Intratumoral DNX-2401 for High-Grade Pediatric Brain Tumors
Official title: Intratumoral DNX-2401 Administration for Recurrent and Refractory High Grade Brain Tumors in Pediatric and Young Adult Patients
Run by Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra · NCT07424092 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study tests whether a single injection of DNX-2401 into a pediatric brain tumor can help shrink the tumor and extend survival in kids and young adults with recurrent or refractory high-grade brain tumors.
Quick facts
| Phase | Phase 2 |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Ages | 1 Year to 25 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 39 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Clinica Universidad de Navarra, Universidad de Navarra Academic / other |
| Drugs / interventions | chemotherapy, immunotherapy, radiation, pembrolizumab |
| Locations | 2 sites (Utrecht and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 12, 2026 |
| Main results expected | May 2029 |
| Study ends | May 2029 |
| Registry record updated | May 27, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07424092 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are children or young adults with recurrent or refractory high-grade brain tumors (glioma, ependymoma, or embryonal CNS tumors) for whom gross total resection is not feasible and who have a life expectancy of at least 16 weeks.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients whose tumors do not respond to the virus or who experience disease progression or intolerable toxicity may not benefit.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This Phase 2 interventional trial evaluates the safety and antitumor activity of a single intratumoral dose of DNX-2401 in children and young adults with recurrent or refractory high-grade glioma, ependymoma, or embryonal CNS tumors. Participants undergo tumor biopsy surgery followed by the DNX-2401 injection and are monitored through periodic clinic visits and tests to track response and safety. The study aims to determine if this virotherapy can induce tumor responses and improve survival while assessing tolerability in a pediatric population. Background data suggest oncolytic virotherapy can selectively target tumor cells and stimulate an anti-tumor immune response, warranting investigation in this setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, participants may experience tumor reduction and potential survival benefit plus information that could guide future therapies for pediatric brain tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Prior oncolytic virotherapy approaches have shown activity in pediatric CNS tumors in preclinical work and early clinical settings, but this specific DNX-2401 intratumoral approach in this population is being tested for the first time at this scale.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * The participant or participant's parents or legally acceptable representatives (if applicable) provides written informed consent for the trial and the pediatric participant provides writ-ten assent, where applicable, based on age and country requirements. * Patients with recurrent or refractory high grade malignant brain tumors (high grade glioma, embryonal CNS tumors \[medulloblastomas, ATRT, EMTR, pineoblastoma\], and ependymomas) diagnosis based on initial histopathological diagnosis and further clinical and radiological fol-low-up, in whom gross total resection is not feasible, and with a life expectancy of at least 16 weeks at the time of consent. * Recurrences within the radiation field will be considered if there is confirmed growth of the lesion in two consecutive MRI or if they occur at least 12 weeks after completion of ra-diation therapy, or if there is clear histopathological confirmation of tumor recurrence. * Male and female participants age ≥ 1 years and ≤ 25 years. * A single measurable lesion longer than 10 mm in two perpendicular diameters, considered by the investigator to be accessible for safe stereotactic biopsy and virus injection. * Lansky Performance Status (LPS) ≥ 60 for participants \< 16 years, or Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) ≥ 60 for participants ≥ 16 years. * No other chemotherapy or immunotherapy in the 4 weeks before inclusion. * Steroids: free off or requiring decreasing or stable corticosteroid dose (≥ 0.05 mg/kg dexa-methasone daily, or equivalent for other steroids) in the 2 weeks before DNX-2401 admin-istration. * Radiation: no craniospinal irradiation, total body irradiation nor focal irradiation in the 6 weeks before inclusion. * Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation: patients must be ≥ 3 months post-transplant prior to entry of the study. * Patients must be fully recovered from all acute treatment related toxicities of all prior therapies. * Laboratory test: adequate hematological (platelets ≥ 100x10e9/L, neutrophils ≥ 1.0x10e9/L, hemoglobin ≥ 5,6 mmol/L), renal function (creatinine \<1.5 times ULN) and liver function (≤3 times ULN) values. * Negative pregnancy test for female participants of child-bearing potential, where child-bearing potential is defined as a fertile female who is pubertal or post-pubertal and not permanently sterile (hysterectomy, bilateral salpingectomy, bilateral oophorectomy). * Female participants of child-bearing potential, who are sexually active, agree to use ac-ceptable birth control starting at informed consent and continuing for at least 120 days af-ter DNX-2401 administration. Male participants agree to use acceptable birth control start-ing at informed consent and continuing for at least 90 days after DNX-2401 administration. Exclusion Criteria: * Any medical or psychological condition or disease that might interfere with the subject's ability to participate or give informed consent (if older than 16 years). * Spinal location, or lesions considered risky for stereotactic injection of virus or that might favor entrance of the virus in the ventricular system. * Any treatment outside the allowable guidelines outlined in the inclusion criteria. * Severe acute infection or intercurrent medical condition including, but not limited to se-vere renal, hepatic, heart or bone marrow failure that based on investigator discretion do not permit inclusion in the study. * Subjects with immunodeficiency or autoimmune conditions, active hepatitis or known HIV. No testing for Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV is required unless mandated by local health authority. * Subjects with another primary malignancy. * Prior history of encephalitis, multiple sclerosis or other CNS infections or primary CNS dis-ease that would interfere with evaluation. * Li Fraumeni Syndrome or a known germ line deficit in the retinoblastoma gene or its relat-ed pathways. * Concurrent therapy with any antiviral drug or any immunosuppressive drug (except ster-oids). * Life or life-attenuated vaccinations within 30 days prior to DNX-2401 administration and while participating in the study. Killed vaccines are permitted. * Prior participant in experimental viral therapy. * Inability to undergo MRI scans for any reason. * Pregnancy or breastfeeding.
Where it's running
-
Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra
Pamplona, Navarre, Spain Recruiting -
Princess Máxima Centrum
Utrecht, Netherlands Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jaime Gállego Pérez de Larraya, M.D., Ph.D. — Cancer Center Clínica Universidad de Navarra
- Study coordinator: Jaime Gállego Pérez de Larraya, M.D., Ph.D.
- Email: jgallego@unav.es
- Phone: +34 948 25 54 00
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.