Immunotherapy drug takes on deadly brain cancer

NCT ID NCT02852655

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This early-stage trial tests the immunotherapy drug pembrolizumab in 60 adults with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The study aims to see how the drug affects immune cells in the tumor and whether it is safe. Participants receive pembrolizumab before and after surgery to remove 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

Pembrolizumab (a drug that helps the immune system fight cancer)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a new treatment option for recurrent glioblastoma, a difficult-to-treat brain cancer.

What could go wrong

This is an early Phase 1 trial with only 60 participants, so results may not apply to all patients. The drug may cause serious side effects or fail to 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.

brain cancer glioblastoma gliosarcoma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Dana Farber Cancer Institute

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States

  • Huntsman Cancer Institute

    Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

  • Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer

    New York, New York, 10065, United States

  • UT, MD Anderson Cancer Center

    Houston, Texas, 77030, United States

  • University of California, Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States

  • University of California, San Francisco

    San Francisco, California, 94143-0372, United States