Testing the Use of the Immunotherapy Drugs Ipilimumab and Nivolumab Plus Radiation Therapy Compared to the Usual Treatment (Temozolomide and Radiation Therapy) for Newly Diagnosed MGMT Unmethylated Glioblastoma

Summary

This phase II/III trial compares the usual treatment with radiation therapy and temozolomide to radiation therapy in combination with immunotherapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab in treating patients with newly diagnosed MGMT unmethylated glioblastoma. Radiation therapy uses high energy photons to kill tumor and shrink tumors. Chemotherapy drugs, such as temozolomide, work in different ways to stop the growth of tumor cells, either by killing the cells, by stopping them from dividing, or by stopping them from spreading. Temozolomide, may not work as well for the treatment of tumors that have the unmethylated MGMT. Immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies called immune checkpoint inhibitors, such as ipilimumab and nivolumab, may help the body's immune system attack the cancer, and may interfere with the ability of tumor cells to grow and spread. It is possible that immune checkpoint inhibitors may work better at time of first diagnosis as opposed to when tumor comes back. Giving radiation therapy with ipilimumab and nivolumab may lengthen the time without brain tumor returning or growing and may extend patients' life compared to usual treatment with radiation therapy and temozolomide.

Timeline

Start

2020-09-01

Primary completion

2023-01-13

Completion

2025-12-23

Publications

• Lassman AB, Polley MC, Iwamoto FM, Sloan AE, Wang TJC, Aldape KD, Wefel JS, Gondi V, Gutierrez AN, Manasawala MH, Gilbert MR, Sulman EP, Wolchok JD, Green RM, Neil EC, Lukas RV, Goldlust SA, Snuderl M, Galbraith K, Dignam JJ, Won M, Mehta MP. Dual Immune Check Point Blockade in MGMT-Unmethylated Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma: NRG Oncology BN007, a Randomized Phase II/III Clinical Trial. J Clin Oncol. 2025 Sep 20;43(27):3032-3040. doi: 10.1200/JCO-25-00618. Epub 2025 Aug 8.
• Woroniecka K, Fecci PE. Immuno-synergy? Neoantigen vaccines and checkpoint blockade in glioblastoma. Neuro Oncol. 2020 Sep 29;22(9):1233-1234. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/noaa170. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications