Electrocorticography in Mapping Functional Brain Areas During Surgery in Patients With Brain Tumors
Brain Neoplasm · Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain · Recurrent Brain Neoplasm
What this study involves
The registry says this study is recruiting. Individual locations may have different availability.
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Not applicable
- Age range
- 18 years - Not specified
- Sex eligible
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Participants
- 75 Estimated
These are starting points, not an eligibility decision. The research team must review the full requirements.
About the research
This pilot clinical trial studies how well electrocorticography works in mapping functional brain areas during surgery in patients with brain tumors. Using a larger than the standard mapping grid currently used during brain tumor surgery or a high-definition grid for electrocorticogram brain mapping may help doctors to better identify which areas of the brain are active during specific limb movement and speech during surgery in patients with brain tumors.
Read the full description
PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To record electrocorticogram (ECoG) data intraoperatively with surface electrode grids during various motor, sensory (tactile) and speech tasks, and identify functional brain areas through the spectral analysis, and compare the preliminary data with our current pre-surgical mapping methods: functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and the gold standard, intraoperative direct electrical stimulation (DES).
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:
I. To perform a preliminary assessment of the utility of using ECoG data in these patients to quantify new neurological and language/speech deficits in the short term (24 hours) and long-term (1, 3, and 6 months), and achieve a safe maximal tumor resection.
OUTLINE:
Patients undergo tumor resection. During surgery, patients also undergo electrocorticography with either the CorTec high resolution hybrid grid, the PMT high-resolution grid, or the Ad-Tech grid followed by direct electrocortical stimulation.
Following completion of study, patients are followed up within 24 hours from surgery and at 1, 3, and 6 months.
Who may be able to participate?
The list below is the sponsor’s full registry wording. It can include conditions, prior treatment, test results and other requirements. A match in search does not mean you qualify.
Inclusion Criteria:
- Patients undergoing a tumor resection at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center for a newly diagnosed as well as recurrent primary or metastatic brain tumor located in or adjacent to motor and/or speech brain areas
- Patients \>= 18 years of age
- Signed informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Patients with significant neurological motor deficits of the upper extremities, and/or speech deficits, which would preclude them from performing the while awake intra-operative tasks at the discretion of the principal investigator (PI)
- Patients who have impaired vision and/or hearing and whose performance could affect the study will be excluded at the discretion of the PI
Treatment, groups and participation
The registry may describe treatments and study duration without a complete visit calendar. Ask the study team for the exact schedule, procedures, risks, costs and alternatives. Keep your usual care plan unless your treating clinician tells you otherwise.
- Assignment
- Not applicable
- Masking
- No masking
Diagnostic (electrocorticography)
Patients undergo tumor resection. During surgery, patients also undergo electrocorticography with either the CorTec high resolution hybrid grid, the PMT high-resolution grid, or the Ad-Tech grid followed by direct electrocortical stimulation.
Procedure: Direct Electrocortical Stimulation · Other: Electrocorticography
Direct Electrocortical Stimulation PROCEDURE
Undergo direct electrocortical stimulation
Electrocorticography OTHER
Undergo electrocorticography
What researchers are measuring
Outcome measures describe what is being studied. They are not proof that a treatment works.
Primary measures
Electrocorticogram (ECoG)
Time frame: Up to 6 months (± 4 weeks)
Will be assessed by cortical electrical activity based on individual hand muscle function. ECoG will be compared to direct electrical stimulation (DES), navigated transcranial magnetic stimulation (nTMS), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). The data obtained using ECoG will be correlated with the fMRI and TMS data acquired preoperatively and intraoperative DES. The categorical variables would be preoperative Karnofsky performance status and functional status, tumor location, fMRI, TMS, ECoG, and DES data points. Other variables involved in the analysis would be extent of resection and neurological and language/speech outcome. The Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests will be used to explore associations between categorical variables. Additional analysis may be performed.
Review the complete result tables and limitations in the official record.
Open official results ↗Research locations (1)
The overall study status and a local site’s status can differ. Confirm that location’s availability before traveling.
1 locations
M D Anderson Cancer CenterHouston, Texas, United StatesRecruiting
Study team and timeline
- Lead sponsor
- M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
- Study start
- Jul 22, 2016 Actual
- Primary completion
- Jan 1, 2027 Estimated
- Study completion
- Jan 1, 2028 Estimated
- First posted
- Apr 28, 2016 Estimated
- Last updated
- Nov 10, 2026 Actual
Official study contacts
Official study title
Pilot Investigation of Using Electrocorticogram (ECoG) in Predicting Eloquent Cortex and Post-Operative Functional Outcomes in Patients With Brain Tumors
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Source: ClinicalTrials.gov API v2. Information is submitted by sponsors and investigators. NLM does not approve the safety or science of all listed studies. Registry disclaimer.
Retrieved: Nov 12, 2026 · Last registry update: Nov 10, 2026