Trial Information

Spectroscopic Determination of Brain Tumor Cells

Optical spectroscopy for detection of brain tumors and tumor margins has been shown to be of
use in distinguishing gliomas and metastatic tumor cells from surrounding white matter.
Optical spectroscopy has the potential to provide immediate and accurate diagnostic
information about the nature and quantity of neoplastic cells, in a minimally-or
non-invasive fashion. We propose to use a new method of optical spectroscopy, polarized
light-scattering spectroscopy (LSS), which permits discrimination of malignant cancer cells
from normal brain cells by virtue of alterations in the cytoplasmic and nuclear ratios of
these cells.

Patients suspected of having, or with prior biopsy proof of, a WHO grade II-IV central
nervous system (CNS) glial tumor(s); those with metastatic brain tumor; or patients with
medically-refractory temporal lobe epilepsy with a presumed hippocampal source of seizures,
who are seen in the Surgical Neurology Branch, NINDS, will be considered for entry into this
study. Tissue samples of tumor or normal lateral temporal neocortex resected as part of
standard care will be collected at surgery and utilized for research.