Sound waves may help deliver brain tumor drug
NCT ID NCT04446416
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tested a device called NaviFUS that uses focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, combined with the drug bevacizumab (Avastin), in 6 patients with recurrent glioblastoma (a type of brain cancer). The goal was to see if the combination is safe and can slow tumor growth. Patients received the treatment after standard therapies had failed.
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 focused ultrasound (NaviFUS system)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this approach could offer a new way to deliver drugs to brain tumors by temporarily opening the blood-brain barrier, potentially improving treatment for recurrent glioblastoma.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early pilot study with only 6 participants, so results may not apply to a larger population. The treatment may not improve survival or could cause side effects from the ultrasound or drug.
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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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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6 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jul 2020
- Finished
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Aug 2023
- 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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20 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. Adult male/female patients ≥ 20 years of age 2. Patients with histologically confirmed glioblastoma, recurrent after prior radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy. 3. Patient may have been operated for recurrence. If operated: with measurable residual tumor 4. Minimum interval since completion of radiation treatment is 12 weeks 5. Patients if already on the steroids then should be on a stable dose of steroids for at least 7 days prior to study treatment 6. Body mass index (BMI) ≥17 kg / m2 7. Minimum interval since last drug therapy: * 1 week for non-cytotoxic agents (e.g., interferon, tamoxifen), daily chemotherapy (e.g., metronomic temozolomide, cytoxan) or targeted therapies administered daily (e.g., gleevec, tarceva) * 4 weeks since last cytotoxic therapy * 6 weeks since the completion of a nitrosourea-containing chemotherapy regimen (e.g., carmustine (BCNU)) 8. Patients with life expectancy ≥ 3 months 9. The Karnofsky performance status (KPS) in the patient must be \> 60 10. Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) Score ≤ 2 11. Adequate hepatic, renal, coagulation, and hematopoietic function * Hemoglobin ≥ 8 g/dL * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 * Neutrophils ≥ 1,500/mm3 * Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 x upper limit of normal (ULN) * Urine protein creatinine (UPC) ratio \< 1 or urine dipstick for proteinuria ≤ 2+ * Alanine transaminase (ALT) \< 3 ULN * Aspartate transaminase (AST) \< 3 x ULN * Prothrombin time ≤ 1.2 x ULN * International Normalized Ratio (INR) \< 1.5 * Bilirubin \< 2 x ULN 12. Patients with the region of interest (ROI) for FUS exposure are located close to the cortex with at least 20 mm distance beneath the skull bone and the ROI is not in the deep center brain with crucial brain functions, such as in the region of brain stem, or motor or speech regions 13. Patients with the potential for pregnancy and their partner must agree to use adequate contraception or be surgically sterile, or abstain from heterosexual activity starting with the first dose of treatment through at least 6 months after the last dose of BEV to avoid conception. Female patients of child-bearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test. Male patients must agree to use an adequate method of contraception starting with the first dose of treatment through 6 months after the last dose of BEV. 14. Able to give informed consent for the participation in the trial Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients who have had previous treatment with an inhibitor of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) or VEGFR (including bevacizumab) 2. New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or greater congestive heart failure requiring hospitalization within 12 months prior to screening 3. Severe hypertension at screening (diastolic blood pressure \> 100 mmHg on medication) 4. Uncontrolled intercurrent illness including, but not limited to symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, severe cerebral or myocardial infarction, cardiac shunt, heart attack within the previous 12 months, stroke (except for transient ischemic attack; TIA) within the previous 6 months, or psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements 5. Unstable pulmonary disease or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of screening 6. Implanted pacemaker, defibrillator or deep brain stimulator, other implanted electronic devices in the brain or documented clinically significant arrhythmias 7. Major surgery such as intra-thoracic, intra-abdominal or intra-pelvic (with the exception of craniotomy), open biopsy or significant traumatic injury ≤ 4 weeks prior to screening, or patients who have had minor procedures, percutaneous biopsies or placement of vascular access device ≤ 1 week prior to screening, or who have not recovered from side effects of such procedure or injury 8. Known HIV positive patients, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this study 9. Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of screening 10. Receiving anticoagulant (e.g. warfarin) or antiplatelet (e.g. aspirin) therapy within one week prior to beginning treatment 11. Pregnant or breast-feeding women 12. Known sensitivity/allergy to PET tracers, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents, Computer Tomography (CT) contrast agents, SonoVue®, bevacizumab, or any of their components 13. Abnormal baseline findings considered by the investigator to indicate conditions that might affect study endpoints 14. Patients who have hemorrhage or cyst within the ROI 15. The receipt of an investigational drug within a period of 4 weeks prior to the first FUS exposure 16. Use of any recreational drugs or history of drug addiction 17. Any other condition that, in the investigator's judgment, might increase the risk to the patients or decrease the chance of obtaining satisfactory data needed to achieve the objectives of the study
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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
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Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
Taoyuan City, 33305, Taiwan
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