Drug combo shows promise against rare brain tumor

NCT ID NCT03224767

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This phase II trial tests two targeted drugs, vemurafenib and cobimetinib, in 24 people with a rare type of brain tumor called papillary craniopharyngioma that has a specific genetic mutation (BRAF V600E). The drugs work by blocking enzymes that help tumor cells grow. The main goal is to see how many patients' tumors shrink, with secondary goals of tracking how long the tumor stays controlled and overall survival.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

vemurafenib and cobimetinib (targeted cancer drugs taken by mouth)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could offer a drug-based treatment option for a rare brain tumor that currently requires surgery or radiation.

What could go wrong

This is a small, early-phase trial with only 24 participants. The drugs may not shrink tumors enough, and side effects like skin reactions or eye problems are possible.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

craniopharyngioma papillary craniopharyngioma

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

BRAF V600E MUTATION PRESENT PAPILLARY CRANIOPHARYNGIOMA

Contacts and locations

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Locations

Abbott-Northwestern Hospital

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55407, United States
Alta Bates Summit Medical Center-Herrick Campus

Berkeley, California, 94704, United States
Aurora Saint Luke's Medical Center

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 53215, United States
Benefis Sletten Cancer Institute

Great Falls, Montana, 59405, United States
Billings Clinic Cancer Center

Billings, Montana, 59101, United States
Borgess Medical Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49048, United States
Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital

Bozeman, Montana, 59715, United States
Bronson Battle Creek

Battle Creek, Michigan, 49017, United States
Bronson Methodist Hospital

Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007, United States
California Pacific Medical Center-Pacific Campus

San Francisco, California, 94115, United States
Camden Clark Medical Center

Parkersburg, West Virginia, 26101, United States
Cancer Center of Western Wisconsin

New Richmond, Wisconsin, 54017, United States
Cancer Centers of Southwest Oklahoma Research

Lawton, Oklahoma, 73505, United States
Cancer and Hematology Centers of Western Michigan - Norton Shores

Norton Shores, Michigan, 49444, United States
Central Care Cancer Center - Bolivar

Bolivar, Missouri, 65613, United States
Central Care Cancer Center - Garden City

Garden City, Kansas, 67846, United States
Central Care Cancer Center - Great Bend

Great Bend, Kansas, 67530, United States
Community Medical Center

Missoula, Montana, 59804, United States
Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Butterworth Hospital

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Corewell Health Grand Rapids Hospitals - Helen DeVos Children's Hospital

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals - Marie Yeager Cancer Center

Saint Joseph, Michigan, 49085, United States
Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals - Niles Hospital

Niles, Michigan, 49120, United States
Corewell Health Lakeland Hospitals - Saint Joseph Hospital

Saint Joseph, Michigan, 49085, United States
Corewell Health Reed City Hospital

Reed City, Michigan, 49677, United States
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States
Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center/Dartmouth Cancer Center

Lebanon, New Hampshire, 03756, United States
Eden Hospital Medical Center

Castro Valley, California, 94546, United States
FHCC South Lake Union

Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
Fairview Clinics and Surgery Center Maple Grove

Maple Grove, Minnesota, 55369, United States
Fairview Ridges Hospital

Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337, United States
Fairview Southdale Hospital

Edina, Minnesota, 55435, United States
Farmington Health Center

Farmington, Utah, 84025, United States
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center

Seattle, Washington, 98109, United States
Great Falls Clinic

Great Falls, Montana, 59405, United States
Health Partners Inc

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55454, United States
Hennepin County Medical Center

Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55415, United States
Huntsman Cancer Institute/University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States
Idaho Urologic Institute-Meridian

Meridian, Idaho, 83642, United States
Inova Schar Cancer Institute

Fairfax, Virginia, 22031, United States
Johns Hopkins University/Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center

Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center

Los Angeles, California, 90027, United States
Kalispell Regional Medical Center

Kalispell, Montana, 59901, United States
Kootenai Clinic Cancer Services - Post Falls

Post Falls, Idaho, 83854, United States
Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene

Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, 83814, United States
Lakeview Hospital

Stillwater, Minnesota, 55082, United States
Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone

New York, New York, 10016, United States
M D Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Mayo Clinic in Florida

