Gliomas are brain tumors that arise from glial cells, the support cells of the brain. They range from slow-growing tumors that may be watched for years to aggressive glioblastomas that require immediate treatment. Standard treatment typically involves surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy with temozolomide, but outcomes remain poor for high-grade tumors.
What's actually going on in research
Trials are testing immunotherapies that train the immune system to attack tumor cells, targeted drugs aimed at specific genetic mutations found in some gliomas, and new ways to deliver drugs past the blood-brain barrier. Researchers are also studying tumor-treating fields, personalized vaccines made from each patient's tumor, and combinations that might overcome resistance to standard chemotherapy.
Targeted therapies for IDH mutations
About 80% of lower-grade gliomas carry mutations in the IDH1 or IDH2 genes. New drugs that block these mutant proteins are being tested to see if they can slow tumor growth with fewer side effects than chemotherapy.
Personalized tumor vaccines
Several trials are testing vaccines custom-made from proteins unique to each person's glioblastoma. The goal is to teach the immune system to recognize and destroy tumor cells while sparing healthy brain tissue.
Drug delivery methods
New approaches use wafers implanted during surgery, catheters that infuse drugs directly into the tumor, and techniques to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier. These methods aim to get higher drug concentrations to the tumor.
What to know before you search
Eligibility typically depends on tumor grade and subtype, genetic markers like IDH or MGMT status, extent of prior treatment, and performance status measuring ability to carry out daily activities.
What types of trials are currently open
- Targeted therapy trials — Testing drugs designed to block specific mutations or pathways active in glioma cells, such as IDH inhibitors, EGFR blockers, or drugs targeting BRAF mutations.
- Immunotherapy trials — Testing checkpoint inhibitors, CAR-T cells engineered to attack glioma, or personalized vaccines made from tumor tissue.
- Combination trials — Testing new drugs alongside standard radiation and temozolomide to see if adding them improves outcomes or delays tumor growth.
- Surgery trials — Studies of surgical techniques, timing of surgery, or use of fluorescent dyes that help surgeons see tumor margins during operation.
- Observational studies — Following people with glioma over time to understand how tumors behave, what genetic markers predict response, and how quality of life changes with treatment.
Recently added Glioma trials
Receive an injection of an experimental imaging drug to track how it moves through your body
The goal of this Phase I clinical trial is to evaluate how the imaging drug 203Pb- RMX-VH-PIB distributes in the body and how much radiation different organs receive in patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). The main questions it aims to answer are: How does 203Pb-RMX-VH-PIB spread in the body (biodistribution)? What is the radiation dose delivered to organs (dosimetry)? Participants will: Receive a single IV injection of 203Pb-RMX-VH-PIB. Undergo multiple SPECT/CT imaging scans. Have blood, urine, vital signs, and ECG monitored for safety. Be followed for any side effects for up to 30 days.
Receive testing and tissue collection before and after surgery for a brain tumor
This prospective study aims to characterize blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme undergoing surgical resection. The study integrates advanced MRI, circulating BBB biomarkers, neurocognitive assessment, and molecular analysis of tumor tissue to investigate relationships between BBB integrity, tumor biology, and neurological function. Participants will undergo serial assessments before surgery, after surgery, and following radiotherapy. Tumor tissue collected during standard-of-care resection will undergo immunohistochemical and transcriptional
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