Find Clinical Trials

Explore these sites for information about brain tumor clinical trials (research treatments). Some of these sites offer searchable databases, some focus on a single trial. Each provides contact information for further details.

Cancer.gov or
ClinicalTrials.gov
These two government databases list almost 200 industry, institutional, and government-sponsored brain tumor trials. The databases can be searched by tumor type, treatment type, sponsor type, patient age, or geographic region. Both US and international trials are listed. This information is also available free by phone from the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service. Call 800-422-6237 and choose the option of speaking to a Cancer Information Specialist. The service is available in both English and Spanish. 

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ACT III study
CDX-110 is an experimental vaccine in development by Celldex Therapeutics for the potential treatment of Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM). ACT III is a phase II/III clinical trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of CDX-110 when combined with standard of care maintenance therapy (temozolomide). The purpose of CDX-110 is to “train” the immune system to recognize a protein called EGFRvIII, which has only been found in significant amounts in cancer cells. In patients whose tumors contain EGFRvIII, this should cause the immune system to kill the GBM cells. This phase II/III study is open to people with newly diagnosed, resected GBM. Patients must undergo a screening which will include determination of EGFRvIII presence. After completion of standard chemoradiation, enrolled patients will be randomized to receive either standard of care maintenance chemotherapy, or chemotherapy plus intradermal injections of CDX-110 on a biweekly to monthly basis, continuing until progression of disease.  Two patients will be randomized to the vaccine treatment for every patient that is randomized to standard of care. To learn more about this trial, entry criteria and sites, visit http://www.celldextherapeutics.com/ or go to www.clinicaltrials.gov and type "CDX-110" into the search engine box.

CenterWatch - Clinical Trials Listing Service
These trials are posted by physicians conducting research at major medical centers and private research centers. Patients can use this site to learn about investigational therapies and identify ongoing clinical research trials. The information is provided by a publishing company covering clinical research as an information source to patients. Also links to the National Cancer Institute's PDQ database.

Clinical Trials and Noteworthy Treatments for Brain Tumors
Maintained by Al Musella, DPM, this site offers a database of both clinical trials and new, conventional treatments for brain tumor patients. The database can be searched by treatment category, by state, or by tumor type. Also offers access to the Emerging Med database referenced below.

Clinical Trials at the National Institutes of Health
The Clinical Center at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a little-known but important part of the U.S. healthcare system. The Center conducts clinical trials - research studies - for many diseases, including brain tumors. There is no charge for medical care received at the NIH Clinical Center. While patients are responsible for travel costs for their initial visit or consultation, once enrolled in a trial at the Center, patients may be able to obtain assistance with transportation as well as per-day funds to help offset food and lodging expenses while at NIH.
 
Currently the Center offers 22 different brain tumor trials. The majority, but not all, of the trials focus on developing new treatments for recurrent brain tumors. Both adult and pediatric trials are open to enrollment. Patients and family members can view a list of the current studies at http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/. Or, you may call the Clinical Center at 1-888-627-1937 to learn more about these studies.  

Coalition of National Cancer Cooperative Groups
CancerTrialsHelp enables visitors to search for clinical trials, register for a monthly electronic newsletter, bookmark favorite sections, and read headlines in cancer news.

Chlorotoxin Study
TM-601 (also known as chlorotoxin), an experimental drug in development by TransMolecular, Inc. is being studied in a phase I/II clinical trial whose goal is to assess the safety and effectiveness of TM-601 when combined with radioactive iodine (13I I). TM-601 is a synthetic version of chlorotoxin, a naturally occurring molecule derived from scorpion venom, coupled with the radioisotope iodine 131I. This phase I/II study is open to people with high-grade glioma (glioblastoma multiforme, anaplastic astrocytoma, anaplastic oligoastrocytoma or gliosarcoma). Participants undergo surgery to debulk the tumor and placement of a ventricular access device used to administer the drug directly into the tumor cavity. Surgery is followed by either 3 or 6 weekly injections of 131-I labeled TM-601 (131-I-TM-601) at the dose determined in the first part of this trial. The 3 or 6 week schedule is randomly assigned. An earlier phase I, open label, single dose study of intracavitary administered 131I-TM601 in adult patients with recurrent high grade glioma was recently completed. Results showed that 131I-TM-601 was well tolerated up to the maximum dose of 1.00 mg TM-601 plus 10 mCi(+/-10%) 131 I. Those results were published in Vol 24, No 22 (August 1), 2006: pp. 3644-36501 edition of the Journal of Clinical Oncology. To learn more about this trial, entry criteria and sites, visit http://www.transmolecular.com/ or go to www.clinicaltrials.gov, choose Search Clinical Trials, and type "TM-601" into the search engine box.

Cotara Study
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals is sponsoring an open label study of a monoclonal antibody, Cotara (131-I-chTNT-1/B mAb), for people with recurrent glioblastoma mulitiforme. Eligibility for this study includes a histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme which is progressive or recurrent, the tumor volume must be between 5 and 60 cc, at least 3 months must have passed since radiation therapy, 4 weeks since non-nitrosourea chemotherapy, 6 weeks since nitrosourea containing chemotherapy and 4 weeks since surgery.  Patients who have had Gliadel are eligible however; an interval of 3 months must have elapsed since the Gliadel wafers have been implanted.  Further entry criteria and a list of participating sites can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (type the protocol number, "PPHM 0602" into the search engine box.)

