Latest News

• Webinar tomorrow!        

  Join us tomorrow for an educational webinar on "Phase 2 Study of frontline BPM31510 with Standard of Care in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma" with Dr. David Reardon. To join, visit virtualtrials.org/webinar.

  
  
• FDA Approves Telix's Brain Cancer Imaging Drug Pixclara        

  The FDA just approved the first FET-PET imaging drug in the U.S. (Pixclara®) for patients with glioma, including adults and children 1 month and older. FET-PET has been studied extensively in Europe and is recommended as an additional diagnostic tool in clinical practice guidelines, including the NCCN Guidelines. It provides information about tumor biology that is different from conventional MRI and may be particularly helpful when a brain MRI is difficult to interpret. Studies of FET-PET have reported sensitivity of approximately 80% or higher for helping distinguish tumor progression from treatment-related changes.

  
  
• Free webinar for caregivers        

  From our friends at the End Brain Cancer Initiative, registration is now open for the Caregivers Self-Care and Tools online educational event on November 6, 2026 at 11am PT. The Keynote Speaker for the event is Dr. Jennifer Nosker, a clinical neuropsychologist and scientist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Instructor at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Nosker will provide education to caregivers about the different types of cognitive changes that can occur in brain tumor patients, while simultaneously giving practical tools to help navigate these challenges. To register, click here!

  
  
• New molecular insights into intratumoral hemorrhage in IDH-wildtype glioblastoma        

  A new study of 176 patients with IDH-wildtype glioblastoma (GBM) found evidence of intratumoral hemorrhage on MRI in 105 patients (59.6%). Previous studies have reported much lower rates of 2.3%-29.2%, and the authors caution that differences in MRI techniques and definitions may explain the discrepancy. The authors note their study did not use susceptibility-weighted MRI or confirm hemorrhage pathologically; therefore, 59.6% should not be interpreted as the true percentage of GBMs that hemorrhage.

  The researchers found that hemorrhagic tumors had more SETD2 alterations and fewer alterations in PDGFRA, KIT, KDR and PIK3R1, genes involved in tumor growth and blood-vessel signaling. However, none of these differences remained statistically significant after correction for multiple comparisons, making the findings preliminary. Importantly, hemorrhage in GBM was not associated with shorter progression-free or overall survival. The findings suggest that the tendency of some GBMs to bleed may be linked to tumor biology, but larger studies are needed to confirm the molecular associations and determine their clinical significance.

  
  
• Injectable nanodevices could provide effective treatment for drug-resistant glioblastoma        

  Researchers at MIT have developed an experimental technology called HITMAN (highly-localized electric-field-induced tumor therapy using magnetically actuated nanoantennas), which uses tiny injectable devices to generate localized electric fields that kill cancer cells. The approximately 150-nanometer devices can be activated wirelessly from outside the body using a low-frequency magnetic field. In early preclinical experiments using patient-derived, chemotherapy-resistant glioblastoma cells, HITMAN killed 52.2% of cancer cells, while sparing healthy neurons and astrocytes.   

  The researchers then implanted the patient-derived tumors into the brains of mice. HITMAN substantially slowed tumor growth and extended median survival, with no detectable toxicity to surrounding healthy tissue or major organs. The treatment also reduced the ability of tumor cells to form new colonies, suggesting potential to reduce recurrence. The researchers believe the localized electric fields disrupt cancer cells' bioelectric activity and cause protein-folding stress and membrane damage, ultimately leading to cell death. The technology has not yet been tested in humans, but it is an interesting new approach for electrical field therapy. 

  
  
• A novel approach to reverse Warburg metabolism in patients with recurrent glioblastoma: A phase II pharmacodynamic study of dichloroacetate        

  Dichloroacetate (DCA) inhibits pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), helping shift cancer cells away from the “Warburg effect” (their tendency to rely heavily on glycolysis and produce excess lactate). Earlier preclinical studies provided evidence that DCA may alter GBM metabolism and potentially make tumor cells more vulnerable to cell death.

  A new study has now provided additional evidence that DCA reaches recurrent GBMs and produces the intended metabolic changes. In 37 patients undergoing surgery for recurrent GBM, patients received either one week of DCA or no DCA prior to surgery. The resected enhancing and non-enhancing tumor tissue, and serial plasma DNA and lactate levels were analyzed. Patients who received the DCA had reduced markers of PDK activity and tumor-cell proliferation and significantly lowered blood lactate levels. DCA was well tolerated, but the study did not show that DCA improved progression-free survival. The researchers conclude that, although the study did not show a clinical benefit, the metabolic effects warrant further investigation, particularly in combination with other treatments.