What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 43 patients with glioblastoma. The study was sponsored by Mayo Clinic and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
It was mid-stage testing (phase 2/3). 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
56% of older adults with glioblastoma were alive at one year with this targeted proton therapy approach.
The Lancet. Oncology · 2024 · NCT03778294
These findings — that over half of older patients survived one year versus typical 6-9 month survival — were published in the The Lancet. Oncology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 43 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 a mid-stage study testing a newer approach to radiation therapy for glioblastoma in older adults. The treatment is not yet FDA-approved as a standard option. If you're 65 or older with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, ask your doctor about proton beam therapy availability and whether you might qualify for the follow-up study (NCT05781321) comparing this approach to standard treatment.
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
Sonodynamic Therapy in Patients With Recurrent GBM
Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma (GBM) are faced with limited treatment options. This pilot study will evaluate the safety and feasibility of combining an investigational drug called 5-ALA with neuronavigation-guided low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) for patients who have recurrent GBM. Focused ultrasound (FUS) can be used to non-invasively destroy tumor tissue while preserving normal tissue. When FUS is combined with 5-ALA, this combinatorial approach is called sonodynamic therapy (SDT), and this investigational therapy is being tested for its ability to cause damage to GBM cells. SDT will take place prior to surgery for recurrent GBM.
Trial of Anti-PD-1 Immunotherapy and Stereotactic Radiation in Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma
The purpose of this study is to assess the safety/tolerability/feasibility of pembrolizumab and radiation therapy before surgical resection in patients with recurrent glioblastoma as defined by treatment-related AEs and the number of patients who do not necessitate a delay in surgical resection, and to assess overall survival. The secondary objectives are to assess progression free survival, and to assess the T cell clonality, CD8 T cell activation and Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocyte (TIL) score after treatment