Immune drug takes on recurrent brain tumors in small pilot study

NCT ID NCT02658279

Ongoing Disease control Sponsor: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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

Summary

This pilot study tests whether the drug pembrolizumab can shrink or control recurrent malignant glioma, a type of brain cancer, in people whose tumors have many genetic mutations (hypermutator phenotype). The 27 participants have already had radiation and chemotherapy. The goal is to see if the drug can stop tumor growth for at least 6 months or shrink it by half.

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 attack cancer cells)
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a treatment option for people with recurrent malignant glioma that has a hypermutator phenotype.
What could go wrong: This is a very early, small pilot study with only 27 participants. The drug may not shrink or control the cancer, and it can cause side effects like immune system overactivation.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

glioma malignant glioma

As listed by the trial registrant

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

GLIOMA RECURRENT MALIGNANT GLIOMA

Contacts and locations

Locations

Brigham and Women's Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Cleveland Clinic

Cleveland, Ohio, 44195, United States
Dana Farber Cancer Institute

Boston, Massachusetts, 02115, United States
Massachusetts General Hospital

Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States
Md Anderson Cancer Center

Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen

Montvale, New Jersey, 07645, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

Basking Ridge, New Jersey, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

New York, New York, 10065, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Commack

Commack, New York, 11725, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Monmouth

Middletown, New Jersey, 07748, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Nassau

Uniondale, New York, 11553, United States
Memorial Sloan Kettering Westchester

Harrison, New York, 10604, United States
University of California San Francisco

San Francisco, California, 94143, United States
University of California, Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, 90095, United States
University of Miami

Miami, Florida, United States
University of Utah

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84112, United States

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