Targeting tumor metabolism in IDH‑mutant grade 4 astrocytoma

Targeting metabolic vulnerabilities in Astrocytoma, IDH-mutant, Grade 4

NIH-funded research Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11164786

People with IDH‑mutant grade 4 astrocytoma will get a short presurgery dose of a brain‑penetrant drug that blocks nucleotide metabolism to look for early effects on the tumor.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11164786 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

You would be eligible if your tumor has an IDH1 or IDH2 mutation and you are scheduled for surgery. Before surgery you'll receive a short course of a brain‑penetrant drug that interferes with nucleotide metabolism, and tumor tissue removed at surgery will be analyzed for signs the drug worked. Laboratory and molecular tests will look for tumor cell death and metabolic changes caused by the drug compared with untreated samples. This is an early surgical window (phase 0) trial designed to guide future, larger clinical studies.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults diagnosed with IDH‑mutant grade 4 astrocytoma who are scheduled for surgical tumor resection and meet medical safety criteria.

Not a fit: Patients whose tumors do not have an IDH1/2 mutation, those not undergoing surgery, or people who cannot safely receive the study drug are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could point to a tumor‑selective therapy for IDH‑mutant gliomas and accelerate development of new treatments.

How similar studies have performed: Preclinical studies show nucleotide‑metabolism inhibitors preferentially kill IDH‑mutant glioma cells, but this surgical window trial is an early clinical test and broader clinical benefit remains unproven.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-10 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.