New treatment for aggressive brain tumors in children and adults
Official title: Phase 1/2 trial of PEP-CMV + nivolumab for newly diagnosed diffuse midline glioma/high-grade glioma and recurrent diffuse midline glioma/high-grade glioma, medulloblastoma, and ependymoma (PRiME II)
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11029506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new treatment for kids with tough brain tumors by using a special vaccine and a medicine that helps the immune system fight the cancer better, with the hope of helping them live longer and feel better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | April 4, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $553,167 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA296813-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-11029506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with pediatric high-grade glioma, diffuse midline glioma, recurrent medulloblastoma, or ependymoma.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with other types of brain tumors or those who have already received extensive treatment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a new treatment approach for aggressive brain tumors, specifically targeting pediatric high-grade glioma, diffuse midline glioma, recurrent medulloblastoma, and ependymoma. The treatment combines a peptide vaccine that targets a specific virus protein found in these tumors with an immune checkpoint inhibitor to enhance the body's immune response against the cancer. Patients will receive the vaccine along with nivolumab, a medication that helps the immune system recognize and attack cancer cells. The goal is to improve survival rates and quality of life for patients suffering from these devastating conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve survival rates and treatment outcomes for patients with aggressive brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results with similar immunotherapeutic approaches, indicating potential for success in this novel combination treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Thompson, Eric — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Thompson, Eric
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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PEP-CMV vaccine with nivolumab for pediatric and adult high-grade brain tumors
A phase 1/2 trial tests a CMV-targeted vaccine plus a PD-1 blocker for newly diagnosed and recurrent high-grade brain tumors in children and adults.
-
Peptide vaccine targeting CMV for children with high-grade glioma, DIPG, and recurrent medulloblastoma
This vaccine trains the immune system to target a viral protein (CMV pp65) that is often found in certain pediatric brain tumors to help slow or shrink the tumor.
-
New vaccine targeting a virus in pediatric brain tumors
This study is testing a new vaccine that helps the immune system fight certain brain tumors in kids caused by a virus, aiming to keep healthy brain tissue safe while helping those with high-grade glioma, diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma, and recurrent medulloblastoma.
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Liquid biopsy for monitoring high-grade glioma using patient-specific DNA junctions
A Mayo Clinic team tests a blood test that looks for unique tumor DNA pieces in glioblastoma patients to monitor disease without frequent scans.
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Canine and human high-grade gliomas: linking dog and human tumor biology to guide better treatments
A study in dogs with high-grade glioma aims to reveal parallels to human brain tumors so that treatments looked promising in dogs might translate to people.
-
Targeted study on a pediatric brain cancer subtype with specific gene mutations
A study to understand why a rare form of high-grade brain cancer in young people develops and to find new treatment targets.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.