Confronting Cancer with Clinical Trials
Brain Tumor Clinical Trials
Below is a list of clinical trials focused on brain tumors, managed by the Neuro-Oncology and Neurosurgery departments at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Our trials cover a variety of brain tumors, including:
- Glioblastoma
- Meningioma
- Diffuse Astrocytoma IDH Wildtype (molecular GBM), previously classified as anaplastic astrocytoma
- Glioma
- Oligodendroglioma
- Brain metastases
- Leptomeningeal Disease (LMD) or Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis
- IDH Mutant Gliomas
- Ependymoma
- Medulloblastoma
- Diffuse Midline Glioma
Please note that clinical trial availability changes regularly. Individual openings may vary, and our team is here to support you in reviewing opportunities. For more details on each clinical trial, please click on the respective study link.
If you have questions, or want to learn more about our protocols
Glioblastoma - newly diagnosed
Study: 2019-1035, This phase I trial investigates the side effects and best dose of Peposertib, and to see how well it works in combination with radiation therapy in treating patients with newly diagnosed MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma or gliosarcoma.
Physician name: Dr. Nazanin Majd
Phase I
Treatment agent: Peposertib, Temozolomide
Disease: Glioblastoma, Gliosarcoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04555577
Study: 2019-0216, A Trial to Evaluate Multiple Regimens in Newly Diagnosed and recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM AGILE)
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Phase II/III
Treatment agent: Temozolomide, Lomustine, Regorafenib, Paxalisib, VAL-083, Troriluzole, and VT1021
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT03970447
Study: NRG-BN001, Randomized Phase II Trial of Hypofractionated Dose-Escalated Photon IMRT or Proton Beam Therapy Versus Conventional Photon Irradiation With Concomitant and Adjuvant Temozolomide in Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Physician name: Dr. Chenyang Wang
Phase II
Treatment agent: Radiation, Temozolomide
Disease: Adult Giant Cell Glioblastoma, Adult Glioblastoma, Adult Gliosarcoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT02179086
Study: 2022-0717, A phase 1b dose finding study assessing safety and activity of 177LuLu-DOTA-TATE in newly diagnosed glioblastoma in combination with radiotherapy with or without Temozolomide and in recurrent glioblastoma as single agent
Physician Name: Dr. Nazanin Majd
Phase I
Treatment agent: [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-TATE, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-TATE
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT05109728
Study: 2022-0990, An open-label, Phase 1b study to evaluate the safety and tolerability of eflornithine plus temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma
Physician Name: Dr. Carlos Kamiya Matsuoka
Phase I
Treatment agent: Eflornithine (Dose Level 1), Temozolomide, Eflornithine (Dose Level 2), Eflornithine (Dose Level -1)
Disease: Glioblastoma, IDH-wildtype, Glioblastoma, Glioblastoma Multiforme, Glioblastoma IDH (Isocitrate Dehydrogenase) Wildtype, GBM, Astrocytoma, Astrocytoma, IDH-Mutant
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT05879367
Study: 2024-1865, A phase 3, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of optune (TTFields, 200 kHz) concomitant with maintenance temozolomide and pembrolizumab versus optune concomitant with maintenance temozolomide and placebo for the treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma (EF-41/KEYNOTE D58)
Physician Name: Dr. Chirag Patel
Phase III
Treatment agent: Temozolomide, Pembrolizumab, Placebo
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT06556563
Study: 2025-0192, A phase 1b/2, multicenter study of vorasidenib in combination with temozolomide (TMZ) in participants with IDH1- or IDH2-mutant glioma
Physician Name: Dr. Ashley Aaroe
Phase II
Treatment agent: Vorasidenib, Temozolomide (TMZ)
Disease: IDH1-mutant Glioma, IDH2-mutant Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT06478212
Glioblastoma - recurrent
Study: 2021-0041, A Phase I/II Study to Evaluate the Safety and Clinical Efficacy of Atezolizumab (anti-PD-L1) in Combination with Cabozantinib in Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma (rGBM)
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Phase I/II
Treatment agent: Cabozantinib, Atezolizumab
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT05039281
Study: 2015-0953, Oncolytic Adenovirus DNX-2401 in Treating Patients with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma
Physician name: Dr. Frederick Lang
Phase I
Treatment agent: Oncolytic Adenovirus Ad5-DNX-2401
Disease: IDH1 wt Allele, Recurrent Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Recurrent Glioblastoma, Recurrent Gliosarcoma, Recurrent Malignant Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT03896568
Study: 2016-0859, A Proof-of-Concept, Pilot Study of Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) in Patients with Recurrent Malignant Glioma with a Hypermutator Phenotype
