Laser zaps brain tumors in kids without open surgery
NCT ID NCT07506239
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests a laser treatment called LITT for children, teens, and young adults whose low-grade brain tumors have come back or grown after prior therapy. About 40 participants will receive the laser procedure to heat and destroy tumor tissue. The main goal is to see how many patients remain tumor-free 15 months after treatment.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Mar 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jan 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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2 to 25 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Participants must have recurrent or progressive pediatric LGG who have received at least one prior treatment. Prior treatment may include surgery alone and/or systemic therapy. * Participants must have histologically confirmed LGG that is recurrent or progressive after prior treatment and determined to be a candidate for LITT by central review. All patients will undergo central review prior to LITT. Any number of previous recurrences are permissible provided the participant meets other enrollment criteria. * Tumor size: up to 5 cm in largest dimension not including any cystic component. Larger tumors will need to be discussed with the study team. Additional adjunctive interventions such as cyst aspiration prior to or concurrent with a LITT procedure is allowed at the treating surgeon's discretion. Tumor location: Tumors must be located in areas of the brain or central nervous system that are accessible and considered safe for LITT, as determined by central review. * Suprasellar gliomas not arising from the optic pathway are eligible. * Multifocal or metastatic LGGs are eligible, provided that the growing lesions are suitable for LITT. * Exophytic brainstem lesions, which are more accessible and present a lower risk, may be eligible for LITT. * A patient with stable leptomeningeal disease and a separate growing lesion suitable for LITT is eligible for the study. * Prior Therapy: Participants may have had LITT for other medical indications, provided that the lesion being considered for this study has not previously undergone LITT, except for patients who have received LITT for an intracranial lesion that has shown progression post-LITT beyond 15 months would be eligible. * Participants must have fully recovered from the acute toxic effects of all prior chemotherapy or targeted therapy prior to entering this study and would be eligible for surgical intervention per institutional guidelines. * Bevacizumab: participants must have received last dose \> 21 days prior to study registration. * Participants must have had chemotherapy \> 3 weeks (6 weeks for nitrosoureas or mitomycin C) prior to registration. * Participants must be at least 7 days since the completion of therapy with a biologic or small molecule agent. For any agent with known adverse events that can occur beyond 7 days after administration, the period prior to enrollment must be beyond the time during which adverse events are known to occur. Such patients should also be discussed with study chairs. * Radiation: Participants must have: * Had their last fraction of local irradiation or focal radiosurgery to primary tumor ≥12 weeks prior to registration. * Had their last fraction of craniospinal irradiation or total body irradiation ≥ 12 weeks prior to registration * Age \>= 2 years to \<= 25 years of age * Performance Score: Karnofsky ≥ 50 for participants \> 16 years of age and Lansky ≥ 50 for participants ≤ 16 years of age. Participants who are unable to walk because of paralysis, but who are up in a wheelchair, will be considered ambulatory for the purpose of assessing the performance score. * Corticosteroids: Participants who are receiving dexamethasone must be on a stable or decreasing dose for at least 1 week prior to registration. * Patients must be surgically eligible per institutional standards. * Patients must co-enroll to Pediatric Neuro-oncology Consortium (PNOC) COMP if PNOC COMP is open to accrual at the enrolling institution. * A legal parent/guardian or patient must be able to understand, and willing to sign, a written informed consent and assent document, as appropriate. Exclusion Criteria: * Any contraindication to the use of LITT, such as but not limited to: * Optic pathway gliomas * Spinal tumors * Brainstem Lesions: Infiltrative brainstem lesions are excluded. However, exophytic brainstem lesions, which are more accessible and present a lower risk, may be eligible for LITT. * Any lesion/location determined by central review to be contraindicated for LITT. * The presence of uncontrolled leptomeningeal disease or extracranial disease including: * Evidence of untreated obstructive hydrocephalus or mass effect causing \>10 millimeter (mm) midline shift * Presence of symptomatic intratumoral hemorrhage (Grade 3 \& 4). Intratumoral hemorrhage grade 2 needs to be discussed with study team. * Participants who are receiving any other investigational agents. * Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to, ongoing or active infection. Important note: The eligibility criteria listed above are interpreted literally and cannot be waived.
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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.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The study's own enquiry address
This study publishes an address for enquiries. See it below .
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
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A doctor treating you
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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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University of California, San Francisco
RECRUITINGSan Francisco, California, 94143, United States
Contact Email: •••••@•••••
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