NCT07417085

MICRO-BRAIN 2024: Study on Pediatric Brain Tumors

Implications and Applications of Microbiota in Pediatric Brain Tumors

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 100 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 3 Years – 18 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

In recent years, there has been growing interest in the human gut microbiota, whose health is characterised by high microbial diversity. Through the gut-brain axis, the microbiota influences the homeostasis of the central nervous system by regulating neurological, immune and epigenetic functions. Intestinal dysbiosis is associated with various neurological and oncological diseases, including paediatric diseases and colorectal cancer. Recent studies highlight a significant link between microbiota and brain tumours: cancer patients show reduced microbial richness and altered bacterial composition. In addition, an intratumoural microbial population has been identified that can influence tumour initiation, progression and response to therapies by modulating tumour cells and the immune system. The aim of this study is to analyse stool samples to study the microbiota in children suspected CNS brain tumor as there are currently no studies of this kind reported in the literature to assess whether microbial changes can be detected at diagnosis, can be found during the course of the disease or are associated with tumour progression.

Conditions

• Brain Tumor
• Microbiota

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Biological samples	Analysis of fungal and bacterial genomic DNA from fecal samples, rectal swabs, and tumor biopsy
DIAGNOSTIC_TEST	Fecal samples	Analysis of fungal and bacterial genomic DNA from fecal samples

Timeline

• Start date: 2025-02-06
• Primary completion: 2027-04-01
• Completion: 2027-10-01
• First posted: 2026-02-18
• Last updated: 2026-02-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Italy