Sound waves could boost brain cancer drug delivery
NCT ID NCT06496971
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This Phase 3 trial tests whether combining the drug Avastin with a focused ultrasound system (NaviFUS) can improve outcomes for people with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. The ultrasound temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier to let more drug reach the tumor. About 32 adults who have already had standard treatments will be randomly assigned to get Avastin alone or Avastin plus the ultrasound. The main goal is to see if the combination helps patients live longer without their cancer growing.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Bevacizumab (Avastin) combined with low-intensity focused ultrasound and microbubbles
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new way to deliver drugs to brain tumors, potentially slowing disease progression in recurrent glioblastoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small early Phase 3 trial with only 32 participants. The approach is experimental, and the added benefit over Avastin alone is uncertain. Risks include side effects from the ultrasound procedure.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
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About 32 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Nov 2024
- Expected to finish
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Mar 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
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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18 to 80 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: 1. Male or female patients ≥ 18 years of age at the time of study enrollment. 2. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 17 kg/m2. 3. Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma must have unequivocal evidence of recurrence, as determined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI), following prior radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. 4. Patients may have undergone surgery for recurrence. The patients should have completed surgery and adequately recovered prior to the time of study enrollment. 5. Patients must have radiographic evidence of either at least an 80% resection of enhancing tumor following recurrence or a maximal measurable residual tumor ≤ 20 cm3. 6. If patients are receiving corticosteroids, they must have been on a stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids for at least 1 week prior to the planned first treatment. 7. At the time of study enrollment, the minimum interval since the last event: * 4 weeks out from invasive procedures (e.g., open biopsy, surgical resection, significant traumatic injury, or any other major surgery involving entry into a body cavity) and the patient must have recovered from the effects of surgery * 1 week out from minor surgical procedures or core biopsies 8. Patients must have recovered from the toxic effects of prior therapy at the time of study enrollment as follows: * 4 weeks out from any investigational drug or device * 4 weeks out from chemotherapy * 6 weeks since the completion of a nitrosourea-containing chemotherapy regimen (e.g., Carmustine (BCNU)) * 12 weeks out from completion of radiotherapy 9. Patients should have a life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks. 10. Patients must have Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70. 11. Adequate hematopoietic, renal, hepatic, and coagulation function, defined as: * Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 * Neutrophils ≥ 1,500/mm3 * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN) * Urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) \< 1 or urine dipstick for proteinuria ≤ 2+ * Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) \< 3 × ULN * Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) \< 3 × ULN * Total bilirubin (TBL) \< 2 × ULN * Prothrombin time ≤ 1.5 x ULN * International Normalized Ratio (INR) \< 1.5 These tests must be conducted within 2 weeks prior to the planned first treatment. 12. The central of FUS exposure region is located with a minimum distance of at least 30 mm beneath the skull bone. 13. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test documented within 2 weeks prior to first treatment. Females of childbearing potential and male patients with partners of childbearing potential must agree to adhere to an acceptable method of contraception (as outlined below) from prior to the first study treatment until at least 6 months after the completion of last treatment. Standard acceptable methods of contraception include the use of highly effective methods such as hormonal contraception, diaphragm, cervical cap, vaginal sponge, condom, spermicide, vasectomy, intrauterine device, or abstinence from sexual activity. 14. Patients are able and willing to have peripheral intravenous (IV) line placement of Bevacizumab and are able to have hair shaved (either whole head or in the region where the coupling membrane will touch) prior to FUS treatment if assigned to treatment group. 15. Patients or their legal representatives are able to provide written informed consent for participation in the trial and patients are willing to comply the procedures (i.e., study-related assessments), instructions, and restrictions outlined in this study in the duration of the study. Informed consent should also be given for biological materials and diagnostic imaging to be stored and used for future research on brain tumors. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have radiographic evidence of multifocal enhancing tumors. 2. Patients who have undergone previous treatment with anti-angiogenic therapy, including Bevacizumab, or other VEGF inhibitors or VEGF-receptor signaling inhibitors. 3. Patients who have previously received Carmustine wafers implantation during re-operation. 4. Patients who have previously received or are currently undergoing tumor treating fields (TTF) treatment. 5. Uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following: * New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or above congestive heart failure (CHF) within 12 months prior to study enrollment * Unstable angina pectoris * Medical history of myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study enrollment * Cardiac shunt 6. Stroke (except for transient ischemic attack; TIA) within 6 months prior to study enrollment. 7. Patients with implanted electronic device, for example, implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), cardiac pacemaker, permanent medication pumps, cochlear implants, responsive neurostimulator (RNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), or other electronic devices implanted in the brain. Patients with contraindications for MRI as judged by Investigator, including non-MRI compatible metallic implant(s). 8. Patients with inadequately controlled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure \> 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg while on medication, within 2 weeks prior to first treatment. 9. Patients with evidence of any thrombotic or hemorrhagic events, including but not limited to: * Inherited bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy with the risk of bleeding (i.e., in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation). * History of pulmonary haemorrhage/haemoptysis ≥ grade 2 according to the CTCAE version 5.0 criteria within 1 month prior to study enrollment * Arterial or venous thrombosis (e.g., pulmonary embolism) within 3 months prior to study enrollment 10. Patients with unstable pulmonary disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of study enrollment. 11. Patients who have psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements. 12. Known HIV-positive patient, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this study. 13. Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of study enrollment. 14. History or evidence of active gastroduodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal perforations/fistula, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months prior to study enrollment. 15. Receiving anticoagulant (e.g., warfarin or LMW heparin) or antiplatelet (e.g., aspirin) therapy within 1 week prior to beginning treatment. 16. Known sensitivity/allergy to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents, Computer Tomography (CT) contrast agents, SonoVue®, Bevacizumab, or any of their components. 17. Pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or breast-feeding women. 18. Use of any recreational drugs or history of drug addiction. 19. Other severe concurrent and/or uncontrolled concomitant medical conditions (e.g., active or uncontrolled infection, uncontrolled epilepsy, uncontrolled diabetes) that could cause unacceptable safety risks or compromise compliance with the protocol. 20. Any other condition that, in the Investigator's discretion, might increase the risk to the patients or compromise the evaluation of the clinical trial endpoints.
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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 places running it
2 sites. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
RECRUITINGTaoyuan, 33305, Taiwan
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National Taiwan University Hospital
RECRUITINGTaipei, 10048, Taiwan
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