Light blast during brain surgery aims to fry leftover cancer cells
NCT ID NCT04391062
First seen Jan 10, 2026 · Last updated Jun 19, 2026 · Updated 26 times
Summary
This phase 2 trial tested whether increasing the light dose during a special type of therapy called photodynamic therapy (PDT) is safe for people with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain cancer. Fourteen patients received a drug (5-ALA) before surgery, then a red laser was shone on the tumor bed after removal. The goal was to find the highest safe light dose. The treatment was added on top of standard care: surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
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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.
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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Contacts and locations
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Locations
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Hopital Roger Salengro, CHU Lille
Lille, 59037, France
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Hôpital Erasme, Clinique Universitaire de Bruxelles
Brussels, Belgium
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
Active substance
5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) plus red light laser
What this could lead to
If successful, this could point toward a more effective way to destroy leftover cancer cells during brain tumor surgery, potentially delaying recurrence.
What could go wrong
This is a very small, early-phase study with only 14 participants. The main goal is to find a safe light dose, not to prove it works. Risks include brain swelling or damage from the light therapy.
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.