Could an antidepressant help fight brain cancer? new trial aims to find out.
NCT ID NCT07284628
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 30, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This phase II trial tests whether vortioxetine, a drug currently used for depression, can help people with newly diagnosed glioblastoma. The study will enroll 78 adults and measure if the drug extends the time before the cancer worsens. Vortioxetine was selected because lab tests showed it may slow glioblastoma growth, especially when combined with standard chemotherapy.
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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 78 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jun 2026
- Expected to finish
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Jun 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. Male or female, age ≥18 years 2. Patients with histologically confirmed newly diagnosed glioblastoma per CNS WHO 2021 classification 3. O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promotor methylation status known or tissue available for testing 4. Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 70% 5. Intent to treat with standard radiochemotherapy per EANO guidelines (radiotherapy will 60 Gy in 1.8-2 Gy fractions. Concomitant chemotherapy with temozolomide (75 mg/m2 daily throughout radiotherapy, including at weekends) followed by six cycles of maintenance temozolomide (150-200 mg/m2, 5 out of 28 days). Short course radiotherapy at 40 Gy is not allowed. 6. Female patients must be either documented not to be Women of Childbearing Potential (WOCBP) or must have a negative pregnancy test within 14 days of starting treatment. Additionally WOCBP must agree to use, from the screening to 6 months following the last study drug administration, highly effective contraception methods, as defined by the "Recommendations for contraception and pregnancy testing in clinical trials" issued by the Head of Medicine Agencies' Clinical Trial Facilitation Group (www.hma.eu/ctfg.html) and which include, for instance, progesterone-only or combined (estrogen- and progesterone-containing) hormonal contraception associated with inhibition of ovulation, intrauterine devices, intrauterine hormone-releasing systems, bilateral tubal occlusion or vasectomized partner. WOCBP are defined as females who have experienced menarche, are not postmenopausal (12 months with no menses without an alternative medical cause) and are not permanently sterilized (e.g., tubal occlusion, hysterectomy, bilateral oophorectomy, or bilateral salpingectomy). 7. Male subjects able to father children must agree to use two acceptable methods of contraception throughout the study and during 6 months following the last study drug administration (e.g., condom with spermicidal gel). Double-barrier contraception is required. 8. Personally signed and dated informed consent document indicating that the subject has been informed of all pertinent aspects of the study. 9. Willingness and ability to comply with the scheduled visits, treatment plan, laboratory tests and other study procedures. Exclusion Criteria: 1\. Prior treatment for newly diagnosed glioblastoma except surgery. 2. Intent to be treated with tumor-treating fields. 3. Inability to undergo contrast-enhanced MRI. 4. Inadequate bone marrow, renal and hepatic function: * Absolute neutrophil count (ANC) \< 1.5 x 10.9/L; platelets \< 100 x 10.9/L * Hemoglobin (Hb) \< 9.0 g/dl. Blood marrow values must be measured independently of transfusion. * Chronically impaired renal function as indicated by creatinine clearance \< 50 mL/min or serum creatinine \> 1.5 upper limit of normal (ULN). * Inadequate liver function (ALT, AST, ALP ≥ 2.5 x ULN) 9. Any severe concomitant condition which makes it undesirable for the patient to participate in the study or which could jeopardize compliance with the protocol, in the opinion of the investigator. 10\. Any contra-indication to vortioxetine. 11. Medically documented history of active major depressive episode, bipolar disorder (I or II), obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, a history of suicidal attempt or ideation, or homicidal ideation (e.g., risk of doing harm to self or others), or patients with active severe personality disorders. 12\. Pregnancy or breast feeding. 13. Presence of active and uncontrolled infections or other severe concurrent disease, which, in the opinion of the investigator, would place the patient at undue risk or interfere with the study. 14\. Concurrent malignancies unless the patient has been disease-free without intervention for at least one year. 15\. Requirement of concurrent use of other anti-cancer treatments or agents other than study medication.
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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 Hospital Zurich
RECRUITINGZurich, Switzerland
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