Jacksonville, Florida, 32224-9980, United States
Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States
Memorial Medical Center

Modesto, California, 95355, United States
Mercy Hospital

Coon Rapids, Minnesota, 55433, United States
Mills-Peninsula Medical Center

Burlingame, California, 94010, United States
Minnesota Oncology - Burnsville

Burnsville, Minnesota, 55337, United States
Minnesota Oncology Hematology PA-Maplewood

Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109, United States
Minnesota Oncology Hematology PA-Woodbury

Woodbury, Minnesota, 55125, United States
Monticello Cancer Center

Monticello, Minnesota, 55362, United States
Munson Medical Center

Traverse City, Michigan, 49684, United States
NYP/Weill Cornell Medical Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
North Memorial Medical Health Center

Robbinsdale, Minnesota, 55422, United States
Palo Alto Medical Foundation Health Care

Palo Alto, California, 94301, United States
Palo Alto Medical Foundation-Camino Division

Mountain View, California, 94040, United States
Palo Alto Medical Foundation-Sunnyvale

Sunnyvale, California, 94086, United States
Park Nicollet Clinic - Saint Louis Park

Saint Louis Park, Minnesota, 55416, United States
Regions Hospital

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55101, United States
Research Medical Center

Kansas City, Missouri, 64132, United States
Rice Memorial Hospital

Willmar, Minnesota, 56201, United States
Ridgeview Medical Center

Waconia, Minnesota, 55387, United States
Rush University Medical Center

Chicago, Illinois, 60612, United States
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Newark, New Jersey, 07101, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Boise

Boise, Idaho, 83706, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Caldwell

Caldwell, Idaho, 83605, United States
Saint Alphonsus Cancer Care Center-Nampa

Nampa, Idaho, 83687, United States
Saint Francis Regional Medical Center

Shakopee, Minnesota, 55379, United States
Saint John's Hospital - Healtheast

Maplewood, Minnesota, 55109, United States
Smilow Cancer Center/Yale-New Haven Hospital

New Haven, Connecticut, 06510, United States
Smilow Cancer Hospital Care Center-Trumbull

Trumbull, Connecticut, 06611, United States
South Jordan Health Center

South Jordan, Utah, 84009, United States
Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-Auburn

Auburn, California, 95603, United States
Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-Cameron Park

Cameron Park, California, 95682, United States
Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-Roseville

Roseville, California, 95661, United States
Sutter Cancer Centers Radiation Oncology Services-Vacaville

Vacaville, California, 95687, United States
Sutter Medical Center Sacramento

Sacramento, California, 95816, United States
Sutter Roseville Medical Center

Roseville, California, 95661, United States
Sutter Solano Medical Center/Cancer Center

Vallejo, California, 94589, United States
Tampa General Hospital

Tampa, Florida, 33606, United States
Trinity Health Grand Rapids Hospital

Grand Rapids, Michigan, 49503, United States
Trinity Health Muskegon Hospital

Muskegon, Michigan, 49444, United States
Tufts Medical Center

Boston, Massachusetts, 02111, United States
UC Irvine Health/Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Orange, California, 92868, United States
UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center

Chapel Hill, North Carolina, 27599, United States
United Hospital

Saint Paul, Minnesota, 55102, United States
United Hospital Center

Bridgeport, West Virginia, 26330, United States
Unity Hospital

Fridley, Minnesota, 55432, United States
University of Alabama at Birmingham Cancer Center

Birmingham, Alabama, 35233, United States
University of Miami Miller School of Medicine-Sylvester Cancer Center

Miami, Florida, 33136, United States
University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States
University of Michigan Health - West

Wyoming, Michigan, 49519, United States
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, 73104, United States
University of Washington Medical Center - Montlake

Seattle, Washington, 98195, United States
Wake Forest University Health Sciences

Winston-Salem, North Carolina, 27157, United States
Washington University School of Medicine

St Louis, Missouri, 63110, United States
Welch Cancer Center

Sheridan, Wyoming, 82801, United States
West Michigan Cancer Center

Kalamazoo, Michigan, 49007, United States
West Virginia University Healthcare

Morgantown, West Virginia, 26506, United States
Yale University

New Haven, Connecticut, 06520, United States