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. View a list of the current studies at http://bethesdatrials.cancer.gov/brain_cns/index.asp. Or, you may call the Clinical Center at 1-888-624-1937 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.

Cotara Study
Peregrine Pharmaceuticals is sponsoring an open label study of a monoclonal antibody, Cotara (131-I-chTNT-1/B mAb), for people with glioblastoma mulitiforme at first recurrence. Eligibility for this study includes a histologically confirmed glioblastoma multiforme at first relapse, the tumor volume must be between 5 and 60 cc, at least 4 weeks must have passed since radiation therapy, 4 weeks since non-nitrosourea chemotherapy, 6 weeks since nitrosourea containing chemotherapy and 4 weeks since surgery. Further entry criteria and a list of participating sites can be found at www.clinicaltrials.gov (type the protocol number, "PPHM 0503" 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.

GLASS-ART Trial for Neuradiab
Bradmer Pharmaceuticals is working closely with leading brain cancer centers across the US to conduct a pivotal Phase III trial to further evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Neuradiab in patients with newly diagnosed primary GBM.   The study is designed to compare the effects of Neuradiab given in addition to standard of care (radiation therapy and Temozolomide after surgical removal of the tumor) to the standard of care itself.   Neuradiab is comprised of two main components:  a monoclonal antibody which selectively targets a protein expressed by GBM cells called Tenascin, and a cell-killing payload of radioactive Iodine-131.    It is delivered via a single injection through a catheter which is implanted during a surgical procedure.  The goal of the therapy is to kill tumor cells which remain near the site of the original tumor after it has been surgically removed, and thus inhibit or delay the return of the GBM tumor.  Medical researchers are currently enrolling newly diagnosed GBM patients in the Phase III GLASS-ART Trial for Neuradiab at centers of excellence in the US.   For more information, visit http://www.GlassArtTrial.com or call 888-267-0707 ext. 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 device is an experimental, portable, battery operated device for continuous home treatment of patients with recurrent or progressive glioblastoma multiforme The device treats patients with alternating electric fields, termed Tumor Treating Fields or TTFields. Eligible patients are those whose glioblastoma has recurred or progressed despite standard treatment (surgery, radiation therapy, temozolomide treatment). Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: 1) the NovoTTF-100A Group or 2) the Best Standard of Care Group. If assigned to the NovoTTF-100A Group, patients will be treated continuously for as long as their disease is stable or regressing. NovoTTF-100A treatment will consist of wearing four electrodes on the outside of the scalp. Those assigned to the Best Standard of Care Group will receive a chemotherapeutic agent chosen based on their prior treatments and the best standard of care practiced at the treating center. For additional information, including sites participating in this trial, visit http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ 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.

NEW  Toca 511
A Phase 1/2 Study of Toca 511, a Replication Competent Retrovirus, Administered to Subjects With Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM)

This is a multicenter, open-label, trial of the safety and tolerability of increasing, single doses of Toca 511, a replication competent retrovirus, administered transcranially to subjects with GBM that has recurred following surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy with temozolomide. Approximately 3 weeks following injection of Toca 511, subjects will take flucytosine (5-FC), an oral antibiotic, for 6 days.  These 6-day cycles will be repeated monthly for up to 6 cycles.  The study will be conducted in 2 parts.  In part one, increasing, single doses of Toca 511 will be administered to approximately 15 subjects in order to identify the highest safe and tolerated dose of Toca 511.  In part 2, an additional 9 subjects will be studied at the dose found in part one to be safe and well tolerated.  Tumor response will be assessed by MRI scan performed approximately every 2 months.

For more information including entry criteria and study sites, locations, and contact information, please click on the following links or paste the links into your internet browser: http://www.tocagen.com/site/c.quIYL6MOJrE/b.6116599/k.9D00/Clinical_Trials.htm or:
http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01156584?term=Tocagen&rank=1


Veritas Medicine
The Veritas Medicine website clinical trials database allows patients to be matched to clinical trials based on information submitted confidentially. The clinical trial matching tool is supplemented with original information about current and investigational treatments developed by physicians.

July, 2010

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.