Brain tumor virus therapy takes on chemo in Head-to-Head trial
NCT ID NCT06177964
First seen Jul 20, 2026 · Last updated Jul 21, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial compares a virus-based treatment called lerapolturev to the chemotherapy drug lomustine in adults with recurrent glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Lerapolturev is injected directly into the tumor and later under the skin around the neck lymph nodes to stimulate the immune system. The study aims to see if this approach improves survival and is safe enough to replace standard chemo.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a virus-based therapy called lerapolturev injected into the brain tumor and under the skin around the neck lymph nodes
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a new treatment option for people with recurrent glioblastoma, a brain cancer with very few effective therapies.
- What could go wrong
- This is a phase 2 trial with only 92 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The virus injections carry risks like brain swelling, severe side effects, or even death.
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 2
Tests whether the treatment actually works, and watches for side effects, in a larger group.
- Participants
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About 92 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2024
- Expected to finish
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Feb 2029
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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18 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: 1. Age ≥ 18 years old at the time of entry into the study. 2. Histopathologically confirmed recurrent supratentorial glioblastoma (WHO grade 4) (high grade glioma with molecular features of glioblastoma will be eligible). 3. Karnofsky Performance Score (KPS) ≥ 70% 4. Hemoglobin ≥ 9 g/dl prior to biopsy 5. Platelet count ≥ 100,000/µl unsupported is necessary for eligibility on the study; however, because of risks of intracranial hemorrhage with catheter placement, platelet count ≥ 125,000/µl is required for the patient to undergo biopsy and catheter insertion, which can be attained with the help of platelet transfusion. 6. Neutrophil count ≥ 1000 prior to biopsy 7. Creatinine ≤ 1.5 x normal range prior to biopsy 8. Total bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN prior to biopsy (Exception: Participant has known or suspected Gilbert's Syndrome for which additional lab testing of direct and/or indirect bilirubin supports this diagnosis. In these instances, a total bilirubin of ≤ 3.0 x ULN is acceptable.) 9. AST/ALT ≤ 2.5 x ULN 10. Prothrombin and Partial Thromboplastin Times ≤ 1.2 x normal prior to biopsy. Patients with prior history of thrombosis/embolism are allowed to be on anticoagulation, understanding that anticoagulation will be held in the perioperative period per the neurosurgical team's recommendations. Low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) is preferred. If a patient is on warfarin, the international normalized ratio (INR) is to be obtained and value should be below 2.0 prior to biopsy. 11. At the time of biopsy, prior to administration of the 1st infusion of lerapolturev via CED, the presence of recurrent tumor must be confirmed by histopathological analysis. 12. Able to undergo brain MRI with and without contrast 13. Prior CDC-recommended vaccination series against PV and has received a boost immunization with trivalent Poliovirus Vaccine Inactivated (IPOL®) (Sanofi-Pasteur SA) at least 1 week, but less than 6 weeks, prior to administration of lerapolturev. Note: Patients who are unsure of their prior vaccination status must provide evidence of anti-PV immunity prior to enrollment, as applicable. 14. Patient or partner(s) meets one of the following criteria: 1. Non-childbearing potential (i.e., not sexually active, physiologically incapable of becoming pregnant, including any female who is post-menopausal or surgically sterile, or any male who has had a vasectomy). Surgically sterile females are defined as those with a documented hysterectomy and/or bilateral oophorectomy or tubal ligation. Postmenopausal for purposes of this study is defined as 1 year without menses.; or 2. Childbearing potential and agrees to use one of the following methods of birth control: approved hormonal contraceptives (e.g. birth control pills, patches, implants, or infusions), an intrauterine device, or a barrier method of contraception (e.g., a condom or diaphragm) used with spermicide. 15. A signed informed consent form approved by the Institutional Review Board (IRB) will be required for patient enrollment into the study. Patients must be able to read and understand the informed consent document and must sign the informed consent indicating that they are aware of the investigational nature of this study Exclusion Criteria: 1. Females who are pregnant or breast-feeding 2. Patients with an impending, life-threatening cerebral herniation syndrome, based on the assessment of the study neurosurgeons or their designate 3. Patients with severe, active co-morbidity, defined as follow: 1. Patients with an active infection requiring intravenous treatment or having an unexplained febrile illness (Tmax \> 99.5°F/37.5°C) 2. Patients with known immunosuppressive disease or known human immunodeficiency virus infection 3. Patients with unstable or severe intercurrent medical conditions such as severe heart disease (New York Heart Association Class 3 or 4) 4. Patients with known lung (forced expiratory volume in the first second of expiration (FEV1) \< 50%) disease or uncontrolled diabetes mellitus 4. Known albumin allergy 5. History of agammaglobulinemia 6. Patients may not have received chemotherapy or bevacizumab ≤ 4 weeks \[except for nitrosourea (6 weeks), or metronomic dosed chemotherapy such as daily etoposide or cyclophosphamide (1 week)\] prior to starting the study drug unless patients have recovered from side effects of such therapy 7. Patients may not have received immunotherapy ≤ 4 weeks prior to starting the study drug unless patients have recovered from side effects of such therapy 8. Patients may not have received treatment with tumor treating fields (e.g., Optune®) ≤ 1 week prior to starting the study drug 9. Patients may not be less than 12 weeks from radiation therapy, unless progressive disease outside of the radiation field or 2 progressive scans at least 4 weeks apart or histopathologic confirmation 10. Patients who have not completed all standard of care treatments, including surgical procedure and radiation therapy (Please note: For patients under 65 years old, standard radiation therapy is typically at least 59 Gy in 30 fractions over 6 weeks. For patients 65 years or older, standard RT is often reduced to a minimum 40 Gy in 15 fractions over 3 weeks.) 1. If the MGMT promoter in their tumor is known to be unmethylated, patients are not mandated to have received chemotherapy prior to participating in this trial 2. If the MGMT promoter in their tumor is known to be methylated or the MGMT promoter methylation status is unknown at time of screening, patients must have received at least one chemotherapy regimen prior to participating in this trial 11. Patients with neoplastic lesions in the brainstem, cerebellum, or spinal cord; radiological evidence of active (growing) disease (active multifocal disease); extensive subependymal disease (tumor touching subependymal space is allowed); tumor crossing the midline or leptomeningeal disease 12. Patients on greater than 4 mg per day of dexamethasone within the 2 weeks prior to the 1st lerapolturev infusion via CED 13. Patients with worsening steroid myopathy (history of gradual progression of bilateral proximal muscle weakness, and atrophy of proximal muscle groups) 14. Patients with prior, unrelated malignancy requiring current active treatment with the exception of cervical carcinoma in situ and adequately treated basal cell or squamous cell carcinoma of the skin 15. Patients with active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunomodulatory treatment within the past 3 months 16. Patients with known history of hypersensitivity to lomustine, dacarbazine, or any components of lomustine
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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
1 site. 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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Duke University Medical Center
RECRUITINGDurham, North Carolina, 27710, United States
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