Clinical trial Recruiting at 9 sites Phase 3 Interventional Ages 18 to 100

Opening the blood-brain barrier for treating brain metastases from lung cancer

Official title: A Randomized Pivotal Study Assessing the Safety and Efficacy of Targeted Blood-brain Barrier (BBB) Opening Using Exablate Focused Ultrasound During the Standard of Care Treatment of Brain Metastases of Non-small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) Origin

Run by InSightec · NCT05317858 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is testing if using focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier can improve treatment for patients with brain metastases from lung cancer who are already receiving standard therapy.

More Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer trials

Quick facts

PhasePhase 3
Study typeInterventional
Ages18 Years to 100 Years
SexAll
Enrollment96 (estimated)
SponsorInSightec
Industry-sponsored
Drugs / interventionsBevacizumab, chemotherapy, radiation, prednisone, immunotherapy
Locations16 sites (Phoenix, Arizona and 15 other locations)
StatusRecruiting
StartedAugust 12, 2022
Main results expectedJune 1, 2031
Study endsDecember 1, 2031
Registry record updatedOctober 13, 2026
Trial IDNCT05317858 on ClinicalTrials.gov

Is this trial a fit for you?

Likely a good fit

Ideal candidates are adults aged 18 and older with NSCLC brain metastases who are receiving FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors.

Probably not a fit

Patients with brain metastases that do not meet the size criteria or those not receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors may not benefit from this study.

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This clinical trial evaluates the safety and efficacy of using Exablate focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier in patients with brain metastases from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who are receiving standard immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy. It is a multi-center, randomized, controlled trial that aims to compare the effectiveness of this targeted approach against standard care without the ultrasound intervention. Participants will be monitored for their response to treatment over a six-month period to determine the objective response rate. The study is designed to provide insights into whether this innovative technique can enhance treatment outcomes for patients with brain metastases.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve treatment responses for patients with brain metastases from NSCLC.

How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown promise in using focused ultrasound techniques for similar applications, indicating potential for success in this novel approach.

Who can join: the full rules

Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria:

* Participant is ≥ 18 years of age
* The participant provides written informed consent for the trial
* Participant is willing to comply with all study procedures for the duration of the study
* Participant has a Karnofsky Performance Status ≥ 70% and/or ECOG 0-2
* Participant is a NSCLC subject prescribed immune checkpoint inhibitor systemic therapy according to on-label use with the target brain lesion(s) measuring ≥ 0.5 cm in longest diameter. Target mets may include: De novo mets for which surgery and radiation can be deferred, Mets with or without history of prior radiation, Mets with history of radiation after at least 8 weeks since last radiation treatment, and In the event a previously treated met has progressed according to institutional practice within 4 weeks post radiation treatment, the met may be study eligible, and/or if in the opinion of the Investigator, the subject may benefit from the study procedure.
* Female subject is not planning pregnancy during the study duration and confirmed NOT PREGNANT each procedure day.
* Screening/Baseline laboratory values Screening/Baseline should adhere to local standard of care lab values for ICI therapy

Exclusion Criteria

* Participant has evidence of acute intracranial hemorrhage
* Participant at risk for spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage (e.g., history of metastatic melanoma or other tissue histology).
* Participant has signs and symptoms of increased intracranial pressure or symptomatic mass effect, midline shift or evidence of subfalcine, uncal or tonsillar herniation.
* Participant receiving Bevacizumab (Avastin) therapy, or other drugs with a proclivity for causing bleeding.
* History of bleeding disorders or tissue pathologies which increase the subject's risk of hemorrhage for anticoagulation medications, implement pre-surgical standard procedure to avoid increased risk of a bleeding event.
* Participant has an infectious viral infection such as active Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or detectable HIV viral load or participants with active bacterial infection such as TB (Bacillus tuberculosis) that may, in the opinion of the investigator, interfere with the subject receiving the study therapy or procedures or otherwise impact their participation in the trial.
* Subjects with evidence of cranial or systemic infection.
* Participant has received a solid organ or hematopoietic stem cell transplant.
* Participant has received a live vaccine within 28 days prior to the first on-study ICI infusion with or without Exablate.
* Known sensitivity to DEFINITY® ultrasound contrast agent or hypersensitivity to perflutren microsphere or its components, e.g., polyethylene glycol, as found in MiraLAX and bowel prep products.
* Contraindications to MRI and gadolinium-DTPA including non-MRI-compatible implanted devices, severe claustrophobia, unable to lie supine in MRI.
* Subjects with significant liver dysfunction, (cirrhosis, hemochromatosis, severe alcohol abuse, or active hepatitis (autoimmune or infectious))
* Has a diagnosis of immunodeficiency or is receiving chronic systemic steroid therapy (in dosing exceeding 10 mg daily of prednisone equivalent) or any other form of immunosuppressive therapy within 7 days prior to the first on-study ICI infusion with or without Exablate. Note: prophylactic steroid use for ICI and chemotherapy infusion per institutional practice is allowed per protocol.
* Has a known additional malignancy that requires active treatment that would interfere with study procedures.
* Known presence of leptomeningeal disease.
* Has a diagnosis of active autoimmune disease (e.g., autoimmune Hepatitis, Guillain-Barre Syndrome, etc.) requiring systemic treatment in the past 2 years (i.e., with use of disease modifying agents, corticosteroids, or immunosuppressive drugs). Replacement therapy (e.g., thyroxine, insulin, or physiologic corticosteroid replacement therapy for adrenal or pituitary insufficiency, etc.) is not considered a form of systemic treatment. History of (non-infectious) pneumonitis that requires steroids or has current pneumonitis
* Has a history or current evidence of any condition, therapy, or laboratory abnormality that might confound the results of the study, interfere with the subject's participation for the full duration of the study, or is not in the best interest of the subject to participate, in the opinion of the treating investigator.
* Subject is currently enrolled in another intervention based clinical trial

Where it's running

  • Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian
    Newport Beach, California, United States
    Recruiting
  • Broward Health
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Miami Cancer Institute at Baptist Health
    Miami, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • Moffitt Cancer Center
    Tampa, Florida, United States
    Recruiting
  • University of Maryland
    Baltimore, Maryland, United States
    Recruiting
  • Duke University
    Durham, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
Show 10 more locations
  • Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
    Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
    Recruiting
  • Oregon Health & Science University
    Portland, Oregon, United States
    Recruiting
  • Rhode Island Hospital
    Providence, Rhode Island, United States
    Recruiting
  • St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
    Phoenix, Arizona, United States
    Withdrawn
  • UPMC Presbyterian Hospital - University of Pittsburgh
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States
    Not yet recruiting
  • Johnston Willis Hospital
    Richmond, Virginia, United States
    Active not recruiting
  • Sunnybrook Research Institute
    Toronto, Ontario, Canada
    Active not recruiting
  • Samsung Medical Center
    Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
    Not yet recruiting
  • Seoul National University Hospital
    Seoul, South Korea
    Not yet recruiting
  • Severance Hospital, Yonsei University Health System
    Soeul, South Korea
    Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 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.