A Prospective Pivotal Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Avastin® Bevacizumab (BEV) With or Without Microbubble-mediated Focused Ultrasound (FUS-MB) Using NaviFUS System in Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme Patients

A Prospective, Randomized, Standard of Care Controlled, Parallel, Open-Label, Multicenter Pivotal Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Avastin® in Combination With NaviFUS System Compared With Avastin® Alone for the Treatment of Recurrent Glioblastoma Multiforme (rGBM)

This will be a prospective, randomized, standard of care (SoC) controlled, parallel, open-label, multicenter pivotal study to investigate the efficacy and safety of Bevacizumab (BEV) in combination with or without microbubble (MB)-mediated FUS in patients with recurrent GBM. BEV represents the physician's best choice for the standard of care in rGBM after previous treatment with surgery (if appropriate), standard radiotherapy with temozolomide chemotherapy, and with adjuvant temozolomide.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Glioma; Neoplasms; Glioblastoma; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Brain Tumor; Glioblastoma Multiforme; Brain Tumor, Recurrent; Glioblastoma Multiforme, Adult
• Intervention / Treatment: Drug: Bevacizumab; Drug: Microbubble; Device: Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound

Detailed Description

The study aims to compare the efficacy of combining Bevacizumab with NaviFUS System relative to Bevacizumab alone in patients with rGBM who have previously undergone radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy.

Any patient with a histological diagnosis of GBM who meets all of the specific eligibility criteria may participate in this study by signing informed consent in person or through their legal representative. Eligible patients will undergo a 2-week baseline observation screening period.

Up to 32 evaluable patients will be recruited in this study. Eligible patients will be randomized in a 1:1 ratio, with one group receiving the standard of care (SoC) BEV alone and the other group receiving treatment with microbubble-mediated FUS treatment in addition to BEV (FUS-MB+BEV).

Eligible patients who assigned to the SoC group will follow the standard operating procedures of BEV (10 mg/kg intravenous (IV) infusion over 30-90 minutes). On the other hand, eligible patients assigned to treatment group will initially receive the same BEV schedule. After at least 30 minutes, patients will be administered microbubbles (MB) (SonoVue® ) at a dose of 0.1 mL/kg, along with optimal ultrasound exposure doses determined by the acoustic emission feedback FUS power control algorithm of the NaviFUS System. The treatment will be administered every 2 weeks up to 34 weeks or until evidence of progression disease (PD), intolerable toxicity precluding further treatment, non- compliance with study follow-up, or withdrawal of consent, whichever occurs first.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 32
• Phase: Phase 3

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Sheang-Tze Fung, Ph.D.; Phone Number: 167 02-25860560; Email: stfung@navifus.com
• Study Contact Backup: Name: Arthur Lung, Ph.D.; Email: arthur.lung@navifus.com

Study Locations

• Taiwan
  • Taipei, Taiwan, 10048
    • Recruiting
    • National Taiwan University Hospital
    • Contact: Dar-Ming Lai, M.D., Ph.D.; Email: dmlai@ntu.edu.tw
  • Taoyuan District, Taiwan, 33305
    • Recruiting
    • Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital
    • Contact: Kuo-Chen Wei, M.D.; Email: kuochenwei@cgmh.org.tw

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult; Older Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Male or female patients ≥ 18 years of age at the time of study enrollment.
2. Body mass index (BMI) ≥ 17 kg/m2.
3. Patients diagnosed with glioblastoma must have unequivocal evidence of recurrence, as determined by contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI), following prior radiotherapy and temozolomide chemotherapy.
4. Patients may have undergone surgery for recurrence. The patients should have completed surgery and adequately recovered prior to the time of study enrollment.
5. Patients must have radiographic evidence of either at least an 80% resection of enhancing tumor following recurrence or a maximal measurable residual tumor ≤ 20 cm3.
6. If patients are receiving corticosteroids, they must have been on a stable or decreasing dose of corticosteroids for at least 1 week prior to the planned first treatment.

7. At the time of study enrollment, the minimum interval since the last event:

   • 4 weeks out from invasive procedures (e.g., open biopsy, surgical resection, significant traumatic injury, or any other major surgery involving entry into a body cavity) and the patient must have recovered from the effects of surgery
   • 1 week out from minor surgical procedures or core biopsies

8. Patients must have recovered from the toxic effects of prior therapy at the time of study enrollment as follows:

   • 4 weeks out from any investigational drug or device
   • 4 weeks out from chemotherapy
   • 6 weeks since the completion of a nitrosourea-containing chemotherapy regimen (e.g., Carmustine (BCNU))
   • 12 weeks out from completion of radiotherapy
9. Patients should have a life expectancy ≥ 12 weeks.
10. Patients must have Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 70.

