Tasquinimod to boost immunotherapy after glioblastoma surgery

Tasquinimod as an adjunct to immunotherapies administered peri-operatively

['FUNDING_OTHER'] · BECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE · NIH-11184283

Aims to help people with glioblastoma by using tasquinimod to reduce surgery-related brain inflammation and make immunotherapy work better.

Quick facts

Phase['FUNDING_OTHER']
Study typeNih_funding
SexAll
SponsorBECKMAN RESEARCH INSTITUTE/CITY OF HOPE (nih funded)
Locations1 site (DUARTE, UNITED STATES)
Trial IDNIH-11184283 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this research studies

If I have glioblastoma and need tumor surgery, this project plans to give tasquinimod around the time of surgery to block an inflammatory pathway (S100A9/RAGE) that can promote tumor regrowth. The team will start with a phase I safety and feasibility study to find the maximum tolerated dose of tasquinimod when used peri-operatively alongside standard care and experimental immunotherapies. They will measure brain swelling, inflammatory markers, and changes in the tumor microenvironment to see how the drug affects recovery and immune activity. If safe, later trials would test whether this approach helps immunotherapy work better and slows tumor return.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Adults with glioblastoma who are scheduled for tumor resection and eligible for peri-operative immunotherapy and phase I participation at the study site are the ideal candidates.

Not a fit: People without glioblastoma, those not receiving peri-operative immunotherapy, or patients who cannot take tasquinimod or cannot adjust high-dose steroid treatment are unlikely to benefit from this trial.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this could reduce post-surgery brain swelling and inflammation that supports tumor regrowth, potentially making immunotherapy more effective for people with glioblastoma.

How similar studies have performed: Tasquinimod and other S100A9/RAGE-targeting approaches have shown promising preclinical results and some prior cancer studies, but using tasquinimod peri-operatively with immunotherapy for glioblastoma is a novel clinical approach with limited human data so far.

Where this research is happening

DUARTE, 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.

View on NIH RePORTER →

Conditions: Acquired brain injury

Last reviewed 2026-05-15 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.