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Focused Ultrasound + Pembrolizumab for Recurrent Glioblastoma

Phase 2
Waitlist Available
Led By Vinay Puduvalli, MD
Research Sponsored by M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Be older than 18 years old
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up up to 5 years
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial tests if a device and contrast agent can temporarily open the blood-brain barrier in people with recurring glioblastoma, before they receive pembrolizumab.

Who is the study for?
Adults with a first recurrence of Grade IV glioma (glioblastoma or gliosarcoma) who have completed standard treatment and are surgical candidates. They must not be pregnant, agree to use contraception, and have adequate organ function. Excluded if they've had certain recent treatments, other cancers within 3 years, active infections or autoimmune diseases, known hypersensitivities, or are unable to comply with the study.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing whether using the Exablate System along with DEFINITY® contrast agent can open the blood-brain barrier in patients with recurrent glioblastoma before receiving pembrolizumab therapy. It's a randomized study comparing outcomes of those receiving this combination versus pembrolizumab alone.
What are the potential side effects?
Potential side effects include reactions related to disrupting the blood-brain barrier such as headaches or seizures; immune-related effects from pembrolizumab like fatigue, skin issues, inflammation in organs; plus risks associated with MRI-guided focused ultrasound.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~up to 5 years
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and up to 5 years for reporting.

Treatment Details

Awards & Highlights

No Placebo-Only Group
All patients enrolled in this study will receive some form of active treatment.

Trial Design

2Treatment groups
Experimental Treatment
Group I: Neoadjuvant pembrolizumabExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Group II: Exablate MRgFUS + neoadjuvant pembolizumabExperimental Treatment1 Intervention
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
Pembrolizumab
2017
Completed Phase 3
~2810

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry Sponsor
4,001 Previous Clinical Trials
5,184,911 Total Patients Enrolled
31 Trials studying Glioblastoma
3,712 Patients Enrolled for Glioblastoma
M.D. Anderson Cancer CenterLead Sponsor
3,063 Previous Clinical Trials
1,800,781 Total Patients Enrolled
43 Trials studying Glioblastoma
1,815 Patients Enrolled for Glioblastoma
InSightecIndustry Sponsor
91 Previous Clinical Trials
3,798 Total Patients Enrolled
7 Trials studying Glioblastoma
148 Patients Enrolled for Glioblastoma

Media Library

Exablate MRgFUS + neoadjuvant pembolizumab Clinical Trial Eligibility Overview. Trial Name: NCT05879120 — Phase 2
Glioblastoma Research Study Groups: Exablate MRgFUS + neoadjuvant pembolizumab, Neoadjuvant pembrolizumab
Glioblastoma Clinical Trial 2023: Exablate MRgFUS + neoadjuvant pembolizumab Highlights & Side Effects. Trial Name: NCT05879120 — Phase 2
Exablate MRgFUS + neoadjuvant pembolizumab 2023 Treatment Timeline for Medical Study. Trial Name: NCT05879120 — Phase 2
~0 spots leftby Nov 2025