Glow-in-the-Dark drug could help brain cancer surgery
NCT ID NCT06417281
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This completed Phase III trial tested a drug called 5-aminolevulinic acid (5-ALA) in 86 adults with malignant brain glioma. Patients took the drug orally before surgery, causing tumor cells to glow under a special light. This helps surgeons see and remove more cancerous tissue. The study focused on how accurately the glowing areas matched actual tumor cells.
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)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could improve surgeons' ability to see and remove more tumor tissue during brain cancer surgery, potentially leading to better outcomes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a completed Phase III trial with 86 participants, so results are limited in size. The approach only helps visualize tumor tissue and does not cure the disease. Risks include skin sensitivity to light and allergic reactions.
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
-
Phase 3
Large-scale testing in a bigger group. Usually the last step before a treatment can be approved.
- Participants
-
86 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jun 2024
- Finished
-
Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
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
-
18 to 75 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Patient's written informed consent * Age 18-75 years * Radiological suspicion of a malignant glioma * Indication for surgical tumour resection * Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70 Exclusion Criteria: * Tumor located in the basal ganglia, thalamus, cerebellum, or brainstem * Porphyria, hypersensitivity to porphyrins，history of cutaneous photosensitivity or photosensitive skin diseases； * known hypersensitivity to the test drug ingredients * Any other condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes participation in the trial inappropriate;
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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
-
Huashan Hospital, Fudan University
Shanghai, China
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.