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Checkpoint Inhibitor

Immunotherapy for Brain Cancer

Phase 1
Waitlist Available
Led By Patrick Wen, MD
Research Sponsored by Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Eligibility Criteria Checklist
Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial
Must have
Have a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) ≥ 70 (Appendix A).
Be at first or second relapse. Note: Relapse is defined as progression following initial therapy (i.e., radiation ± chemotherapy). For participants who had prior therapy for a low-grade glioma, the surgical diagnosis of a high-grade glioma will be considered the first relapse.
Timeline
Screening 3 weeks
Treatment Varies
Follow Up 2 weeks. til density is determined in surgical tumor tissue; on-study surgery occurs 14 days (+/- 5 days) after neoadjuvant day 1.
Awards & highlights
No Placebo-Only Group

Summary

This trial is investigating a new type of treatment called immunotherapy for Glioblastoma, a type of brain cancer.

Who is the study for?
This trial is for adults with Grade IV malignant glioma (glioblastoma or gliosarcoma) who have undergone initial treatment and are at their first or second relapse. Participants must be over 18, able to consent, have a performance status indicating they can carry out daily activities, and show tumor progression on scans. They should also have normal organ function as defined by the study's criteria.
What is being tested?
The trial is testing Pembrolizumab (MK-3475), an immunotherapy drug, in patients with recurrent/progressive Glioblastoma that can be accessed surgically. It aims to understand how this drug affects early immune responses against the tumor.
What are the potential side effects?
Pembrolizumab may cause side effects such as fatigue, skin reactions, diarrhea, liver inflammation, hormone gland problems like thyroid disorders, and could potentially worsen pre-existing autoimmune diseases.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

You may be eligible if you check “Yes” for the criteria below
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I am mostly able to care for myself.
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My cancer has returned once or twice after treatment.
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I have received radiotherapy as my first treatment.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks
Treatment ~ Varies
Follow Up ~2 weeks. cell cycle/cancer proliferation genetic signature is determined in surgical tumor tissue; on-study surgery occurs 14 days (+/- 5 days) after neoadjuvant day 1.
This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and 2 weeks. cell cycle/cancer proliferation genetic signature is determined in surgical tumor tissue; on-study surgery occurs 14 days (+/- 5 days) after neoadjuvant day 1. for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.
Primary study objectives
Cell Cycle and Cancer Proliferation Genetic Signature
Incidence of Treatment-Emergent Adverse Events
Lymphocyte
Secondary study objectives
Progression Free Survival (PFS)

Side effects data

From 2022 Phase 1 & 2 trial • 35 Patients • NCT03003468
40%
FATIGUE
37%
INFUSION RELATED REACTION
37%
NAUSEA
23%
ANOREXIA
23%
DIARRHEA
23%
BACK PAIN
23%
ABDOMINAL PAIN
20%
ARTHRALGIA
20%
NON-CARDIAC CHEST PAIN
20%
COUGH
17%
MYALGIA
17%
CONSTIPATION
17%
DYSPNEA
17%
CHILLS
13%
HEADACHE
13%
RASH MACULO-PAPULAR
13%
DIZZINESS
13%
PRURITUS
10%
LUNG INFECTION
10%
SINUS TACHYCARDIA
10%
ALLERGIC REACTION
10%
ANXIETY
10%
ANEMIA
10%
SKIN AND SUBCUTANEOUS TISSUE DISORDERS - OTHER, SPECIFY
10%
URTICARIA
10%
RESPIRATORY, THORACIC AND MEDIASTINAL DISORDERS - OTHER, SPECIFY
10%
EDEMA LIMBS
7%
DEPRESSION
7%
FLU LIKE SYMPTOMS
7%
HYPONATREMIA
7%
URINARY TRACT INFECTION
7%
FLUSHING
7%
HYPERTHYROIDISM
7%
VOICE ALTERATION
7%
PLEURAL EFFUSION
7%
HYPERGLYCEMIA
7%
DYSPEPSIA
7%
PAIN
7%
LYMPHOCYTE COUNT DECREASED
7%
VOMITING
7%
FEVER
7%
FLATULENCE
7%
CREATININE INCREASED
7%
NECK PAIN
7%
PRODUCTIVE COUGH
7%
EAR AND LABYRINTH DISORDERS - OTHER, SPECIFY
7%
PELVIC PAIN
7%
TUMOR PAIN
7%
HYPOTHYROIDISM
3%
HEMORRHOIDS
3%
TREMOR
3%
ESOPHAGITIS
3%
CONJUNCTIVITIS
3%
DEHYDRATION
3%
GAIT DISTURBANCE
3%
BLURRED VISION
3%
INSOMNIA
3%
BLOATING
3%
PRESYNCOPE
3%
PARESTHESIA
3%
DRY MOUTH
3%
GASTROESOPHAGEAL REFLUX DISEASE
3%
SORE THROAT
3%
BRONCHOSPASM
3%
HYPOMAGNESEMIA
3%
MOVEMENTS INVOLUNTARY
3%
PERIPHERAL MOTOR NEUROPATHY
3%
ACUTE KIDNEY INJURY
3%
NASAL CONGESTION
3%
PAIN OF SKIN
3%
PNEUMONITIS
3%
DRY SKIN
3%
FLASHING LIGHTS
3%
HYPOTENSION
3%
SINUSITIS
3%
HEARING IMPAIRED
3%
MALAISE
3%
ALKALINE PHOSPHATASE INCREASED
3%
OSTEONECROSIS OF JAW
3%
NEUTROPHIL COUNT DECREASED
3%
THROMBOEMBOLIC EVENT
3%
RASH ACNEIFORM
3%
SOMNOLENCE
3%
HYPERTENSION
3%
MUSCLE WEAKNESS LOWER LIMB
3%
SYNCOPE
3%
VAGINAL INFECTION
3%
PAIN IN EXTREMITY
3%
DYSPHAGIA
3%
POSTNASAL DRIP
3%
COLITIS
3%
HOT FLASHES
3%
RESPIRATORY FAILURE
3%
GASTROINTESTINAL DISORDERS - OTHER, SPECIFY
3%
ALLERGIC RHINITIS
3%
SEPSIS
3%
WEIGHT GAIN
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%
Study treatment Arm
Imprime PGG 4 mg/kg
Imprime PGG 2 mg/kg

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
Active Control
Group I: Pre-surgery MK-3475Experimental Treatment1 Intervention
-After a screening phase of 14 days, eligible subjects will be randomized into two groups. * Pembrolizumab (MK3475) pre-surgery at pre-determine dosage followed by Pembrolizumab at pre-determine dosage every 3 weeks post surgery. * MK-3475 will be administered intravenously
Group II: No MK-3475 at Pre-SurgeryActive Control1 Intervention
-After a screening phase of 14 days, eligible subjects will be randomized into two groups. * Pembrolizumab (MK-3475) at pre-determine dosage every 3 weeks post surgery. * MK-3475 will be administered intravenously
Treatment
First Studied
Drug Approval Stage
How many patients have taken this drug
MK-3475
2014
Completed Phase 2
~1350

Find a Location

Who is running the clinical trial?

Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteLead Sponsor
1,110 Previous Clinical Trials
358,238 Total Patients Enrolled
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLCIndustry Sponsor
4,027 Previous Clinical Trials
5,188,743 Total Patients Enrolled
Patrick Wen, MDPrincipal InvestigatorDana-Farber Cancer Institute
10 Previous Clinical Trials
377 Total Patients Enrolled
~7 spots leftby Dec 2025