Sound waves open brain barrier to deliver cancer drug in kids

NCT ID NCT07664176

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

Summary

This early-stage trial tests whether using focused ultrasound with microbubbles can temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing the immunotherapy drug nivolumab to reach brain tumors more effectively. It includes 30 children and young adults with relapsed diffuse midline glioma or other high-grade brain tumors. The main goals are to see if the approach is safe and feasible, not yet to prove it works.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

nivolumab (an immunotherapy drug) combined with focused ultrasound and microbubbles to open the blood-brain barrier

What this could lead to

If it works, this could point toward a way to deliver immunotherapy more effectively to hard-to-treat brain tumors, potentially improving outcomes for children with relapsed diffuse midline glioma.

What could go wrong

This is a very early phase 1 safety study with only 30 participants, so it is not designed to prove the treatment works. The procedure carries risks from the ultrasound, microbubbles, and immunotherapy, and may not improve survival.

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.

atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor brain cancer brain neoplasm diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma ependymoma glioma malignant glioma medulloblastoma rhabdoid tumor

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

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  • Contact

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