11. Adequate hematopoietic, renal, hepatic, and coagulation function, defined as:

    • Hemoglobin ≥ 10 g/dL
    • Platelets ≥ 100,000/mm3
    • Neutrophils ≥ 1,500/mm3
    • Serum creatinine ≤ 1.5 × upper limit of normal (ULN)
    • Urine protein creatinine ratio (UPCR) < 1 or urine dipstick for proteinuria ≤ 2+
    • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) < 3 × ULN
    • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) < 3 × ULN
    • Total bilirubin (TBL) < 2 × ULN
    • Prothrombin time ≤ 1.5 x ULN
    • International Normalized Ratio (INR) < 1.5 These tests must be conducted within 2 weeks prior to the planned first treatment.
12. The central of FUS exposure region is located with a minimum distance of at least 30 mm beneath the skull bone.
13. Females of childbearing potential must have a negative pregnancy test documented within 2 weeks prior to first treatment. Females of childbearing potential and male patients with partners of childbearing potential must agree to adhere to an acceptable method of contraception (as outlined below) from prior to the first study treatment until at least 6 months after the completion of last treatment. Standard acceptable methods of contraception include the use of highly effective methods such as hormonal contraception, diaphragm, cervical cap, vaginal sponge, condom, spermicide, vasectomy, intrauterine device, or abstinence from sexual activity.
14. Patients are able and willing to have peripheral intravenous (IV) line placement of Bevacizumab and are able to have hair shaved (either whole head or in the region where the coupling membrane will touch) prior to FUS treatment if assigned to treatment group.
15. Patients or their legal representatives are able to provide written informed consent for participation in the trial and patients are willing to comply the procedures (i.e., study-related assessments), instructions, and restrictions outlined in this study in the duration of the study. Informed consent should also be given for biological materials and diagnostic imaging to be stored and used for future research on brain tumors.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Patients who have radiographic evidence of multifocal enhancing tumors.
2. Patients who have undergone previous treatment with anti-angiogenic therapy, including Bevacizumab, or other VEGF inhibitors or VEGF-receptor signaling inhibitors.
3. Patients who have previously received Carmustine wafers implantation during re-operation.
4. Patients who have previously received or are currently undergoing tumor treating fields (TTF) treatment.

5. Uncontrolled or significant cardiovascular disease, including any of the following:

   • New York Heart Association (NYHA) Grade II or above congestive heart failure (CHF) within 12 months prior to study enrollment
   • Unstable angina pectoris
   • Medical history of myocardial infarction within 6 months prior to study enrollment
   • Cardiac shunt
6. Stroke (except for transient ischemic attack; TIA) within 6 months prior to study enrollment.
7. Patients with implanted electronic device, for example, implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), cardiac pacemaker, permanent medication pumps, cochlear implants, responsive neurostimulator (RNS), deep brain stimulation (DBS), or other electronic devices implanted in the brain. Patients with contraindications for MRI as judged by Investigator, including non-MRI compatible metallic implant(s).
8. Patients with inadequately controlled hypertension, defined as systolic blood pressure > 150 mmHg and/or diastolic blood pressure > 100 mmHg while on medication, within 2 weeks prior to first treatment.

9. Patients with evidence of any thrombotic or hemorrhagic events, including but not limited to:

   • Inherited bleeding diathesis or significant coagulopathy with the risk of bleeding (i.e., in the absence of therapeutic anticoagulation).
   • History of pulmonary haemorrhage/haemoptysis ≥ grade 2 according to the CTCAE version 5.0 criteria within 1 month prior to study enrollment
   • Arterial or venous thrombosis (e.g., pulmonary embolism) within 3 months prior to study enrollment
10. Patients with unstable pulmonary disease or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation or other respiratory illness requiring hospitalization or precluding study therapy at the time of study enrollment.
11. Patients who have psychiatric illness/social situations that would limit compliance with study requirements.
12. Known HIV-positive patient, however, that HIV testing is not required for entry into this study.
13. Acute bacterial or fungal infection requiring intravenous antibiotics at the time of study enrollment.
14. History or evidence of active gastroduodenal ulcer, gastrointestinal perforations/fistula, or intra-abdominal abscess within 6 months prior to study enrollment.
15. Receiving anticoagulant (e.g., warfarin or LMW heparin) or antiplatelet (e.g., aspirin) therapy within 1 week prior to beginning treatment.
16. Known sensitivity/allergy to Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast agents, Computer Tomography (CT) contrast agents, SonoVue®, Bevacizumab, or any of their components.
17. Pregnant (positive pregnancy test) or breast-feeding women.
18. Use of any recreational drugs or history of drug addiction.
19. Other severe concurrent and/or uncontrolled concomitant medical conditions (e.g., active or uncontrolled infection, uncontrolled epilepsy, uncontrolled diabetes) that could cause unacceptable safety risks or compromise compliance with the protocol.
20. Any other condition that, in the Investigator's discretion, might increase the risk to the patients or compromise the evaluation of the clinical trial endpoints.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: Single

