Glowing dye could help surgeons spot hidden brain tumor cells

NCT ID NCT04305470

First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times

Summary

This phase 3 trial tested a drug called Gleolan in 108 adults with meningioma (a type of brain tumor). Patients took a single oral dose before surgery. The drug makes tumor tissue glow under special light, helping surgeons see and remove more of the tumor. The study checked if the glowing areas matched lab results for tumor tissue.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Gleolan (aminolevulinic acid hydrochloride)

What this could lead to

If successful, Gleolan could help surgeons more completely remove meningiomas by making tumor tissue glow during surgery.

What could go wrong

This is a single-arm study with no placebo group, so results may be less definitive. The drug may not work for all tumor types or locations.

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.

meningioma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Baptist Health South Florida

    Miami, Florida, 33176, United States

  • Henry Ford Health System

    Detroit, Michigan, 48202, United States

  • Keck Hospital of USC

    Los Angeles, California, 90033, United States

  • MD Anderson

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Mayo Clinic

    Phoenix, Arizona, 85054, United States

  • Mayo Clinic Rochester

    Rochester, Minnesota, 55905, United States

  • Medical University of Vienna

    Vienna, 1090, Austria

  • NYU Langone Health

    Brooklyn, New York, 11220, United States

  • Providence St. Joseph Hospital

    Orange, California, 92868, United States

  • Southern Illinois University

    Springfield, Illinois, 62702, United States

  • Swedish Medical Center

    Englewood, Colorado, 80113, United States

  • UPMC

    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 15213, United States

  • University Hospital Münster

    Münster, Germany

  • University of California San Diego

    La Jolla, California, 92093, United States

  • University of Miami

    Coral Gables, Florida, 33136, United States

  • University of Pennsylvania- Penn Medicine

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States