Sound waves open brain barrier to attack deadly childhood tumors
NCT ID NCT05762419
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early study tests whether focused ultrasound can safely open the blood-brain barrier in children with progressive diffuse midline glioma (DMG), a rare and aggressive brain tumor. Ten children aged 4–21 will receive oral etoposide chemotherapy after ultrasound treatment to allow more drug to reach the tumor. The goal is to see if the procedure is safe and feasible, not yet to measure effectiveness.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Etoposide (oral chemotherapy) combined with focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could improve drug delivery to brain tumors, potentially slowing disease progression in children with diffuse midline glioma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small feasibility study (10 children). It primarily tests safety and whether the blood-brain barrier can be opened—not yet whether it improves outcomes. Risks include side effects from etoposide and the ultrasound procedure.
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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
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Columbia University Irving Medical Center
RECRUITINGNew York, New York, 10032, United States
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