Imaging and BioFluid Biomarkers in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis



Status:Recruiting
Conditions:Neurology, Neurology, Neurology, ALS
Therapuetic Areas:Neurology, Other
Healthy:No
Age Range:18 - 80
Updated:4/17/2018
Start Date:November 2015
End Date:May 2021
Contact:Catherine Gladden
Email:cgladden@partners.org
Phone:617-724-5456

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This is a multicenter, 18-month study, which aims to identify imaging and biofluid biomarkers
in people with ALS to expand the understanding of ALS pathology, treatment targets, disease
progression, and anatomical differences between different disease phenotypes. This pilot
project is tailored to produce imaging tools that will allow researchers to conduct future
ALS clinical trials more efficiently which may in turn impact the pace for ALS drug
discovery.

In this trial, approximately 200 subjects will participate in this study from 2 Northeast ALS
Consortium (NEALS) centers in the United States. Fifty (50) ALS participants will be age and
gender matched to 50 participants with no known neurological disorder (healthy controls). Of
these, twenty five (25) ALS participants will be age (±5 years) gender and binding affinity
(TSPO) matched to 25 healthy controls.

During the enrollment period 200 participants will be screened and 100 participants will
ultimately be scanned. There will be a maximum allowed time of 45 days between the screening
and baseline visits (1st scan). All 100 subjects will undergo MRI scanning and clinical
assessment at the Baseline Visit. Healthy control participants will have no further follow-up
visits once they have completed their participation in the screening and baseline visits.
Only 50 subjects from this sample will undergo PET scanning. The ALS participants will return
for follow-up MRI scanning and clinical assessments every three months and follow-up PET
scanning every 6 months over a 12-month period.

Inclusion Criteria

Study subjects meeting all of the following criteria will be allowed to enroll in the
study:

1. Male or female, aged 18 to 80

2. Medically safe to undergo MRI scans

3. Able to safely lie supine for at least 90 minutes in the opinion of the Site
Investigator

4. Capable of providing informed consent and following trial procedures

5. Geographically accessible to the site

ALS subjects must also meet the following criteria:

1. Sporadic or familial ALS diagnosed as possible, laboratory-supported probable,
probable, or definite as defined by modified El Escorial criteria

2. ALS Cognitive Behavioral Screen score >10 on the cognitive scale and/or >32 on the
behavioral scale

Those ALS subjects participating in the optional lumbar puncture portion of the study must
also meet the following criteria:

1. Subjects medically able to undergo lumbar puncture (LP) as determined by the
investigator (i.e., no bleeding disorder, allergy to local anesthetics, a skin infection at
or near the LP site, or evidence of high intracranial pressure).

For those subjects participating in the PET scan portion of the study, subjects must also
meet the following criteria:

1. Medically safe to undergo PET scans

2. No prior radiation exposure that exceeds the site's current guidelines

3. No known allergy to any components of the tracer

4. Baseline ECG values are within normal range

5. Subjects must meet main study entry criteria

Exclusion Criteria

Study subjects meeting any of the following criteria during screening evaluations will be
excluded from entry into the study:

1. Any contraindication to undergo MRI studies such as

1. History of a cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires

2. Metallic particles in the body

3. Vascular clips in the head

4. Prosthetic heart valves

5. Claustrophobia

2. Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease

3. Diagnosis of renal failure

4. Have active or chronic autoimmune disease (such as hepatitis or HIV), infection, or
taking immunosuppressive medications such as steroids, cyclophosphamide, etc.

5. Presence of diaphragm pacing system (DPS)

6. The presence of unstable psychiatric disease, cognitive impairment, or dementia that
would impair ability of the subject to provide informed consent, according to SI
judgment

7. Pregnant women or women currently breastfeeding

8. Anything that, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the subject at
increased risk or preclude the subject's full compliance with or completion of the
study

In addition, any subject meeting any of the following criteria during screening evaluations
will be excluded from entry into the PET portion of the study:

1. Radiation exposure that exceeds the site's current guidelines

2. Low affinity TSPO binders determined by having a Thr/Thr polymorphism in the TSPO gene
(rs6971) at the Screening Visit

Women of Childbearing Potential (WOCBP) For the purposes of this study, women of child
bearing potential are defined as all women who are capable of becoming pregnant, unless
they meet one of the following criteria:

- 12-months post-menopausal

- Post-hysterectomy

- Surgically sterile
We found this trial at
2
sites
6550 Fannin St
Houston, Texas 77030
(713) 790-3311
Principal Investigator: Joseph Masdeu, MD, PhD
Phone: 713-441-9484
Houston Methodist Hospital Houston Methodist is comprised of a leading academic medical center in the...
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185 Cambridge Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02114
617-724-5200
Principal Investigator: Nazem Atassi, MD
Phone: 617-643-2522
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