Glioblastoma Clinical Trials Recruiting Now: Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening + Immunotherapy Studies
New Phase 2a trial uses focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, enabling immunotherapy (pembrolizumab) to reach glioblastoma tumors. Actively recruiting at Northwestern University Chicago and other major US centers.
Glioblastoma Clinical Trials Recruiting Now: Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening + Immunotherapy Studies
Glioblastoma (GBM) remains the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults, with median survival of 15–18 months despite standard treatment (maximal safe resection, radiation, and temozolomide chemotherapy). A major obstacle to effective therapy is the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which limits delivery of systemic immunotherapies to the tumor microenvironment. A novel approach now recruiting in the US uses MRI-guided focused ultrasound (FUS) to temporarily and reversibly open the BBB, allowing checkpoint inhibitors to penetrate the tumor.
Actively Recruiting Trial: Focused Ultrasound BBB Opening + Pembrolizumab for Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma (NCT05864534)
NCT ID: NCT05864534
Sponsor: Northwestern University
Phase: 2a
Status: RECRUITING
Estimated Enrollment: 35 participants
Study Design: Single-arm, open-label, Phase 2a
Intervention: ExAblate Neuro focused ultrasound system + intravenous pembrolizumab (200 mg every 3 weeks)
Primary Outcome: Safety and feasibility of BBB opening; 12-month progression-free survival
Key Eligibility: Newly diagnosed, IDH-wildtype glioblastoma; completed standard chemoradiation; KPS ≥ 70; adequate organ function
Last Verified: 2026-07-24 (ClinicalTrials.gov)
Key US Recruiting Locations
| Site | City, State | Facility | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northwestern University | Chicago, IL | Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center | RECRUITING |
| Additional sites may be added | — | — | — |
Site list reflects ClinicalTrials.gov data as of last-verified date. Recruitment status can change; confirm current availability on the trial page or via Corterve trial search.
How This Approach Works
| Standard Approach | Investigational Approach (NCT05864534) |
|---|---|
| Systemic immunotherapy (e.g., pembrolizumab) cannot adequately cross intact BBB | MRI-guided focused ultrasound + microbubbles temporarily opens BBB at tumor site |
| Checkpoint inhibitors show limited single-agent activity in GBM | BBB opening enables therapeutic concentrations of pembrolizumab in tumor microenvironment |
| Recurrent GBM trials dominate the landscape | Newly diagnosed patients treated during adjuvant pembrolizumab maintenance phase |
| No real-time confirmation of drug delivery | Contrast-enhanced MRI verifies BBB opening immediately after each sonication |
Broader Glioblastoma Trial Landscape (US Recruiting)
Beyond the featured ultrasound trial above trial above, multiple other glioblastoma studies are actively recruiting in the US:
| NCT ID | Title | Phase | Key Approach | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| NCT07392957 | CTX-009 ± CTX-471 for Recurrent GBM | 1/2 | Anti-angiogenic + immune agonist | St Louis, MO (WashU) |
| NCT06344130 | Hypofractionated Re-irradiation for Recurrent GBM | 1 | Hypofractionated radiation | Bethesda, MD (NIH) |
| NCT07209241 | CART-EGFR-IL13Ra2 Dosing in Recurrent GBM | 1 | CAR-T targeting EGFR/IL13Ra2 | Philadelphia, PA (UPenn) |
| NCT04590664 | Verteporfin for EGFR-mutated Recurrent GBM | 1/2 | Repurposed photosensitizer | Atlanta, GA (Emory) |
| NCT05879367 | Eflornithine + Temozolomide in Newly Diagnosed GBM | 1 | Polyamine pathway inhibition | Detroit, MI; New York, NY; Durham, NC; Cleveland, OH; Providence, RI; Houston, TX; Salt Lake City, UT |
Table shows selected US recruiting trials from Corterve catalog and ClinicalTrials.gov as of 2026-07-24. Not exhaustive.
How to Find Glioblastoma Trials Matching Your Profile
- Visit Corterve's glioblastoma trial search: corterve.com/trials?condition=glioblastoma
- Enter your ZIP code to see trials within your travel radius
- Apply filters: phase, treatment type, biomarker status (IDH, MGMT, EGFR), newly diagnosed vs. recurrent
- Review eligibility — each trial lists inclusion/exclusion criteria
- Click "Check Eligibility" to start a brief pre-qualification screener (takes <3 minutes)
- Consent & connect — if you pre-qualify, Corterve facilitates a referral to the study site
Questions to Ask Your Neuro-Oncologist
- Am I a candidate for BBB-opening trials or other novel delivery approaches?
- What biomarker testing (IDH, MGMT methylation, EGFR amplification) has been done on my tumor?
- Could focused ultrasound BBB opening be combined with my current or planned treatment?
- What are the risks of temporary BBB opening (e.g., edema, hemorrhage, seizure)?
- Are there CAR-T or other cellular therapy trials for my tumor's molecular profile?
Medical Disclaimer
Corterve is a clinical trial matching platform, not a medical provider. We do not provide medical advice, diagnose conditions, or guarantee eligibility for any trial. All eligibility determinations are made by the study team at the recruiting site. Trial availability, locations, and recruitment status change frequently — verify current information on ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05864534) or directly with the study coordinator. Discuss all clinical trial options with your licensed neuro-oncologist or treating physician.
Last verified: 2026-07-24 • Sources: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05864534), Corterve trial catalog, Northwestern University study page