Recruiting

Testing a diabetes medication to boost immune response in brain tumors

Plain-English translation of NCT07003542 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated May 2026 · Translation generated June 2026 · How we translate trials

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Phase 2 — Testing in a bigger group (up to a few hundred people) to see if the treatment actually works and is still safe.

What is this trial?

This study is testing whether , a medication commonly used to treat diabetes, can help treat aggressive brain tumors (grade 4 gliomas). The researchers believe this medication may help your immune system fight the tumor by reducing special immune cells that tumors use to hide from your body's defenses. You would take this medication starting before surgery and continue taking it afterward along with standard chemotherapy.

Aggressive brain tumors are very good at suppressing the immune system, which allows them to grow unchecked. Previous research showed that blocking certain immune-suppressing cells can help the body's natural defenses attack the tumor, and this medication may be able to do that without causing serious side effects.

Do you qualify?

You likely qualify if…

you have been diagnosed with a grade 4 brain tumor (including glioblastoma) that is growing back or progressing
you are scheduled to have surgery to remove or reduce the tumor
you have never taken sitagliptin or similar medications before
you are at least 18 years old and well enough to handle treatment (a Karnofsky score of 60% or higher)
your blood counts and organ function tests are adequate within 21 days before starting the study

You likely don't qualify if…

you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant during the study or within 30 days after stopping the medication
you have uncontrolled bleeding or a tumor involving major blood vessels
your liver or kidney function is severely impaired
you have had recent surgery, chemotherapy, or other cancer treatments within specific timeframes (usually 2–6 weeks depending on the treatment)

What participation looks like

If you are randomly chosen for the treatment group, you would start taking the medication by mouth as tablets for about 1–2 weeks before your scheduled brain surgery. After surgery, you would continue taking this medication along with your regular chemotherapy for as long as your tumor does not progress. The study team will monitor you with blood tests and scans to check how you are responding and track any side effects.

AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 13, 2026 · Not medical advice

Trial locations(1 site)

United States

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland Clinic Foundation Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland, Ohio