259 Glioblastoma Clinical Trials Recruiting Now (May 2026): GBM — CAR-T, Vaccines, Niraparib, GammaTile, TTFields
Last updated: May 25, 2026
Current Clinical Trial Landscape
Active research areas in 2026:
- CAR-T cell therapy targeting EGFRvIII, IL13Rα2, HER2, GD2, DLL3 (19 recruiting trials)
- Checkpoint immunotherapy combinations — pembrolizumab, nivolumab, retifanlimab (30 trials)
- Tumor vaccines — dendritic cell, neoantigen, peptide, and RNA-lipid particle vaccines (12 trials)
- Tumor treating fields (TTFields/Optune) combinations with immunotherapy (10 trials)
- Adaptive platform trials — GBM AGILE, INSIGhT — testing multiple agents simultaneously
Standard of care: Maximal safe resection → concurrent radiation + temozolomide → adjuvant temozolomide (Stupp protocol). Tumor treating fields (Optune) added for newly diagnosed GBM. MGMT promoter methylation predicts temozolomide benefit. For MGMT-unmethylated tumors, clinical trials are especially important as TMZ benefit is limited.
Key Biomarkers for Trial Eligibility
Most GBM trials require specific biomarker information. Knowing your status helps match you to the right trial:
- IDH status — IDH-wildtype (most common, ~90%) vs IDH-mutant. IDH-mutant gliomas are now classified separately (astrocytoma) and have different trial options including IDH inhibitors (vorasidenib).
- MGMT methylation — Methylated (~40%) vs unmethylated (~60%). Unmethylated patients benefit less from temozolomide and are prioritized for novel approaches. Several trials specifically target MGMT-unmethylated GBM.
- EGFRvIII — Present in ~25-30% of GBM. Target for CAR-T therapies and vaccine approaches.
- Newly diagnosed vs recurrent — Different trial options at each stage. Recurrent GBM has more CAR-T and immunotherapy combination trials.
Recruiting Trials by Treatment Setting
Newly Diagnosed GBM — Added to Standard Chemoradiation
Trials adding novel agents to the Stupp protocol (surgery + RT/TMZ). Several Phase 3 trials are open, with new Phase 3 entrants in early 2026:
- MGMT-unmethylated focused (TMZ less effective in this subgroup):
- NCT06388733 - Niraparib vs Temozolomide in newly-diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated GBM (Phase 3; flagship trial for this hard-to-treat subgroup, asks whether a PARP inhibitor can replace TMZ when TMZ benefit is limited)
- NCT05052957 - hSTAR: Chemoprotection with P140K-MGMT to allow TMZ dose escalation in MGMT-unmethylated GBM (Phase 2)
- Immunotherapy + chemoradiation:
- NCT06556563 - EF-41/KEYNOTE D58: TTFields + TMZ + pembrolizumab vs TTFields + TMZ (Phase 3)
- NCT06991101 - Ruxolitinib (JAK1/2 inhibitor) + RT/TMZ vs RT/TMZ alone (Phase 2, randomized)
- NCT05664464 - Gabapentin (glutamate inhibitor) added to standard chemoradiation (Phase 1b/2)
- Vaccine therapies:
- NCT06805305 - DOC1021 dendritic cell immunotherapy (Phase 2)
- Radiation innovations:
- NCT07195591 - GammaTile placed at the time of GBM resection vs standard of care (Phase 3; immediate brachytherapy at tumor cavity, new April 2026 Phase 3)
- NCT07459101 - MR-Linac guided adaptive radiotherapy (Phase 2/3)
- NCT05450744 - IPAX-2: 131I-TLX-101 targeted radiotherapy (Phase 3)
- Temozolomide modifications:
- NCT06419946 - Lomustine + TMZ/RT for MGMT-methylated GBM (Phase 3)
- NCT03213002 - CAPTEM: Capecitabine + temozolomide combination
- Other novel agents:
- NCT05669820 - Antisecretory factor for newly-diagnosed GBM (Phase 2/3)
- Platform / adaptive trials:
- NCT03970447 - GBM AGILE: Adaptive platform testing multiple agents simultaneously (Phase 2/3)
- NCT02977780 - INSIGhT: Biomarker-driven individualized therapy platform
Recurrent / Progressive GBM
After progression on standard chemoradiation — this is where the most novel approaches are being tested. Multiple new Phase 3 entrants in early 2026:
- Phase 3 trials in recurrent / progressive disease:
- NCT05904119 - Lomustine with vs without reirradiation for first progression of GBM (Phase 3, randomized)
- NCT05902169 - Sonocloud-9 (BBB-opening ultrasound) + carboplatin vs standard-of-care chemotherapies (CCNU or carboplatin) in recurrent GBM (Phase 3, focused ultrasound to enhance drug delivery)
- NCT06496971 - Avastin (bevacizumab) pivotal study in recurrent GBM (Phase 3)
- NCT05271240 - Superselective intraarterial bevacizumab infusion (Phase 3)
- NCT07100730 - TLX101-Tx + standard of care vs SOC alone (Phase 3)
- CAR-T cell therapy:
- Immunotherapy combinations:
- NCT06160206 - Retifanlimab + bevacizumab + hypofractionated RT
- Local / surgical therapies:
Showing selected notable trials. View all 259 recruiting interventional trials on ClinicalTrials.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find glioblastoma clinical trials I'm eligible for?
Enter your GBM details into ClinTrialFinder — including IDH status, MGMT methylation, tumor grade, and prior treatments. The AI matches you with trials based on your specific profile in minutes. No login required.
What types of glioblastoma trials are currently recruiting?
There are 259 recruiting interventional trials for glioblastoma in May 2026 including newly-diagnosed Phase 3s (niraparib vs TMZ for MGMT-unmethylated NCT06388733; GammaTile-at-resection vs SOC NCT07195591; lomustine + TMZ for MGMT-methylated NCT06419946; EF-41 / KEYNOTE-D58 TTFields + TMZ + pembrolizumab NCT06556563), recurrent/progressive Phase 3s (lomustine + reirradiation NCT05904119; Sonocloud-9 + carboplatin BBB-opening NCT05902169; intra-arterial bevacizumab NCT05271240; 131I-TLX-101 IPAX-2 NCT05450744; TLX101-Tx NCT07100730; Avastin pivotal NCT06496971), CAR-T cell therapy (EGFRvIII, IL13Rα2, DLL3), checkpoint immunotherapy combinations, tumor vaccines, tumor treating fields (TTFields) with immunotherapy, and adaptive platform trials like GBM AGILE and INSIGhT.
Are there trials specifically for MGMT-unmethylated GBM?
Yes — MGMT-unmethylated patients benefit less from temozolomide alone, so several trials specifically target this population. The flagship Phase 3 is niraparib vs TMZ in newly-diagnosed MGMT-unmethylated GBM (NCT06388733). Other approaches include chemoprotection to allow higher TMZ doses (hSTAR NCT05052957). Sonocloud-9 BBB-opening + carboplatin (NCT05902169) is also a Phase 3 for recurrent disease.
What is the difference between IDH-wildtype and IDH-mutant glioblastoma?
IDH-wildtype GBM (~90% of cases) is more aggressive and is what most "glioblastoma" trials target. IDH-mutant gliomas are now classified separately as astrocytoma and have different treatment options, including IDH inhibitors like vorasidenib. Knowing your IDH status is essential for finding the right trials.
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