Mechanisms of Ischemic Stroke in Cancer Patients

Summary

The purpose of this study is to better understand the causes of stroke in people with cancer. Active cancer increases the risk of stroke. The investigators do not know exactly why this occurs but one possible reason is that people with cancer may have thicker blood than people without cancer. Thick blood can sometimes cause blood clots to form in the heart, which can then travel to the brain and cause stroke. This study is being done to help figure out why this and other causes of stroke occur in people with cancer. The investigators expect that information from this study will help doctors to more effectively prevent and treat stroke in individuals with cancer.

Conditions

• Stroke
• Cancer

Interventions

OTHER

Blood tests

Study participants will undergo a single, peripheral blood draw. Blood specimens will be used to perform hematological biomarker testing and leukocyte RNA gene expression analysis. Hematological biomarker testing will be performed to better elucidate the mechanisms of ischemic stroke in cancer patients and will include markers of coagulation, platelet function, and endothelial integrity. This analysis will occur at MSKCC. Leukocyte RNA gene expression analysis will be performed to evaluate whether patients with cancer and stroke more often have cardioembolic mechanisms than patients with stroke and no cancer. This analysis will occur at the University of California, Davis where investigators have previously shown that differential RNA expression patterns can predict stroke subtypes.

OTHER

Transcranial Doppler Microemboli Detection Study

Study participants will undergo a single Transcranial Doppler Microemboli Detection Study at NYPH/WCMC or MSKCC within two weeks of enrollment. Both middle cerebral arteries will be insonated for 30 minutes by a trained technician or stroke neurologist certified in neurosonology using a fixed headset to assess for the rate and laterality of microemboli.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Davis

  collaborator OTHER

• Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

  collaborator OTHER

• National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

  collaborator NIH

• Weill Medical College of Cornell University

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Babak Navi, MD, MS · Weill Medical College of Cornell University

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2016-04-08

Primary Completion

2020-09-01

Completion

2020-09-01

Countries

• United States

Study Locations