Neurosurgery Clinical Trials
Below is a list of clinical trials run by the Neurosurgery department at UT MD Anderson. We have clinical trials for a variety of diagnoses, including:
- Glioma
- Oligodendroglioma
- Astrocytoma
- Glioblastoma (GBM)
- Metastatic Spine Tumors
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.
Neurosurgery faculty also serve as co-PIs on many clinical trials based in the Neuro-Oncology department. Click here to learn more about these trials.
Last updated August, 2026
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Glioma, Oligodendroglioma, Astrocytoma, Glioblastoma
2025-0606. A study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intracranial venous blood sampling for liquid biopsy in the diagnosis of brain cancers.
Physician name: Christopher C. Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Phase 1
Disease: Glioma, oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT07467109
2015-0953. Oncolytic Adenovirus DNX-2401 in Treating Patients with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma
Physician name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
Phase 1
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: NCT03896568
2025-0884. A Phase I Clinical Trial Evaluating Locoregional Delivery of Engineered NK cells containing IL13Ra and EGFRvIII Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR), IL-21 Secretion and Deleted TGF-βR2 and NR3C1 in Recurrent Glioblastoma
Physician name: Chibawanye I. Ene, M.D., Ph.D.
Phase 1
Treatment agent: Oncolytic Adenovirus Ad5-DNX-2401
Disease: Recurrent Glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03896568
2015-0775. Characterization and Decoding of Cortical Oscillatory Dynamics of Complex Hand Function
Physician name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
Disease: Brain Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, Recurrent Brain Neoplasm
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02754544
2024-0082. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Impact of Live and Recorded Music-Based Interventions on Pre-operative Stress, Mood, Pain and Biomarkers, in Neurosurgical Patients (Music-STAR Trial)
Principal Investigator: Mei Rui, D.M.A.
Disease: Glioma, oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06536504
2024-1393. Evaluating Occupational Stress in Surgeons and Musicians: A Multi-Modal Pilot Study Using Wearable EEG, Biomarker Analysis and Validated Questionnaires
Principal Investigator: Mei Rui, D.M.A.
Disease: Glioma, oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06875882
2023-0838. Your Brain on Music
Principal Investigator: Mei Rui, D.M.A.
Disease: Glioma, oligodendroglioma, astrocytoma, glioblastoma
Metastatic Spine Tumor
2024-1879. A Phase 1 Study of the NovoTTF-200M and NovoTTF-200A Systems for the Treatment of Refractory Spinal Metastasis
Physician name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
Phase 1
Treatment agent: NovoTTF-200M and NovoTTF-200A
Disease: Metastatic spinal disease
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06906900
PA18-0742, Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcomes Network (MTRON)
Physician name: Dr. Laurence Rhines
Disease: Metastatic Spine Tumor
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02830451
Active Prospective Lab Studies, Registry Studies and Data Reviews
Registries
2016-0352. Primary Tumor Research and Outcome Network (PTRON)
Physician Name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov No: NCT02790983
PA17-0697. Registry study to compare use of Navigated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Direct Cortical Stimulation in pre-operative and intraoperative eloquent areas in patients with brain tumors. A retrospective and prospective analysis
Principal Investigator: Sarah Prinsloo, Ph.D.
PA18-0181. Natural History of Brain Subependymoma and Patient Outcomes
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2022-0532. Spine, Peripheral Nerve and Brain Tumors: Patient Reported Outcomes
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D., Ph.D.
Prospective Lab Studies
LAB04-0001. Isolation and Characterization of Neural Stem Cells from Human Brain Tumors
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA14-0331. Development of a New Method of In Vitro Culture of Fresh Specimen Obtained During Surgery for Spinal Tumors
Physician Name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
2022-0943. Induced pluripotent stem cell derived genetically modified macrophages (iMacs) for personalized cell-based cancer therapy
Physician Name: Chibawanye I. Ene, M.D., Ph.D.
2022-0979. Characterizing Spatial Heterogeneity of CNS Tumors Through the Construction and Use of Tissue Microarrays
Physician Name: Chibawanye I. Ene, M.D., Ph.D.
2022-0736. Intraoperative Analysis of Human Brain Cancer Tissue with Handheld Mass Spectrometry System
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
Retrospective Lab Studies
PA17-0786. Characterization of the Tumor Immunity After Delta-24-RGD Treatment
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA19-0625. Retrospective Analysis of Single Extracellular Vesicle in Glioblastoma
Physician Name: Betty Y.S. Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
PA19-0661. Retrospective analysis of immunological differences between GBM and Recurrent GBMs
Physician Name: Betty Y.S. Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
2021-0182. Review of meningiomas arising in patients with presence or history of non CNS malignancy
Physician Name: Franco DeMonte, M.D.
2021-0702. Retrospective analysis of IDH mutant gliomas
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2020-1248. Denosumab for Giant Cell Tumors of the Spine; Molecular Predictors of Clinical Response
Physician Name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
2021-1041. Analyzing adhesion and signaling functions for Ptpn12 in invasive glioma cells
Principal Investigator: Joseph McCarty, Ph.D.
2021-0857. Protocol for chart review and collection of specimens from brain and spinal metastases patients within the context of immune checkpoint blockade
Physician Name: Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, M.D., Ph.D.
2022-0415. Review of outcomes of treatment of meningiomas
Physician Name: Franco DeMonte, M.D.
2022-0973. Retrospective analysis of peripheral blood and saliva samples from patients in the TARGET trial (Therapeutic adenovirus for Recurrent Glioblastoma Effect Trial)
Physician Name: Chibawanye I. Ene, M.D., Ph.D.
2023-0462. Development of Genetically Driven Evidence Based Treatment Paradigm for Chordoma
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2022-0865. Factors Influencing the Outcomes of Patients With Sellar and Parasellar Neoplasms
Physician Name: Ian McCutcheon, M.D.
2025-0332. Developing a spatial multi-omics atlas of matched primary and locally recurrent skull base chordomas to identify prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
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.
Clinical Trial Spotlight
This Phase 1 clinical trial is designed to evaluate the safety of Tumor Treating Fields (TTFields) in patients with cancer that has spread to the spine and has continued to grow despite receiving the maximum safe amount of radiation therapy.
TTFields is a non-invasive treatment that uses low-intensity electrical fields to interfere with cancer cell growth and division. The treatment is delivered through adhesive pads placed on the skin over the chest or abdomen. These pads are connected to a small portable device that generates the electrical fields.
The study uses two TTFields systems, NovoTTF-200M and NovoTTF-200A, which deliver electrical fields at frequencies between 150 and 200 kHz. TTFields may be used alone or together with other cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy, as recommended by the patient's medical oncologist.
Patients with radiation refractory spinal metastases may be eligible whether they have undergone spine surgery or not. The main goal of the study is to determine whether TTFields can be used safely in these patients. In patients who have undergone surgery, investigators will closely monitor the surgical wound for problems with healing or reopening. In all patients, the skin will be monitored for infections or other reactions that could require drainage or treatment with intravenous antibiotics.
The study will also evaluate how well the cancer in the treated area of the spine remains controlled over time. Patients will generally undergo follow-up evaluations approximately every three months until the cancer progresses in the treated area, the patient transitions to hospice care, is lost to follow-up, or chooses to leave the study.
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Research Areas
Find out about the four types of research taking place at UT MD Anderson.