New drug cocktail aims to fight returning brain tumors

NCT ID NCT05463848

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

Summary

This phase 2 trial tests a combination of three drugs—pembrolizumab (immunotherapy), olaparib (a targeted therapy), and temozolomide (chemotherapy)—in people with recurrent glioblastoma, a type of brain tumor that has come back after initial treatment. The study will enroll 78 adults and measure how well the treatment controls tumor growth and boosts the immune response. Participants will receive the drugs before and after surgery to remove the tumor, allowing researchers to study the effects directly in the 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

Pembrolizumab (immunotherapy), Olaparib (PARP inhibitor), and Temozolomide (chemotherapy)

What this could lead to

If successful, this combination could offer a new treatment option for recurrent glioblastoma, potentially extending survival and improving quality of life.

What could go wrong

This is an early-phase trial with only 78 participants. The drugs may cause side effects like fatigue, nausea, or immune-related reactions, and the combination may not work better than existing treatments.

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.

glioblastoma

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: •••••@•••••

  • Contact

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

Locations

  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

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

    Contact

  • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02215, United States

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

    Contact

  • Massachusetts General Hospital

    RECRUITING

    Boston, Massachusetts, 02114, United States

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

    Contact

  • Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center

    RECRUITING

    New York, New York, 10065, United States