Short Course Chemo-Radiation Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma

June 17, 2025 updated by: John Flickinger

Short Course Chemo-Radiation Therapy for Patients With Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: Comparison of Two Established Schedules

This is a prospective, randomized, open-label, exploratory trial of temozolomide-based chemo-radiotherapy which compares two widely used established radiation schedules with either 40 Gy in 15 fractions or 25 Gy in 5 fractions with concurrent temozolomide for both schedules in patients with glioblastoma.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Active, not recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

All patients in the study will receive usual care with short-course radiotherapy (RT) and TMZ-chemo pills.

There are three phases of treatment in this study: the Chemo-radiation Phase, the Adjuvant Phase, and the Follow-Up Phase.

Twenty-eight or fewer days prior to starting the Chemo-radiation Phase, patients will have a baseline Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan.

Chemo-radiation Phase: In this, patient will be assigned to either a one week or a three week treatment group with radiation treatments given approximately 5 days a week as directed by the study doctor. During this time they will also take TMZ-chemo orally (by mouth) once a day on every evening including weekends starting the evening of the day that you start radiotherapy. Once radiation is completed, you will stop taking TMZ-chemo for approximately 4 weeks before going to the next phase.

Radiation therapy: Patients will be randomized between standard radiation treatment at UPMC Radiation Oncology facilities included in this protocol with either 40 Gy in 15 fractions or 25 Gy in 5 fractions, using 6 to 23 MV x-rays along with concurrent temozolomide chemotherapy for both treatment schedules.

  • Clinical treatment volumes (CTV) will include all contrast enhancing tumor plus 1.7cm expansion into brain tissue (not crossing the tentorium) and all T2 FLAIR hyperintensity plus 7mm expansion into brain tissue (not crossing the tentorium). A planning target volume (PTV) expansion of 3mm will be then added to the CTV. No additional exclusion of brainstem or optic nerves is required as both treatment schedules are within tolerance.
  • Treatment may be delivered with either 3D-conformal or intensity modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) techniques.

Adjuvant Phase: In the Adjuvant Phase, you will receive standard monthly 5 day cycles of TMZ-chemo at 150 mg/m^2 per day for up to 1 year.

Chemotherapy: Patient will receive concurrent temozolomide throughout radiation therapy, followed by standard monthly 5 day cycles for up to 1 year. Patients randomized to 25 Gy in 5 fractions will receive 150 mg/m^2 of temozolomide per day for 5 days starting first day of radiotherapy. Patients randomized to 40 Gy in 15 fractions will receive 75 mg/m2 of temozolomide per day for 19 days starting first day of radiotherapy. Patients will be appropriately pre-medicated with anti-nausea medication, prior to taking temozolomide. All patients will also receive prophylactic treatment for pneumocystis pneumonia with Bactrim or other alternative antibiotics if allergic.

Follow-up Interval: Procedures performed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the study procedures are called "monitoring" or "follow-up" procedures. Subject participants will not be scheduled for any additional follow-up visits for this study than they would normally have if they were not in this study. Radiation Oncologists and Neuro-Oncologists usually see their patients one month after the first chemo-radiotherapy cycle before starting the next cycle of chemotherapy. After that Neuro-Oncologists and Radiation Oncologists will see the patients every 1-3 months.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
2

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Phase 2
  • Phase 1

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Pennsylvania
      • Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15232
        • University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Radiation Oncology

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

18 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

Each patient must meet all of the following inclusion criteria for study enrollment:

  • Age ≥18 with ability to provide written informed consent
  • Pathologically confirmed WHO Grade IV Gliobastoma prior receiving radiotherapy
  • Prior radiotherapy to a dose of ≥50Gy
  • No signs of distant metastases
  • Baseline laboratory assessment including CBC and blood chemistry, ANC > or equal 1500, Platelet count greater or equal 100. Liver function tests and creatinine not greater than twice ULN.
  • Patient should not be pregnant. Urine or blood β-HCG within 14 days prior to study start for females who are not atleast one year post-menopausal or who have ot undergone a surgical sterilization procedure
  • A baseline MRI scan of the brain is required to determine how much tumor is present for properly planning patient's radiotherapy.
  • Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) below 60 or ECOG of 3 or 4
  • Any number or type of prior chemotherapy is allowed (patient may receive concurrent or adjuvant systemic therapy such as cetuximab at the discretion of the treating oncologic team).

