Targeted drug shows promise for rare childhood brain tumors

NCT ID NCT04655404

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

Summary

This early-phase trial is testing the drug larotrectinib in 15 children (up to age 21) with newly diagnosed high-grade glioma or DIPG that have a specific genetic change called NTRK fusion. The study aims to see if the drug can control the disease after two cycles, and how safe it is when combined with chemotherapy or radiation. Some children will also have surgery to measure drug levels in their tumor.

What this could mean

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

Active substance

Larotrectinib (a targeted cancer drug)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for children with hard-to-treat brain tumors that have a specific genetic change (NTRK fusion).

What could go wrong

This is a very early (Phase 1) pilot study with only 15 children, so results are preliminary. The drug may not shrink tumors or improve survival, and side effects are still being studied.

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.

anaplastic astrocytoma diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-mutant glioblastoma glioma malignant glioma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Study contacts

  • Contact

    Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

Locations

  • Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago

    WITHDRAWN

    Chicago, Illinois, 60611, United States

  • Children's Hospital Colorado

    RECRUITING

    Aurora, Colorado, 80045, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

    RECRUITING

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Children's National Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Washington D.C., District of Columbia, 20010, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Cincinnati, Ohio, 45229, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Duke University Health System

    RECRUITING

    Durham, North Carolina, 27708, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Hopp Children's Cancer Center at NCT Heidelberg (KiTZ)

    RECRUITING

    Heidelberg, Baden-Wurttemberg, 69120, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Montreal Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Montreal, Quebec, H4A3J1, Canada

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Nationwide Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Columbus, Ohio, 43235, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

    Contact

  • Perth Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Perth, Western Australia, 6000, Australia

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Queensland Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    South Brisbane, Queensland, 4101, Australia

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Seattle Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Seattle, Washington, 98105, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Starship Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Auckland, Grafton, 1023, New Zealand

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Sydney Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Randwick, New South Wales, 2031, Australia

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • Texas Children's Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids)

    RECRUITING

    Toronto, Ontario, M5G1X8, Canada

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-•••• Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospital Berlin

    RECRUITING

    Berlin, Germany

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Hospital Koln

    RECRUITING

    Cologne, Germany

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Medical Center Augsburg

    RECRUITING

    Augsburg, Germany

    Contact Email: •••••@•••••

  • University Medical Center Gottingen

    RECRUITING

    Göttingen, Germany

    Contact Phone: •••-•••-••••