Self-assembling camptothecin gel for local brain tumor treatment
Official title: Self-Assembling Camptothecin Nanofiber Hydrogels as Adjunct Therapy for Intraoperative Treatment of Malignant Glioma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-11389340 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Johns Hopkins-led study is testing a new injectable gel that releases a cancer drug over time to help treat glioblastoma after brain tumor surgery.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 4, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $529,625 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284268-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11389340 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients who have undergone brain tumor resection and are candidates for local postoperative therapy.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without residual disease or who cannot tolerate local postoperative implants may experience limited benefit.
What this research studies
This project aims to create a self-assembling nanofiber hydrogel that locally delivers camptothecin in the brain after tumor removal. The approach seeks to spread across the surgical cavity and provide sustained drug release to target remaining glioma cells. By focusing on local therapy, it aims to improve survival beyond current Gliadel wafer outcomes and reduce rapid drug depletion. The researchers will evaluate the material’s behavior in relevant models and its potential to prolong tumor control with minimal systemic exposure.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could experience longer survival and better local control of malignant gliomas after surgery.
How similar studies have gone: Previous local chemotherapy approaches show modest benefit; this study explores a novel self-assembling hydrogel for sustained, local CPT delivery.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Honggang — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cui, Honggang
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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.