Latest News

• Copayment assistance program is now open!        

  We are happy to share our brain tumor copayment assistance program is now open to new (and renewal) patients! This program can help cover the copay costs for: Optune Gio, Avastin, Temodar, Lomustine, and Modeyso, as well as their generics. If you think you may need help, apply ASAP as the program often closes quickly. Go to braintumorcopays.org for details and to apply.  

  
  
• Implanted Tile-Based Radiation Outperforms Stereotactic Radiotherapy for Treatment of Brain Metastases        

  Researchers at the American Society for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2026 meeting reported results from the Phase 3 ROADS trial, which enrolled 230 patients with newly diagnosed brain metastases requiring surgery and randomized them to receive either GammaTile (115 patients) or standard postoperative stereotactic radiotherapy (115 patients).

  GammaTile is a collagen implant containing radioactive cesium-131 seeds that is placed directly into the surgical cavity during tumor removal. Investigators reported that local recurrence occurred in just 1% of GammaTile patients, compared with 12% of patients receiving standard postoperative radiation.
  
  The study also reported improvements in recurrence-free survival and overall survival, with an estimated 61.7% of GammaTile patients alive two years after diagnosis, compared with 35.7% in the control group. Importantly, these benefits were achieved without an increase in serious treatment-related side effects.

  
  
• More news from ASCO 2026        

   For more neuro-oncology updates from the 2026 ASCO conference (e.g., DOC1021, NeoVax, Nan02, liposomal curcumin, CAR T trials), click HERE. 

  
  
• Alpha Tau Announces Groundbreaking Interim Results from its U.S. Alpha DaRT Recurrent Glioblastoma Trial        

  The REGAIN study is a small feasibility/safety trial expected to enroll up to 10 patients with recurrent GBM. The trial is using Alpha DaRT, an investigational alpha-radiation therapy placed directly into the tumor tissue via a minimally invasive stereotactic procedure. Early interim results from the first 3 patients treated in the trial showed two complete MRI responses (using RANO criteria), and the third patient had stable disease with 30% tumor reduction. So far, there has only been one grade 3 adverse event in the trial: a treatment-related seizure with temporary paralysis that resolved with steroids.

  While these initial objective imaging responses are exciting, the data should be interpreted cautiously. Longer follow-up will be needed to determine durability of response, survival impact, risks such as radiation necrosis, and whether results can be reproduced in a larger population. More information on the trial can be found HERE. 

  
  
• Research Spotlight: External Controls Show Promise for Use in Glioblastoma Clinical Trials        

  Fantastic work from Dr. Rifaquat and colleagues, who showed that carefully matched external control data produced treatment effect estimates nearly identical to those obtained using the randomized control arm of the INSIGhT glioblastoma (GBM) trial. Their findings add to the growing evidence that external controls can, in appropriate scenarios, help reduce the number of patients who must be assigned to traditional control groups while still generating reliable results.
  
  We have long advocated for this approach. Years ago, the Musella Foundation used its brain tumor registry to show that carefully curated and well-matched real-world GBM patient cohorts could approximate outcomes seen in traditional clinical trial control arms. (See HERE) We are very happy to see the neuro-oncology field advancing this concept, as it has great potential to improve the efficiency of clinical trials, increase trial enrollment, and meaningfully benefit patients.

  
  
• Personalized vaccine shows promise against aggressive brain cancer        

  This phase 1 trial investigated a personalized neoantigen DNA vaccine (GNOS-PV01) in 9 newly diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated glioblastoma patients. The vaccine was individually designed for each patient using up to 40 tumor-specific neoantigen targets (more than most prior GBM vaccine approaches). No serious treatment-related adverse events were reported. Vaccine-induced immune responses were seen in 8 of 9 patients, and the only non-responder was on steroids. Three of the 9 patients survived beyond 2 years, and 1 patient remains recurrence-free nearly 5 years after diagnosis. The study adds to growing evidence supporting vaccine strategies for GBM and especially supporting multi-target neoantigen vaccines. The Musella Foundation continues working to support the advancement of promising investigational vaccine approaches for brain tumors, with the strong hope that more patients will gain access to these therapies in the near future.

  
  
• Localized Synergistic Nanofibers Could Eliminate Glioblastoma        

  Researchers at the University of Cincinnati and Johns Hopkins reported promising preclinical results for a novel 'NanoMesh' implant designed to deliver multiple anti-cancer drugs directly into the surgical cavity after glioblastoma (GBM) resection. In mouse models, the multi-layered nanofiber device released temozolomide, acriflavine, and PT2385 in a controlled fashion, significantly extending survival. While this technology is still in the preclinical stage, it's an interesting new approach to local drug delivery for GBM. 

  
  
• Chapter 132: Why can't she just get over it?        

  This is a great blog post from long-term brain cancer survivor and practicing physician Courtney Burnett, explaining why many survivors continue to talk about and advocate for brain cancer even years after treatment. Her perspective will likely resonate with many survivors and patient families who live daily with the lasting impacts of a brain tumor diagnosis.