Biomarkers of Brain Injury in Children With Brain Tumors

The goal of this observational study is to identify biomarkers of treatment-induced brain injury in children treated for primary brain tumors. The main question it aims to answer is:

Can investigators identify sensitive plasma biomarker(s) of treatment-induced brain injury in children with primary brain tumors?

Researchers will compare results between different treatment modalities (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation versus radiation-naive) and a healthy age- and sex-matched control population, to identify treatment-specific biomarkers.

Participants will provide plasma samples at the following time points: before surgery, 1-2 weeks after surgery, as well as at 3-, 6-, 12-, 18-, 24-, and 36 months after surgery. Participants who receive radiation treatment will also provide plasma samples before and during treatment (approximately every 2 weeks). Where possible, plasma samples are also collected before the start of any new treatment (e.g., chemotherapy). Healthy controls will provide samples once.