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients meeting any of the following exclusion criteria are not eligible for enrollment:

  • Evidence of distant metastases on any staging or imaging modality
  • Women who are breast feeding, or have a positive pregnancy test (reproductive age should use effective birth control during study)
  • Any co-morbidity or condition of sufficient severity to limit full compliance with the protocol per assessment by the principal investigator.
  • Karnofsky Performance Status less than 50
  • Prior radiotherapy to involved site in brain.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: 40 Gy in 15 fractions
Patients randomized to 40 Gy in 15 fractions will receive 75 mg/m^2 temozolomide per day for 15 days starting the first day of radiotherapy. This treatment will be followed by standard monthly 5 day cycles at 150 mg/m^2 for upto 1 year.
Radiation: Radiation Therapy
Radiation
Drug: Temozolomide Oral Product
Oral Temozolomide (150mg/m^2 or 75 mg/m^2)
Active Comparator: 25 Gy in 5 fractions
Patients randomized to 25 Gy in 5 fractions will receive 150 mg/m^2 temozolomide per day for 5 days starting the first day of radiotherapy. This treatment will be followed by standard monthly 5 day cycles at 150 mg/m^2 for upto 1 year.
Radiation: Radiation Therapy
Radiation
Drug: Temozolomide Oral Product
Oral Temozolomide (150mg/m^2 or 75 mg/m^2)

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Overall survival (OS)
Time Frame: Up to 9 years
The length of time from the start of treatment that patients remain alive.
Up to 9 years
Change in Absolute Lymphocyte Count
Time Frame: From baseline up to 5 years.
Differences in absolute lymphocyte count (total lymphocyte count <800 - 500/mm^3 <0.8 - 0.5 x 10^9 /L) / total # patients, during treatment.
From baseline up to 5 years.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Progression free survival (PFS) - 25 Gy in 5 fractions
Time Frame: Up to 9 years
The length of time during and after the treatment that a patient lives without worsening disease per Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria. Disease progression per RANO: (any of the following): ≥25% increase in sum of the products of perpendicular diameters of enhancing lesions compared with the smallest tumor measurement obtained either at baseline (if no decrease) or best response, on stable or increasing doses of corticosteroids*; significant increase in T2/FLAIR nonenhancing lesion on stable or increasing doses of corticosteroids compared with baseline scan or best response after initiation of therapy* not caused by comorbid events; any new lesion; clear clinical deterioration not attributable to other causes apart from the tumor (eg, seizures, medication adverse effects) or changes in corticosteroid dose; failure to return for evaluation as a result of death or deteriorating condition; or clear progression of nonmeasurable disease.
Up to 9 years
Progression free survival (PFS) - 40 Gy in 15 fractions
Time Frame: Up to 9 years
The length of time during and after the treatment that a patient lives without worsening disease per Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) criteria. Disease progression per RANO: (any of the following): ≥25% increase in sum of the products of perpendicular diameters of enhancing lesions compared with the smallest tumor measurement obtained either at baseline (if no decrease) or best response, on stable or increasing doses of corticosteroids*; significant increase in T2/FLAIR nonenhancing lesion on stable or increasing doses of corticosteroids compared with baseline scan or best response after initiation of therapy* not caused by comorbid events; any new lesion; clear clinical deterioration not attributable to other causes apart from the tumor (eg, seizures, medication adverse effects) or changes in corticosteroid dose; failure to return for evaluation as a result of death or deteriorating condition; or clear progression of nonmeasurable disease.
Up to 9 years

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
John Flickinger

Investigators

Investigators

A researcher involved in a clinical study. Related terms include site principal investigator, site sub-investigator, study chair, study director, and study principal investigator.
  • Principal Investigator: John Flickinger, MD, University of Pittsburgh

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 14, 2021

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
July 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
July 11, 2019

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
July 11, 2019

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
July 15, 2019

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
June 18, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
June 17, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • HCC 19-022

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

Yes

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

Yes

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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