surgery, the surgeons are more likely to identify tumor margins and residual disease, and are, therefore more likely to perform a superior cancer operation. By ensuring a negative margin through NIR imagery, it would make it possible to decrease the rates of recurrence and thus improve overall survival.

This concept of intraoperative molecular imaging requires two innovations:

(i) a fluorescent contrast agent that can be injected systemically into the subject and that selectively accumulates in the tumor tissues, and (ii) an imaging system that can detect and quantify the contrast agent in the tumor tissues.[12, 13]

Subjects undergo intraoperative imaging, receiving an injection of indocyanine green and then undergoing intraoperative imaging of the surgery site with a NIR imaging system. The imaging devices allow the operating field to be observed in real-time.

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Key information

Conditions

Brain Tumor, Primary Brain Diseases Brain Neoplasms Brain Tumor, Recurrent Central Nervous System Diseases Central Nervous System Neoplasms Neoplasms Neoplasms by Site Nervous System Diseases Nervous System Neoplasms

Age range

18 year and older

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Phase 1

About this study

Indocyanine green is a water-soluble tricarbocyanine dye routinely used in clinical settings for measuring cardiac output, hepatic function, liver blood flow and ophthalmic angiography and has been in use for over 60 years [14]. This protocol utilizes Patheon's indocyanine green, NDC 17238-424. The chemical formula is C45H47N2O6S2Na and the compound has a molecular weight of 774.96Da (CAS number 3599-32-4). It has a peak absorption in the NIR spectrum at 800nm and maximal emission at 835nm. Indocyanine green is rapidly and completely bound to plasma proteins (especially albumin) after intravenous (IV) injection in the blood [15].

Indocyanine Green for Injection USP is a sterile, lyophilized green powder containing 25 mg of indocyanine green with no more than 5% sodium iodide. It is packaged with Sterile Water for Injection, USP, which is used to dissolve the indocyanine green, and is to be administered intravenously

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

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

Inclusion criteria

Adult patients 18 years of age and older.
Patients presenting with a CNS tumor presumed to be resectable and are at risk for local recurrence on pre-operative assessment
Good operative candidate as determined by the treating physician and multidisciplinary team
Subject capable of giving informed consent and participating in the process of consent.

Exclusion criteria

Pregnant women as determined by urinary or serum beta hCG within 72 hours of surgery
Subjects with a history of iodide allergies
Vulnerable patient populations

a. Patients unable to participate in the consent process (children and neonates).

Patients with non-MRI compatible implanted metallic foreign bodies are excluded from this study"
Patients who due to severe claustrophobia cannot tolerate MRI scanning"
Patients with a known allergy or hypersensitivity to MRI contrast agents including gadolinium .
Patients with moderate to end-stage renal (kidney) disease, defined as a glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 30 mL/day/1.73m2

Treatment and study plan

Indocyanine green

Drug

Indocyanine Green

Other names: ICG

Primary outcomes

Determining the sensitivity of ICG uptake and expression in identifying ANS tumor deposits when excited by an imaging probe.

Time frame: 36 months

Secondary outcomes

optimize timing and dose of second window Indocyanine Green during surgery of nervous system tumors, based on sensitivity/specificity.

Time frame: 36 months

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

University of Pennsylvania

Other

Registry information

Acronym: TumorGlow(TM)

Important dates

Study start: 2015
Primary completion: 2020
Study completion: 2020
First posted: Aug 25, 2017
Registry last updated: Jan 23, 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.

Published trials that share one or more normalized conditions with this study.

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