Could a common antifungal pill fight brain tumors?
NCT ID NCT04825275
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This early-phase trial tested whether posaconazole, a drug used for fungal infections, can reach brain tumors in high enough amounts to stop cancer cells from dividing. Seven adults with glioblastoma took the drug before surgery, and researchers measured drug levels in their spinal fluid and tumor tissue. The study was terminated early, so its findings are limited, but it aimed to see if further research into posaconazole as a brain cancer treatment is worthwhile.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- posaconazole (Noxafil), an antifungal drug
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could point toward repurposing posaconazole as a treatment for glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer with few options.
- What could go wrong
- This was a very early (phase 0) and small trial (7 people) that was terminated, so results are limited. It only tested whether the drug reaches the tumor, not if it actually helps patients.
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.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center
Hershey, Pennsylvania, 17033, United States
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