What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 12 patients with glioblastoma. The study was sponsored by Northwestern University and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was an early-stage trial — researchers are still confirming safety and getting an early look at how well the treatment works. Trials at this stage are designed to produce evidence regulators and physicians can act on — not just observations to follow up later.
What the results showed
The treatment was safe in all 12 patients, with no treatment-related deaths.
The Lancet. Oncology · 2021 · NCT03072134
These findings — that half of patients lived at least this long after treatment — were published in the The Lancet. Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 12 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with glioblastoma, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This was an early safety study to see if this approach could be given to people without serious harm. The therapy is not FDA-approved or available now. If you or a loved one has glioblastoma, ask your oncologist about clinical trials testing virus-based treatments or other experimental options.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open glioblastoma trials
New Adjuvant Vaccine in Glioblastoma, a Phase 1/2a Study
This phase I/II trial evaluates the safety and the immunological efficacy of a cancer vaccine against 2 glioma-associated antigens in newly-diagnosed glioblastomas. The objectives of this study are as follows: Primary objective * phase 1: * to assess the maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and select the recommend Phase 2a dose * phase 2a: * to assess anti- TERT specific T cell responses at 2 months at the selected dose level Secondary objectives: * To assess Short and long-time immunological safety * To assess Evolution of anti-PTPRZ1 and anti-TERT immune T cell responses over time * To assess Progression free survival (RANO 2.0 criteria) * To assess Overall survival * To assess Quality of life by EORTC QLQ30 and BN20 questionnaires * To evaluate cardiac safety and monitor for the potential development of anti-melanin antibodies in a cohort of 8 patients enrolled in the Phase 2a study as well as objective of ancillary study: to determine the mechanism of action of potential tumour escape in GBM (T-cell lymphocyte phenotype; antigen expression and checkpoint inhibitors on tumour cells at relapse, if available), analysis of circulating antibodies against TERT epitope and/or melanin, and identification of predictive biomarkers of response. Ultimately, this trial together will lead to the implementation of future phase III trial in GBM. All patients enrolled in the study will receive standard treatment consisting of surgical resection of the tumor followed by radio-chemotherapy. Immunotherapy will begin 4 weeks after the completion of radiotherapy.
Sub-topic Four: Clinical Translation of Original Radioactive Drugs for Precision Diagnosis and Treatment of Gastrointestinal Tumors -Clinical Application Value of PET Imaging Targeting LRRC15 in Malignant Tumors
This project utilizes LRRC15-specific targeted PET radiotracers to perform PET/MR or PET/CT imaging on healthy volunteers and patients with clinically suspected or confirmed malignancies characterized by high LRRC15 expression-including pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, head and neck tumors, glioblastoma, colorectal cancer, and melanoma. The study aims to achieve the following objectives: For patients with malignant tumors: To diagnose and stage the disease. By comparing the imaging results against the gold standard of histopathological diagnosis, the study aims to evaluate diagnostic efficacy, ascertain the presence or absence of lesions, and characterize their anatomical location and nature. Furthermore, through comparison with \[¹⁸F\]FDG PET or \[⁶⁸Ga\]Ga-FAPI PET, the study seeks to achieve accurate disease staging, assess tumor burden, and facilitate therapeutic decision-making. For healthy volunteers: To conduct pharmacokinetic analyses to determine the in vivo biodistribution and metabolic patterns of the radiotracer, as well as to evaluate its safety profile.