Sound waves and a drug team up to attack deadly brain tumors
NCT ID NCT06039709
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This pilot study tests a new approach called sonodynamic therapy for people with recurrent glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer that has come back. The treatment combines an investigational drug (5-ALA) with low-intensity focused ultrasound to target and damage tumor cells before surgery. The study will enroll 11 participants to check if the procedure is safe and feasible, not yet whether it works.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 5-ALA (a drug that makes tumor cells sensitive to ultrasound) combined with low-intensity focused ultrasound
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a new, non-invasive way to damage glioblastoma cells and improve treatment options for this aggressive brain cancer.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early (Phase 1) pilot study with only 11 participants. It focuses on safety, not effectiveness, and the treatment is limited to part of the tumor. Risks include bleeding, brain swelling, and the therapy may not shrink the tumor.
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
The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.
- Participants
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About 11 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2024
- Expected to finish
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Jun 2027
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 to 80 years
- 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. Disease status and Disease Parameters: * Suspected recurrent glioblastoma that is clearly measurable based on the modified Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria * The tumor lesion needs to comprise at least 1 contrast-enhancing lesion with a volume of ≥ 2 cm3 and ≤ 20 cm3 of targeted treatment area * Tumor tissue to be treated is in a surgically accessible brain region for resection * The brain tumor to be treated must be in the treatment envelope of the NaviFUS system (30 mm to 90 mm from the inner skull table) * Recurrence will be assessed by imaging and confirmed by consensus at tumor board 2. Men or women between the ages of 18-80 years of age at the time of consent 3. No contraindication to repeat brain surgery 4. Karnofsky Performance Score of 70-100 5. Able to undergo an MRI with contrast 6. Able to swallow oral medications 7. Willingness and ability to comply with scheduled visits, treatment plans, lifestyle considerations, laboratory tests, and other procedures. 8. Ability to understand and the willingness to sign a written informed consent document (personally or by the legally authorized representative, if applicable). 9. Participants who received prior chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and/or another investigational therapy must have recovered (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events \[CTCAE\] Grade ≤1 or baseline) from the acute effects of the therapy or therapies) except for residual alopecia or Grade 2 peripheral neuropathy prior to registration. 10. Has adequate bone marrow and organ function as defined by the following laboratory values (as assessed by the local laboratory for eligibility): Hematological * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) ≥1000/mm3 * Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3 * Hemoglobin ≥ 11 g/dL for women and ≥ 12 g/dL for men Participants may receive erythrocyte transfusions to achieve this hemoglobin level at the discretion of the investigator. * INR ≤ 1.4 Renal \& Hepatic * Creatinine clearance CrCl ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 as estimated by the Cockcroft-Gault (C-G) equation. If estimated CrCl is abnormal, accurate measurement should be obtained by 24- hour CrCl. * Bilirubin ≤ 1.5 x ULN (except in patients with Gilbert's disease, where bilirubin to 2.0x ULN is allowed). * AST and ALT ≤ 3 x ULN * Alkaline phosphatase ≤ 3 x ULN * Estimated glomerular filtration rate ≥30mL/min/1.73m2 Exclusion Criteria: 1. Known sensitivity or allergy to 5-ALA 2. Simultaneous use of other potentially phototoxic substances (e.g. tetracyclines, sulfonamides, fluoroquinolones, hypericin extracts) 3. Diagnosis of porphyria 4. Hypersensitivity against porphyrins 5. Pregnancy 6. Significant cardiac disease or coagulopathy 7. Herniation / intractable seizure / other clinical indications requiring urgent resection 8. Known active systemic bacterial infection (requiring intravenous \[IV\] antibiotics at time of initiating study treatment), fungal infection, or detectable viral infection (such as known human immunodeficiency virus positivity or with known active hepatitis B or C (for example, hepatitis B surface antigen positive) 9. Have had a recent (≤3 months prior to registration) transient ischemic attack or stroke 10. Significant vascular disease (e.g. aortic aneurysm) 11. Evidence of bleeding diathesis or coagulopathy 12. Need for systemic anticoagulation which cannot be held for 7 days prior to SDT 13. Unstable angina and/or congestive heart failure (NYH Class III or Class IV; see section 13.2) within 6 months prior to registration 14. Severe hypertension (systolic ≥ 180 mm Hg; diastolic ≥ 120 mm Hg) despite anti-hypertensive medications 15. Transmural myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to registration 16. Serious and inadequately controlled cardiac arrhythmia 17. Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease 18. Has serious and/or uncontrolled preexisting medical condition(s) that, in the judgment of the investigator, would preclude participation in this study 19. Treatment with another investigational drug or investigational procedure within 30 days prior to registration or within 5 half-lives of the investigational product, whichever is longer 20. Brain edema and/or mass effect that causes midline shift of more than 15 mm 21. Evidence of recent (within 30 days prior to registration) intracranial hemorrhage 22. Calcifications or metallic implanted objects in the focused ultrasound sonication path 23. Scalp atrophy or scars at the expected location of transducer 24. Cerebral or systemic vasculopathy 25. Need for or currently on dialysis 26. Respiratory: chronic pulmonary disorders (e.g., severe emphysema, COPD, pulmonary vasculitis, or other causes of reduced pulmonary vascular cross-sectional area). 27. Receipt of radiotherapy ≤21 days prior to registration 28. Receipt of chemotherapy ≤ 21 days prior to registration 29. Prior treatment with sonodynamic therapy 30. Concurrent use of Optune device 31. Concurrent use of supplements or medications with substantial antioxidant effects (including sulfhydryl-containing medications such as captopril or supplements such as N-acetylcysteine, or high doses of vitamins with antioxidant activity such as C or E) 32. Known sensitivity to gadolinium
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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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University of Virginia
RECRUITINGCharlottesville, Virginia, 22903, United States
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