Clinical Trials for Glioblastoma

Clinical trials for glioblastoma offer patients a unique way to increase their selection of treatment options. Once a promising new therapy is developed, it is compared to the current standard of care through a clinical trial. If the novel therapy outperforms the existing one, it may eventually become the new standard of care; until then, however, patients will only be able to obtain the investigational treatment through a clinical trial.

Through past clinical trials for glioblastoma, patients have been able to benefit from:

• Chemotherapy drugs that are especially effective for tumors that cannot be surgically removed
• Medications that block the formation of new blood vessels that promote tumor growth
• Vaccine therapies for newly diagnosed or recurrent glioblastomas
• Alternative chemotherapy delivery cycles to slow the process of long-term disease progression
• Oxygen therapy to enhance the effects of traditional chemotherapy and radiation therapy

Other clinical trials have focused on quality-of-life factors. For instance, one recently completed study focused on ways to reduce chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, while another tested strategies for improving neurological function in patients with high-grade brain cancer.

Considering the limitations of current glioblastoma treatments, clinical trials have proven to be very valuable for many patients who feel restricted by the standard options. Because the cancer is fast-spreading and can be resistant to standard therapies, many patients elect to participate in clinical trials as a way of taking a more proactive and hopeful approach.

Moffitt Cancer Center is a leading destination for patients who are interested in clinical trials. Recognized on a national level for our commitment to research, we have been named a Comprehensive Cancer Center by the National Cancer Institute. Our Neuro-Oncology Program includes researchers and clinical trial personnel, as well as experienced surgeons, medical oncologists and radiation oncologists – all of whom specialize in treating cancers of the brain and spinal cord.

A physician’s referral is not required to enroll in a study at Moffitt. To find out more about our clinical trials for glioblastoma, call 1-813-745-6100 or 1-800-679-0775 (toll-free) or submit a clinical trials inquiry form online.