Using special hydrogels with camptothecin to improve treatment for brain tumors.
Official title: Self-Assembling Camptothecin Nanofiber Hydrogels as Adjunct Therapy for Intraoperative Treatment of Malignant Glioma
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10919803 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a new way to deliver the cancer drug camptothecin directly to the brain after surgery for glioblastoma, with the hope of improving treatment and helping patients live longer.
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 | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $502,940 |
| NIH project number | 5R01CA284268-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10919803 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are patients diagnosed with malignant gliomas, including glioblastoma, who are undergoing surgical treatment.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with non-malignant brain tumors or those who are not candidates for surgical intervention may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on developing innovative self-assembling nanofiber hydrogels that incorporate the anticancer drug camptothecin for treating malignant gliomas, particularly glioblastoma. After surgical removal of the tumor, these hydrogels will be applied to the resection site to provide localized and sustained release of the drug, potentially enhancing its effectiveness. The goal is to improve patient outcomes by extending survival times through better delivery of chemotherapy directly to the affected brain tissue.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to significantly improved survival rates for patients with malignant gliomas.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that localized chemotherapy can extend survival in brain tumor patients, suggesting that this novel approach may also be effective.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cui, Honggang — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Cui, Honggang
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Synergistic blood-brain barrier opening and targeted glioma treatment with pulsed electric fields
A new approach uses tiny, rapid electric pulses to safely disrupt the brain's protective barrier and enhance targeted treatment for malignant glioma.
-
Neural stem cells carrying cancer-killing viruses to treat brain cancer
A study tests delivering a virus that specifically targets brain tumors using neural stem cells to reach cancer cells across the brain.
-
Self-assembling camptothecin gel for local brain tumor treatment
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.
-
Inhibiting IDH1 to Trigger Ferroptosis in Aggressive Brain Cancer
Aimed at slowing hard-to-treat brain tumors by blocking a cancer-fueling enzyme (IDH1) in tumors that don’t have a common mutation, potentially making tumors easier to kill with radiation or immune therapies.
-
Neural stem cell delivery of cancer‑killing virus for malignant brain tumors
This work uses neural stem cells to carry cancer‑killing viruses into the brain to treat people with malignant glioma.
-
Camptothecin nanofiber gel placed after brain tumor surgery
This project is building a drug-releasing gel surgeons could place in the cavity after removing a malignant glioma to kill leftover cancer cells and help patients live longer.
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.