Glioblastoma is the most aggressive primary brain tumor, and progress has been slower than in other cancers. Even so, dozens of trials are testing CAR-T therapy, personalized vaccines, tumor-treating fields (a wearable device), and new combinations for newly diagnosed and recurrent disease.
What's actually going on in research
Studies are testing CAR-T cells engineered to attack glioblastoma proteins, personalized neoantigen vaccines, oncolytic viruses that infect and kill tumor cells, drugs designed to cross the blood-brain barrier, and tumor-treating fields used earlier in treatment. Researchers are also studying repurposed drugs and new combinations with radiation.
CAR-T for the brain
CAR-T therapies targeting EGFR, IL13Rα2, and other glioblastoma proteins are now in early trials. Some patients have shown meaningful tumor shrinkage.
Personalized vaccines
mRNA and peptide vaccines built from each patient's tumor are designed to train the immune system to recognize glioblastoma. Several are in mid-stage trials.
Tumor-treating fields
A wearable device delivers low-intensity electric fields to the scalp and slows tumor growth. Trials are testing it earlier in treatment and in combination with new drugs.
What to know before you search
Eligibility often depends on whether the tumor is newly diagnosed or recurrent, MGMT methylation status, prior treatments, and ability to tolerate brain surgery or radiation.
What types of trials are currently open
- Treatment trials — Testing new drugs, vaccines, or cell therapies in people with glioblastoma to see if they extend life or shrink tumors.
- Surgical trials — Studies of newer surgical techniques, including imaging tools that help remove more tumor safely.
- Device trials — Studies of tumor-treating fields, focused ultrasound, and implanted drug-delivery systems.
- Adjuvant trials — Testing treatments after surgery and radiation to extend remission.
- Observational studies — Following patients to learn what predicts response and how the tumor changes over time.
Recently added Glioblastoma trials
A Rollover Study of NBM-BMX in Combination With Temozolomide in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
This clinical trial is a rollover study designed to provide continued access to NBM-BMX and temozolomide (TMZ) for eligible participants with newly diagnosed glioblastoma who have completed the designated treatment in Study NBM-BMX-003 (the parent study), and to evaluate the long-term safety and efficacy of NBM-BMX administered in combination with TMZ.
PET-Guided Resection in High-Grade Gliomas
Background: Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain tumor in adults, with a poor prognosis despite maximal treatment. Current evidence suggests that supramaximal resection, including non-enhancing FLAIR-hyperintense regions, improves survival. However, the extent of FLAIR resection is often limited by functional constraints and its non-specific nature, as it may represent both tumor infiltration and peritumoral edema. This study explores the role of 18F-DOPA PET in refining supramaximal resection by providing a more specific surgical target beyond contrast-enhancing areas. Objective: To evaluate the impact of 18F-DOPA PET-guided resection on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in GBM patients, by comparing outcomes between those undergoing PET-RM integrated resection versus conventional MRI-guided resection. Methods: ResPGlioma is a multicenter, prospective, non-randomized study conducted at IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino (Genoa) and AOU Città della Salute e della Scienza (Turin). Patients with newly diagnosed, supratentorial, high-grade gliomas undergo preoperative 18F-DOPA PET and MRI. Surgery follows the principle of maximal safe resection, with postoperative MRI at 48 hours assessing the extent of resection (EOR). To confirm PET resection or non-PET resection status, patients will undergo a postoperative 18F-DOPA PET scan at 30 ± 7 days following surgery, prior to the initiation of chemoradiotherapy. Patients are categorized based on EOR criteria (RANO) and PET volume resection (PET-resection vs. PET non-resection). Statistical analyses include Kaplan-Meier survival curves and regression models to identify prognostic factors.Patients are categorized based on EOR criteria (RANO) and PET volume resection (PET-resection vs. PET non-resection). Statistical analyses include Kaplan-Meier survival curves and regression models to identify prognostic factors. Expected Outcomes: The authors hypothesize that PET-guided resection improves PFS and OS by enabling a more precise tumor removal beyond contrast-enhancing margins while preserving neurological function. Preliminary data support that PET hypercaptant areas contain viable tumor cells and should be resected. This approach may offer a more accessible yet effective alternative to FLAIR-guided supramaximal resection.
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