Can an old alcohol-dependence drug help the immune system fight brain cancer?
NCT ID NCT07719127
First seen Jul 22, 2026 · Last updated Jul 23, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This phase 1 trial tests whether disulfiram, a drug long used for alcohol dependence, can reduce immune suppression caused by high-grade gliomas. Participants take disulfiram for 3 to 14 days before their scheduled tumor-removal surgery. The goal is to see if the drug can dampen the tumor's ability to block immune cells and lessen brain swelling, potentially reducing the need for steroids.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- disulfiram, a drug used for alcohol dependence, repurposed to target immune suppression in brain tumors
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward a way to make brain tumors more responsive to the immune system and reduce reliance on steroids.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early phase 1 trial with only 20 participants, so results may not apply broadly. Disulfiram may not effectively alter the tumor environment or could cause side effects.
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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
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Study contacts
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Contact
Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
Locations
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University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Cleveland, Ohio, 44106, United States
Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••
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