Sound waves could open Brain's barrier to fight deadly tumor
NCT ID NCT07562971
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tests a new way to treat a rare and aggressive brain tumor called diffuse midline glioma (DMG) in the brainstem. The approach uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, allowing more of the chemotherapy drug temozolomide to reach the tumor. The trial will include 20 children and adults and aims to see if the procedure is safe and whether it can slow tumor growth or extend survival.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- temozolomide
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could improve how well chemotherapy reaches and attacks this hard-to-treat brain tumor, potentially slowing its growth and extending survival.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small pilot study with only 20 participants. The technique may not work as hoped, and there are risks from the ultrasound procedure and chemotherapy side effects.
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 1/2
Runs two stages together: safety and dose first, then whether the treatment works.
- Participants
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About 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- Expected to finish
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Nov 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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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4 years and older
- 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: * Age ≥ 4 years. * Histologically/molecularly verified de novo pontine H3K27-altered diffuse midline glioma. * Main localization ('center of mass') in the brainstem. NB: some degree of extension beyond the brainstem, e.g. cerebellar peduncles, is allowed. * Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) or Lansky Performance Score (LPS) of ≥ 70/ KPS or LPS 60 and WHO/ECOG performance status ≤ 2. * ASA-score of I-III. * Intention to treat with (TMZ chemo-) radiation and maintenance TMZ as per consensus of the local multidisciplinary tumor board. * Feasible to schedule the first Exablate BBBO procedure preferably within 4-6 weeks, acceptably within 12 weeks, after successful completion of radiotherapy/ concomitant TMZ-chemoradiation, defined as completed treatment as planned without reported CTCAEv6.0 grade 3-4 toxicities or, in case of reported CTCAEv6.0 grade 3-4 toxicities, the toxicities must be resolved to grade 2 prior to inclusion. * If on steroids, stable or decreasing dose for at least 7 days prior to inclusion. * Able to attend all study visits. * Able and willing to give informed consent or have a legal guardian who is able and willing to do so. Exclusion Criteria: * Previous or ongoing participation in other clinical trials with other than standard-of-care tumor-directed treatment(s) for H3K27-altered DMG. * Multifocal or leptomeningeal metastasized disease. Multifocal disease is defined as multiple FLAIR-hyperintense lesions, separated by normal-appearing brain tissue, with or without gadolinium enhancement. Multiple enhancing regions within one continuous FLAIR lesion can be considered as unifocal disease. * Signs/symptoms of elevated intracranial pressure (ICP) (e.g. headache, vomiting, impaired vision/papilledema, impaired consciousness), with corresponding radiographic findings on MRI at time of screening. * Severe dysphagia with feeding tube dependency. * Evidence of acute clinically significant intracranial hemorrhage. NB: minimal hemorrhagic foci without obvious related clinical symptoms will not serve as grounds for exclusion. * Tumor not visible on any pre-therapy or post-radiation imaging. * Presence of extracranial / intracranial structures (e.g. metal prostheses, implants, calcifications) on pre-treatment CT-scan/ MRI-scan, significantly interfering with acoustic impedance as per judgement of the researchers. * Known co-occurring other malignancy that is progressing or has required active treatment within the past 3 years, with exception of: carcinomas in situ (CIS) and non-melanoma skin cancers. * Patients with right-to-left, bi-directional or transient right-to-left cardiac shunts. * Known LVEF \< 40 or unstable hemodynamics. * Severe hypertension, not adequately controlled with study compatible medication (Adults: RR systolic \>180 and/ or RR diastolic \>100; Children: \>p95 + 12mmHg). * History of bleeding disorder and/or coagulopathy. * Treatment with anti-coagulant therapy. * Severely impaired renal function; creatinine clearance \<30 mL/ min. * Subjects with significant liver dysfunction; Child Pugh classification C. * Known diagnosis of active or untreated hepatitis B, hepatitis C, tuberculosis. * Any other illness or medical condition that in the investigator's opinion precludes participation in this study. * Pregnant or lactating women. * Expected uncontrollable therapy non-compliance/ non-cooperation that is likely to interfere with the study procedure, as per judgement of the investigators. * Head circumference ≤ 49 cm. * Weight ≥ 135 kg. * Patient ≥ 18 years old, who requires general anesthesia to undergo the Exablate BBBO procedure. * Contra-indication for MRI procedures. * Known sensitivity to gadolinium-based contrast agents. * Known sensitivity to the resonator agent (perflutren; Luminity®).
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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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Princess Maxima Center for pediatric oncology
Utrecht, 3584 CS, Netherlands
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UMC Utrecht
Utrecht, 3584 CX, Netherlands
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