Physician name: Dr. Carlos Kamiya Matsuoka
Treatment agent: Pembrolizumab
Disease: Glioma, Recurrent Malignant Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT02658279
Study: 2019-0216, A Trial to Evaluate Multiple Regimens in Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioblastoma (GBM AGILE)
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Phase II/III
Treatment agent: Temozolomide, Lomustine, Regorafenib, Paxalisib, VAL-083
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT03970447
Study: 2020-0758, A Study to Evaluate Safety and Efficacy of ACT001 and Anti-PD-1 in Patients With Surgically Accessible Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Phase I/II
Treatment agent: ACT001, ACT001 + Pembrolizumab
Disease: Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT05053880
Study: 2020-0960, A Phase I clinical trial with a window-of-opportunity component of engineered NK cells containing deleted TGF-ßR2 and NR3C1 in recurrent glioblastoma
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Phase I
Treatment agent: Cord Blood-derived Expanded Allogeneic Natural Killer Cells
Disease: Recurrent Gliosarcoma, Recurrent Supratentorial Glioblastoma, Supratentorial Gliosarcoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04991870
Study: 2024-0330, A phase I/II combination study of NMS-03305293 and Temozolomide in adult patients with recurrent Glioblastoma
Physician name: Dr. Nazanin Majd
Phase I/II
Treatment agent: NMS-03305293, Temozolomide
Disease: Glioblastoma, Diffuse Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04910022
Study: 2024-1277, A phase I/II study of IVONESCIMAB in recurrent glioblastoma
Physician name: Dr. Anuj Patel
Phase I/II
Treatment agent: Ivonescimab
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT06672575
Study: 2024-1227, A dose optimization study for L19TNF in combination with lomustine in patients with glioblastoma at progression or recurrence
Physician name: Dr. Vinay Puduvalli
Phase II
Treatment agent: L19TNF, LOMUSTINE
Disease: Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04573192
Glioma
Study: 2020-0124, Seizure control as a new metric in assessing efficacy of tumor treatment in patients with low grade glioma
Physician name: Dr. Ashley Aaroe
Treatment agent: Survey Administration
Disease: Brain Neoplasm, Low Grade Glioma, Seizure Disorder
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04553757
Study: 2012-0441, Prospective Assessment of Correlative and Tissue Biomarkers in Glioma Patients (The PROACTIVE-Glioma Program) - A Biomarker-Driven Program for Clinical Trial Development for Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioma patients
Physician name: Dr. Vinay Puduvalli
Disease: Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioma
Study: 2018-0564, Feasibility of Monitoring Step Count as a Measure of Physical Activity in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioma Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Physician name: Dr. Shiao-Pei Weathers
Disease: Glioma, Radiation Therapy Patient
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov -NIH link: NCT No: NCT04186832
Study: NRG-BN005, A Phase II Randomized Trial of Proton vs. Photon Therapy (IMRT) for Cognitive Preservation in Patients with IDH Mutant, Low to Intermediate Grade Gliomas.
Physician name: Dr. David Grosshans
Disease: 1p/19q Co-deletion, Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Diffuse Astrocytoma, Glioma, IDH1 Gene Mutation, IDH2 Gene Mutation, Oligoastrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma, WHO Grade III Glioma
Treatment Agent: Temozolomide
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov -NIH link: NCT No: NCT03180502
Study: 2019-0715, Chemotherapy and Radiation Therapy for the Treatment of IDH Wildtype Gliomas or Non-histological (Molecular) Glioblastomas
Physician name: Dr. Debra Yeboa
Phase II
Disease: Anaplastic Astrocytoma, IDH-Wildtype, Anaplastic Oligoastrocytoma, Anaplastic Oligodendroglioma, Diffuse Astrocytoma, IDH-Wildtype, Glioblastoma, Oligoastrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma, WHO Grade II Glioma, WHO Grade III Glioma
Treatment Agent: Temozolomide
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov -NIH link: NCT No: NCT04623931
Study: 2020-1154, Intermediate-size Expanded Access to ONC201 for Patients with H3 K27M-mutant and/or Midline Gliomas
Physician name: Dr. Nazanin Majd
Phase II
Treatment agent: ONC201
Disease: Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04617002
Study: 2022-0585, Window-of-opportunity trial of Ulixertinib for MAPK-activated gliomas
Physician name: Dr. Nazanin Majd
Phase I (Early)
Treatment agent: Ulixertinib
Disease: Glioma, Oligodendroglioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT05804227
Craniopharyngioma
Study: #ALLIANCEA07160, Vemurafenib and Cobimetinib in Treating Patients with BRAF V600E Mutation Positive Craniopharyngioma
Physician name: Dr. Carlos Kamiya Matsuoka
Phase II
Treatment agent: Vemurafenib, Cobimetinib
Disease: BRAF V600E Mutation Present, Papillary Craniopharyngioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT03224767