EmergingMed
A single, short, secure questionnaire matches patients to enrollment criteria for over 100 brain tumor clinical trials. EmergingMed staff then help patients connect to the right trial coordinators.

Motexafin Gadolinium Study in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
The National Cancer Institute is sponsoring a phase I/II study of the experimental drug motexafin gadolinium in patients undergoing radiation with temozolomide for treatment of newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (RTOG-0513). Motexafin gadolinium is a novel tumor-selective anti-cancer agent that inhibits metabolic pathways. Motexafin gadolinium may help temozolomide work better by making tumor cells more sensitive to the drug. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to kill tumor cells. Motexafin gadolinium may also make tumor cells more sensitive to radiation therapy. Giving motexafin gadolinium together with temozolomide and radiation therapy may kill more tumor cells. Motexafin gadolinium has been evaluated in approximately 80 patients with glioblastoma multiforme treated with radiation or temozolomide, and in over 1000 patients with brain metastases from other cancers. The purpose of this study is to confirm the safety of the combination of motexafin gadolinium, radiation, and temozolomde (Phase I), and to establish the efficacy compared to historical data (Phase II). Patients must have newly diagnosed histologically confirmed supratentorial glioblastoma multiforme. Therapy must begin within 5 weeks of surgery. All patients will receive motexafin gadolinium and temozolomide during 6 weeks of radiation, and temozolomide following the radiation. The trial will enroll 113 patients at medical centers participating in Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) trials. More details can be found on clinicaltrials.gov by typing "RTOG-0513" into the search field, or by clicking on the following link: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct/show/NCT00305864?order=1

Mount Sinai Community Clinical Oncology Program
The website of the Mount Sinai Community Clinical Oncology Program offers information about clinical trials being conducted through this Florida-based program. The site includes a list of open trials, explanations of the clinical trial process, and instructions for those who wish to learn more.

NovoTTF
Sponsored by a company named NovoCure, this study is a phase III trial designed to test the effect and safety of a new medical device called the NovoTTF-100A. The experimental, portable, battery operated device is for continuous home treatment of patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme when used in combination with temozolomide as cmoopared to temozolomide alone. The device treats patients with alternating electric fields, termed Tumor Treating Fields or TTFields. Eligible newly diagnosed GBM patients who have completed surgery or biopsy followed by radiation treatments concurrent with temozolomide will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:  1) the NovoTTF-100A with temozolomid Group or 2) the temozolomide alone group (Standard of Care control group). If assigned to the NovoTTF-100A Group, the patients will be treated continuously for up to two years. NovoTTF-100A treatment will consist of wearing four electrodes on the outside of the scalp. Patients assigned to the temozolomide only Standard of Care control group will receive standard dosing of FDA approved temozolomid, the treatment that most newly diagnosed GBM patients receive. For additional information, including sites participating in this trial, visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ , choose Search for Clinical Trials, and type “NovoCure” into the search box. The trial web site offers information and a visual presentation at http://www.novocuretrial.com/.

Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium
The Pediatric Brain Tumor Consortium (PBTC) is a multidisciplinary cooperative research organization devoted to the study of correlative tumor biology and new therapies for primary CNS tumors of childhood. Summaries of open PBTC protocols are posted at their site.

Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers Of America
PhRMA represents approximately 100 US companies involved in pharmaceutical research. Site includes industry information as well lists of members' new drugs in development.

TransMid Trial
A research study sponsored by a pharmaceutical company called the Xenova Group is investigating a new treatment for recurrent glioblastoma. The new drug, TransMID, combines a protein called transferrin with a poison, diphtheria toxin. Convection enhanced delivery (CED) is used to "flow" the drug into the tumor area. The trial is open to people with recurrent, inoperable glioblastoma. This is a randomized clinical trial -- some of the participants will be treated with TransMID, and some participants will receive standard chemotherapy within the study's guidelines. Further information about the trial and participating centers is available at the trial web site, gbmtrial.com. Patients and families can call Xenova at 856-273-6057 for entry criteria or the study site closest to them.

current as of March, 2008

About the Internet...
 
As you search, please keep in mind that anyone can put anything on the Internet. While you may begin with a reputable site, one or two clicks can send you worlds away from where you began. We suggest you follow a few simple rules:

1) Know the credentials of those posting the information. The homepage should show the name of the sponsoring organization or individual. Look for a way to find the organization outside of the net - a telephone number and street address, for example.
2) Never substitute the information you find online for the advice of a medical professional who knows you.
3) Look for a "Privacy Policy" at the site, especially if you are going to share any personal information about yourself. Filling out forms, sending e-mail, or making a purchase requires sharing personal information. A privacy policy is a statement telling users whether or not personal information about them is being collected as they visit the site, how that information is stored, and whether it is passed along to anyone else.