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: Standard of care (SoC) BEV alone; SoC group will follow the standard operating procedures of BEV (10 mg/kg intravenous (IV) infusion over 30-90 minutes, following the instructions in the drug package insert).	Drug: Bevacizumab; An anti-angiogenic agent to block tumor growth; Other Names: Avastin
Experimental: Microbubble-mediated FUS treatment with BEV (FUS-MB+BEV); FUS-MB+BEV group will follow the standard operating procedures of BEV (10 mg/kg intravenous (IV) infusion over 30-90 minutes, following the instructions in the drug package insert). After at least 30 minutes, patients will be administered microbubbles (MB) (SonoVue® ) at a dose of 0.1 mL/kg, along with optimal ultrasound exposure doses determined by the acoustic emission feedback FUS power control algorithm of the NaviFUS System.	Drug: Bevacizumab; An anti-angiogenic agent to block tumor growth; Other Names: Avastin; Drug: Microbubble; Open the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) using focused ultrasound and microbubble; Other Names: SonoVue; Device: Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound; Open the Blood-Brain Barrier (BBB) using focused ultrasound and microbubble; Other Names: NaviFUS System

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
6-month progression-free survival (PFS-6) of Bevacizumab (BEV) with or without microbubble-mediated focused ultrasound (FUS-MB) using NaviFUS System	PFS-6 will be estimated the proportion of patients who remain progression-free at the 6-month time point, based on Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) Criteria, from the time of randomization.	Up to 6 months

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
12-month progression-free survival (PFS-12)	PFS-12 will be estimated the proportion of patients who remain progression-free at the 12-month time point, based on Response Assessment in Neuro-Oncology (RANO) Criteria, from the time of randomization.	Up to 12 months
Progression-free survival time (PFS)	PFS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the earliest date of the first objective documentation of radiographic progression disease based on RANO Criteria, death, or last known follow-up due to any cause whichever occurs first. PFS will be followed continuously till the End-of-Study.	Up to 62 weeks
One- and Two-year survival rates	One- and Two-year survival rates will be estimated the proportion of patients who remain alive at the one-year and two-year time points from the time of randomization.	Up to 12 and 24 months
Overall survival (OS)	OS is defined as the time from the date of randomization to the earliest date of death or last known follow-up due to any cause whichever occurs first. OS will be followed continuously while subjects are on study and the survival follow-up phase of the study.	Up to 36 months
Objective response rate (ORR)	ORR is defined as the proportion of patients who achieved a best overall response of complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) based on a combination of imaging and clinical features as assessed by the RANO Criteria.	Up to 62 weeks
Clinical benefit rate (CBR)	CBR is defined as the proportion of patients who achieved an overall response of CR, PR, or stable disease (SD) based on a combination of imaging and clinical features as assessed by the RANO Criteria.	Up to 62 weeks
Local disease control on the MRI Images	Local disease control is defined as the proportion of patients who achieved a CR, PR, or SD within the planning target tumor lesion, as assessed by the RANO Criteria. Progressive disease (PD) is defined as the presence of at least two sequential CE-MRI scans, separated by a ≥ 4 weeks interval, exhibiting local tumor progression at the treatment site, with distant recurrence or new lesion(s) not included in the assessment. The target tumor lesion on the MRI images will be assessed at baseline and throughout treatment period.	Up to 62 weeks
Corticosteroid consumption	Corticosteroid consumption will be assessed at baseline and throughout treatment period. The mean corticosteroid dosage prior to study treatment will be considered as the patient's baseline. The changes in corticosteroids during treatment will be compared to baseline.	Up to 62 weeks
Severity and frequency of treatment-related adverse events (AEs)	Documented and reported severity and frequency of AEs and/or SAEs will be assessed and classified based on National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) version 5.0.	Up to 62 weeks
Karnofsky performance status (KPS)	The KPS score is rated on a scale of 0 to 100, where 0 represents death, and 100 represents normalcy without complaints or evidence of disease. A higher score indicates the patient is better able to perform daily activities.	Up to 62 weeks
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)	The MMSE is an 11-question measure that assesses multiple aspects of cognitive function. The maximum score is 30, with a higher score indicating less cognitive impairment.	Up to 62 weeks
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) quality of life questionnaire (QLQ-C30)	The changes in QoL during treatment will be compared to baseline. The highest scores reflect better overall health-related quality of life.	Up to 62 weeks
European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC) brain cancer questionnaire (QLQ-BN20, assessment specific to brain neoplasm)	The changes in QoL during treatment will be compared to baseline. The highest scores reflect worse symptoms/problems.	Up to 62 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: NaviFUS Corporation