Brain metastases and/or leptomeningeal disease
Study: 2020-1111, Post-Surgical Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRT) Versus GammaTile
Physician name: Dr. Jeffrey Weinberg
Phase III
Treatment agent: Stereotactic Radiation Therapy
Disease: Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Brain Tumors
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04365374
Non-therapeutic and/or symptom control
Study: 2012-0441, Prospective Assessment of Correlative and Tissue Biomarkers in Glioma Patients (The PROACTIVE-Glioma Program) - A Biomarker-Driven Program for Clinical Trial Development for Newly Diagnosed and Recurrent Glioma Patients
Physician name: Dr. Vinay Puduvalli
Study: PA18-1154, Longitudinal CSF and Blood Monitoring of Genomic Alterations in Patients with Glioma: A Companion Study to the PROACTIVE Program (2012-0441)
Physician name: Dr. Barbara O'Brien
Study: 2020-0124, Seizure control as a new metric in assessing efficacy of tumor treatment in patients with low grade glioma
Physician name: Dr. Ashley Aaroe
Disease: Brain Neoplasm; Low Grade Glioma; Seizure Disorder
Study: 2020-0493, Patient Perceptions Around Quality of Care through Telemedicine in Neuro-Oncology
Physician name: Dr. Barbara O'Brien
Disease: Central Nervous System Neoplasm; Leptomeningeal Neoplasm; Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain; Primary Brain Neoplasm
Study: 2018-0564, Feasibility of Monitoring Step Count as a Measure of Physical Activity in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioma Patients Undergoing Radiation Therapy
Physician name: Shiao-Pei Weathers
Disease: Glioma; Radiation Therapy Patient
Study: 2021-1019, Dosimetry and bio-distribution of 68Ga-RMX-VH in newly diagnosed or recurrent patients with solid tumors: A Phase I exploratory study
Physician name: Vinay Puduvalli
Phase I
Disease: Glioma; Radiation Therapy Patient
Astrocytoma
Study: 2022-0650, A Phase 1, safety lead-in and randomized, open-label, Perioperative Study of Vorasidenib in combination with Pembrolizumab in subjects with recurrent or progressive IDH-1 mutant Astrocytomas
Physician name: Dr. Vinay Puduvalli
Phase I
Treatment agent: Vorasidenib, Pembrolizumab
Disease: Astrocytoma, Oligodendroglioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT05484622
Medulloblastoma
Study: 2020-0904, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Nivolumab in People with Recurrent Select Rare CNS Cancers
Physician name: Dr. Carlos Kamiya Matsuoka
Phase II
Treatment agent: Nivolumab
Disease: Medulloblastoma, Ependymoma, Pineal RegionTumors, Choroid Plexus Tumors, Atypical/Malignant Meningioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT03173950
Study: NCT04315064, Infusion of Panobinostat (MTX110) Into the Fourth Ventricle in Children and Adults with Recurrent Medulloblastoma
Physician name: Dr. David Sandberg
Phase I
Treatment agent: MTX110
Disease: Medulloblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04315064
Meningiomas
Study: 2016-0684, A Trial of Increased Dose Intensity Modulated Proton Therapy (IMPT) for High-Grade Meningiomas
Physician name: Dr. Susan McGovern
Disease: Meningioma, Brain Tumor
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT02693990
Study: ALLIANCEA071401, PHASE II TRIAL OF SMO/AKT/NF2/CDK INHIBITORS IN PROGRESSIVE MENINGIOMAS WITH SMO/AKT/NF2/CDK PATHWAY MUTATIONS
Physician name: Dr. Carlos Kamiya Matsuoka
Phase II
Treatment agent: Vismodegib, FAK Inhibitor GSK2256098, Capivasertib, Abemaciclib
Disease: Intracranial Meningioma, Recurrent Meningioma, NF2 Gene Mutation
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT02523014
Metastatic Spine Tumor
Study: PA18-0742, Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcomes Network (MTRON)
Physician name: Dr. Laurence Rhines
Disease: Metastatic Spine Tumor
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: No: NCT02830451
Neoplasm
Study: 2020-0493, Patient Perceptions Around Quality of Care through Telemedicine in Neuro-Oncology
Physician name: Dr. Barbara O'Brien
Disease: Central Nervous System Neoplasm, Leptomeningeal Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, Primary Brain Neoplasm
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT04988009
Study: 2015-0775, Electrocorticography in Mapping Functional Brain Areas During Surgery in Patients With Brian Tumors
Physician name: Dr. Sujit Prabhu
Disease: Brain Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, Recurrent Brain Neoplasm
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: NCT No: NCT02754544
All Clinical Trials
MD Anderson patients have access to clinical trials offering promising new treatments that cannot be found anywhere else.
Several other departments, including Radiation Oncology and Investigational Cancer Therapeutics, also offer clinical trials that may be open to brain tumor patients.
Phases of a Trial
Each clinical trial goes through several phases, each with a different purpose.
Joining a Trial
Learn more about eligibility requirements to participate in a clinical trial.
Clinical Trial FAQs
Questions to ask your physician as you decide whether joining a clinical trial is right for you.