Brain MRI Scans and Memory Tests in Young People With Acute Leukemia
Uses brain imaging and game-based memory tests in young people receiving leukemia chemotherapy.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Brain MRF in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults With Acute Leukemia
Key facts
- Where
- Cleveland, United StatesSee the site
Where in United States
- University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital, Case Comprehensive Cancer CenterCleveland, United StatesTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Case Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Trial code
- NCT06421155
- Record updated
- 20 October 2026
- Original description
The survival of children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with acute leukemia has improved dramatically over the last two decades. This success is a result of using multiple chemotherapy drugs in combination, with the inclusion of drugs that enter the brain and prevent leukemia cells from growing there. Studies in these cancer survivors have shown that the exposure to these chemotherapy drugs can lead to risks for impaired brain function, also referred to as neurocognitive side effects of chemotherapy. There is an opportunity to identify participants at risk for these side effects and to prevent their development. The purpose of this study is to incorporate a brain imaging tool known as Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) to look for brain matter changes in acute leukemia participants receiving chemotherapy. The MRF scan will be performed at diagnosis and repeated at multiple times during the entire therapy duration as well as at defined intervals after therapy is complete. Investigators would also do an electronic test of memory and brain function (cognitive function), which would be administered in a gaming format on iPads or a similar device. The goal will be to correlate results of MRF imaging with the tests of cognitive function. The benefits of this imaging technique include that it can be done quickly (in minutes), it is non-invasive, it is resistant to motion-artifacts and it can be easily repeated for comparison purposes. The advantages of the cognitive test include its short duration of 20 minutes and its gaming format making it friendly for children to use.Read full original descriptionShow less
A Pilot Study of Brain Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting in Children, Adolescents and Young Adults With Acute Leukemia
The survival of children, adolescents and young adults (AYA) with acute leukemia has improved dramatically over the last two decades. This success is a result of using multiple chemotherapy drugs in combination, with the inclusion of drugs that enter the brain and prevent leukemia cells from growing there. Studies in these cancer survivors have shown that the exposure to these chemotherapy drugs can lead to risks for impaired brain function, also referred to as neurocognitive side effects of chemotherapy. There is an opportunity to identify participants at risk for these side effects and to prevent their development. The purpose of this study is to incorporate a brain imaging tool known as Magnetic Resonance Fingerprinting (MRF) to look for brain matter changes in acute leukemia participants receiving chemotherapy. The MRF scan will be performed at diagnosis and repeated at multiple times during the entire therapy duration as well as at defined intervals after therapy is complete. Investigators would also do an electronic test of memory and brain function (cognitive function), which would be administered in a gaming format on iPads or a similar device. The goal will be to correlate results of MRF imaging with the tests of cognitive function. The benefits of this imaging technique include that it can be done quickly (in minutes), it is non-invasive, it is resistant to motion-artifacts and it can be easily repeated for comparison purposes. The advantages of the cognitive test include its short duration of 20 minutes and its gaming format making it friendly for children to use.
Inclusion: Age range: 0 - 30 years; Participants from University Hospitals Rainbow Babies \& Children's Hospital, UH Seidman Cancer Center, and participants referred from outside facilities diagnosed with acute leukemia; Meets diagnostic criteria for acute leukemia including acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative neoplasm/leukemia; Participants must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Participants who are 14 years and older must have the ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document. Participants who are between the ages of 7 to 13 will be given an information sheet that explains the study to them. The information sheet may be used for study participants between the ages of 14-17 if it would better inform the child about the nature and procedures that will undergo as a participant in the study.
Exclusion: Individuals that are >2 weeks into the induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia; Individuals with either a heart pacemaker, heart defibrillator, metal in the eye, some types of metal elsewhere within the body such as certain surgical clips for aneurysms in the head, heart valve prostheses, electrodes, some other implanted devices, or any other MRI contraindication.