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Liu HL, Hsu PH, Lin CY, Huang CW, Chai WY, Chu PC, Huang CY, Chen PY, Yang LY, Kuo JS, Wei KC. Focused Ultrasound Enhances Central Nervous System Delivery of Bevacizumab for Malignant Glioma Treatment. Radiology. 2016 Oct;281(1):99-108. doi: 10.1148/radiol.2016152444. Epub 2016 May 18.
• Wei KC, Chu PC, Wang HY, Huang CY, Chen PY, Tsai HC, Lu YJ, Lee PY, Tseng IC, Feng LY, Hsu PW, Yen TC, Liu HL. Focused ultrasound-induced blood-brain barrier opening to enhance temozolomide delivery for glioblastoma treatment: a preclinical study. PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58995. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058995. Epub 2013 Mar 19.
• Chen KT, Lin YJ, Chai WY, Lin CJ, Chen PY, Huang CY, Kuo JS, Liu HL, Wei KC. Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound (NaviFUS) for transcranial blood-brain barrier opening in recurrent glioblastoma patients: clinical trial protocol. Ann Transl Med. 2020 Jun;8(11):673. doi: 10.21037/atm-20-344.
• Chen KT, Chai WY, Lin YJ, Lin CJ, Chen PY, Tsai HC, Huang CY, Kuo JS, Liu HL, Wei KC. Neuronavigation-guided focused ultrasound for transcranial blood-brain barrier opening and immunostimulation in brain tumors. Sci Adv. 2021 Feb 5;7(6):eabd0772. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.abd0772. Print 2021 Feb.
• Liu HL, Hua MY, Chen PY, Chu PC, Pan CH, Yang HW, Huang CY, Wang JJ, Yen TC, Wei KC. Blood-brain barrier disruption with focused ultrasound enhances delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs for glioblastoma treatment. Radiology. 2010 May;255(2):415-25. doi: 10.1148/radiol.10090699.
• Chen KT, Tsai HC, Huang CY, Liau CT, Ho KC, Toh CH, Chuang CC, Hsu PW, Huang YC, Chang TW, Yeap MC, Chen PY, Lee CC, Lin YJ, Feng LY, Airan RD, Li G, Lim M, Liu HL, Wei KC. Combination of Neuronavigation-Guided Focused Ultrasound and Bevacizumab for Patients With Recurrent Glioblastoma: A Pilot Study. Neurosurgery. 2025 Nov 24. doi: 10.1227/neu.0000000000003851. Online ahead of print.

Helpful Links

• Related Info

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 8, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): December 31, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): March 31, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 1, 2024
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 10, 2024
• First Posted (Actual): July 11, 2024

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): April 9, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 6, 2026
• Last Verified: April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Bevacizumab; Avastin; Focused Ultrasound; FUS; NaviFUS System; BEV; LIFU; Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound; Blood-Brain Barrier Opening
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Brain Diseases; Central Nervous System Diseases; Nervous System Diseases; Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms by Histologic Type; Neoplasms, Glandular and Epithelial; Astrocytoma; Neoplasms, Neuroepithelial; Neuroectodermal Tumors; Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal; Nervous System Neoplasms; Central Nervous System Neoplasms; Neoplasms; Glioblastoma; Glioma; Brain Neoplasms; Neoplasms, Nerve Tissue; Amino Acids, Peptides, and Proteins; Proteins; Equipment and Supplies; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antibodies; Immunoglobulins; Immunoproteins; Blood Proteins; Serum Globulins; Globulins; Bevacizumab; contrast agent BR1; Microbubbles
• Other Study ID Numbers: NF-2023-01

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: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No