Glow-in-the-Dark dye could help brain cancer surgery
NCT ID NCT01811121
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026
Summary
This study tested whether a dye called 5-ALA, which makes tumor cells glow during surgery, helps surgeons remove more of a deadly brain cancer called glioblastoma. 170 adults with newly diagnosed glioblastoma were randomly assigned to receive either 5-ALA or a placebo before surgery. The main goal was to see if the dye led to more complete tumor removal, as seen on MRI scans.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could establish 5-ALA as a better tool for surgeons to remove more of the tumor during glioblastoma surgery, potentially improving survival.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed phase 3 trial, but results are not yet widely adopted. The benefit may be modest, and the technique requires specialized equipment and training.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Guyotat
Lyon, France
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