Clinical Trial: A Pilot Study to Explore Serum and Imaging Biomarkers in Patients With Spinal Cord Compression

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Observational



Official Title: A Pilot Study to Explore Serum and Imaging Biomarkers in Patients With Spinal Cord Compression

Brief Summary:

One of the complications of having cancer in the spinal vertebrae is that it can spread and lead to compression of the spinal cord. Spinal cord compression is a serious event that needs to be treated quickly in order to prevent permanent damage to the spinal cord and nerves.

  • Researchers currently do not have the ability to accurately predict whether cancer of the vertebrae will cause spinal cord compression. It is possible that accurate predictions could allow doctors to treat patients even before they develop symptoms of spinal cord compression, thereby preventing some of the long-term consequences.

Objectives:

  • To compare patients with cancer of the spinal vertebrae with and without symptoms of spinal cord compression by looking at markers in the blood and changes on novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques that might allow researchers to predict who will experience spinal cord compression before they actually begin to have symptoms.

Eligibility:

  • One group of healthy volunteers 18 years of age and older.
  • One group of patients 18 years of age and older who have cancer that has spread to the vertebrae without symptoms of spinal cord compression.
  • One group of patients 18 years of age and older who have cancer that has spread to the vertebrae with symptoms of spinal cord compression.

Design: