Neurosurgery Clinical Trials
Below is a list of clinical trials run by the Neurosurgery department at MD Anderson. We have clinical trials for a variety of diagnoses, including glioblastoma, meningioma, glioma, spinal tumors and more. Trial availability may change without notice. Individual trial spots may open or close without notice. Click on the study link for detailed information about each clinical trial.
For more information or questions about clinical trials, email Summer Stovall at SStovall@mdanderson.org.
Last updated March, 2025
Active Clinical Trials and Interventional Studies
2015-0953. Oncolytic Adenovirus DNX-2401 in Treating Patients with Recurrent High-Grade Glioma
Physician name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
Phase I
Treatment agent: Oncolytic Adenovirus Ad5-DNX-2401
Disease: IDH1 wt Allele, Recurrent Anaplastic Astrocytoma, Recurrent Glioblastoma, Recurrent Gliosarcoma, Recurrent Malignant Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT03896568
2015-0775. Electrocorticography in Mapping Functional Brain Areas During Surgery in Patients With Brian Tumors
Physician name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
Disease: Brain Neoplasm, Metastatic Malignant Neoplasm in the Brain, Recurrent Brain Neoplasm
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT02754544
2019-1223. Maximum Tolerated Dose, Safety, and Efficacy of Rhenium Nanoliposomes in Recurrent Glioma (ReSPECT)
Physician name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
Phase I
Treatment agent: Rhenium Liposome Treatment
Disease: Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT01906385
2020-1111. Post-Surgical Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRT) Versus GammaTile
Physician name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
Phase III
Treatment agent: Stereotactic Radiation Therapy
Disease: Newly Diagnosed Metastatic Brain Tumors
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT04365374
2022-0901. A pivotal study to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of Exablate Model 4000 using microbubble resonators to temporarily mediate blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) for liquid biopsy in subjects with glioblastoma brain tumors
Physician name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
Disease: Glioblastoma, Glioma
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NCT05383872
2022-0736. Intraoperative analysis of human brain cancer tissue during surgery utilizing a handheld Mass Spectrometry System
Physician name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
2023-0838. Your Brain on Music
Principal Investigator: Mei Rui, D.M.A.
2024-0082. A Randomized Controlled Trial to Assess the Impact of Live and Recorded Music-Based Interventions on Pre-operative Stress, Mood, Pain and Biomarkers, in Neurosurgical Patients (Music-STAR Trial)
Principal Investigator: Mei Rui, D.M.A.
Active Prospective Lab Studies, Registry Studies and Data Reviews
2016-0352, Primary Tumor Research and Outcome Network (PTRON)
Physician name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
To learn more, visit ClinicalTrials.gov - NIH link: No: NCT02790983
2020-0637. Implementation of a Post-operative Telephone Follow-up Program for Neurosurgery Patients
Provider name: Susan Boutte, A.P.R.N.
2020-0750. Review of Pineal Region Tumors
Physician name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2020-0781. Understanding Complication Causation and Severity in Neurosurgical Oncology
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2020-0885. Pericranial Advancement Graft in High-Risk Craniotomy: Description of Technique and Initial Outcomes
Physician name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2020-1035. Gleolan-guided tumor resection outcomes in patients with pathological diagnosis
Physician name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
2020-1101. Data review of high grade meningioma patients undergoing treatment
Physician name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2020-1279. Molecular Characterization and Verification of Cognitive Changes in Post-Surgical Stereotactic Radiosurgery (SRS) Compared with Whole Brain Radiotherapy (WBRT) for Resected Metastatic Brain Disease
Physician name: Yon Son Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
2021-0029. A Simulation Study of the Distribution Tumor Treating Fields in Patients Treated with Titanium and Carbon Fiber Implants for Management of Spinal Metastasis
Physician name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
2021-0182. Review of Meningiomas Arising in Patients with Presence or History of Non-CNS Malignancy
Physician name: Franco DeMonte, M.D.
2021-0372. A Study of the Utilization of Titanium amd Carbon Fiber Spinal Implants in Patients with Spinal Tumors.
Physician Name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
2021-0425. Retrospective and Prospective Analysis of Brain Metastasis Tissue
Physician Name: Yon Son Betty Kim, M.D., Ph.D.
2021-0698. Impact of tumor size on patient outcomes following stereotactic radiosurgery for brain metastasis
Physician Name: Chibawanye Ene, M.D., Ph.D.
2021-0702. Retrospective Analysis of IDH-Mutant Gliomas
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2021-0722. Complications and Risk Factor Analysis of Ommaya Reservoir Placement
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
2021-0726. Ventricular entry and postoperative leptomeningeal disease after resection of supratentorial glioblastoma
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
2021-0729. Retrospective Review of Ventriculoperitoneal Shunting Using On-off Valves in Patients with Leptomeningeal Metastases and Intracranial Hypertension
Physician Name: Ian McCutcheon, M.D.
2021-0766. Protocol for Retrospective Chart Review of Post-operative Spine Radiosurgery
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D.
2022-0074. Identifying Risk and Prognostic Factors in Glioma Patients with Leptomeningeal Disease at MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
2022-0094. Data review of Morbidities and Mortalities
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2022-0207. Chart Review of Brachial Plexus Lesions
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D.
2022-0415. Review of Outcomes of Treatment of Meningiomas
Physician Name: Franco DeMonte, M.D.
2022-0979. Characterizing Spatial Heterogeneity of CNS Tumors Through the Construction and Use of Tissue Microarrays.
Physician Name: Chibawanye Ene, M.D.
2022-0943. Induced pluripotent stem cell derived genetically modified macrophages (iMacs) for personalized cell-based cancer therapy.
Physician Name: Chibawanye Ene, M.D.
2022-0532. Spine, Peripheral Nerve and Brain Tumors: Patient Reported Outcomes
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D.
2023-0049. Outcomes of Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy in Meningioma
Physician Name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
2023-0073. Data Review of Sinonasal malignancies and primary skull base tumors undergoing endoscopic or transcranial/transfacial resections
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2023-0138. Data Review of temporal paragangliomas to analyze clinical outcomes after radiation therapy, surgical resection or conservative management
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
2023-0714. Understanding Nervous System Tumors and Other Conditions
Physician Name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
2023-0879. Data Review Project Portfolio
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
2023-1031. Review of Neurological and Nervous System-related Disorders Treated at MD Anderson Brain & Spine Center
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D.
2024-0409. Investigation of nervous system tumors and other related conditions.
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
DR08-0390. Review of the Surgical Management of Spinal Diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center
Physician Name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
DR08-0495. Gliosarcoma: clinical, radiographic, histological, and surgical features with comparison to glioblastoma multiforme
Physician Name: Ian McCutcheon, M.D.
DR09-0061. Longterm Outcome After Surgical Resection Of Insular Tumors
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
LAB04-0001. Isolation and Characterization of Neural Stem Cells from Human Brain Tumors
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA11-0768. Predictors of Mortality and Morbidity in the Surgical Management of Primary Tumors of the Spine: A Multi-center Retrospective Cohort Study with a Cross-Sectional Survival Check
Physician Name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
PA12-0876. Review and analysis of retrospective and prospective data for the evaluation of the impact of intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging and intraoperative mapping techniques on the treatment of patients with brain and spine diseases.
Physician Name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
PA13-0067. Gene Expression Analysis of Growing Acoustic Neuromas
Physician Name: Franco DeMonte, M.D.
PA13-0162. Storage of Data From Patients Enrolled On Protocols From the Department Of Neurosurgery
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA14-0084. Storage Of Images From Patients Seen In the Brain And Spine Center
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA14-0331. Development of a New Method of In Vitro Culture of Fresh Specimen Obtained During Surgery for Spinal Tumors
Physician Name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
PA14-0961. Outcomes In Patients Treated For Sarcoma Involving The Skull Base, Intracranial Space And Paranasal Sinuses
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
PA15-0724. Scalp Reconstruction after Treatment of Intracranial Tumors
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
PA16-0958. Neurosurgical Biopsy in Secondary CNS Lymphoma Results and Relation to Primary Disease
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
PA17-0137. A Review of Patients with Osteoradionecrosis Affecting the Skull and Skull Base
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
PA17-0138. A Review of Patients with Sinonasal Malignancies Involving the Skull Base, Intracranial Space and Paranasal Sinuses
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
PA17-0139. A Review of Patients Treated for Tumors Involving Zones II and III of the Skull Base
Physician Name: Shaan Raza, M.D.
PA17-0700. Comparison of patients treated with open surgery and spinal laser interstitial thermotherapy for spinal metastasis
Physician Name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
PA17-0709. Utility and cost of postoperative CT following stereotactic needle biopsy
Physician Name: Jeffrey Weinberg, M.D.
PA17-0786. Characterization of the Tumor Immunity After Delta-24-RGD Treatment
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA17-0906. A study of the natural history of spine diseases, and the patterns of care and outcomes of patients with such diseases
Physician Name: Claudio Tatsui, M.D.
PA18-0181. Natural History of Brain Subependymoma and Patient Outcomes
Physician Name: Frederick Lang, M.D.
PA18-0668. Outcomes of Glioma Patients Based on Locale of Initial Resection.
Physician Name: Sujit Prabhu, M.D.
PA18-0669. Surgical Treatment of Spinal Tumors in Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type I
Physician Name: Ian McCutcheon, M.D.
PA18-0714. Prognostic Markers of Recurrence in Non Functioning Pituitary Adenomas.
Physician Name: Ian McCutcheon, M.D.
PA18-0742. Metastatic Tumor Research and Outcomes Network: A multicenter prospective registry for the management and outcome of metastatic spine tumors.
Physician Name: Laurence Rhines, M.D.
2023-0431. Identification of Microstructures Within Tumor-Infiltrated Bony Spine and Assessment of the Relationship between Microstructures with General Structural Integrity Using Radiomics and Computer Vision Techniques
Physician Name: Christopher Alvarez-Breckenridge, M.D., Ph.D.
2023-0462. Development of Genetically Driven Evidence-Based Treatment Paradigm for Chordoma.
Physician Name: Shaan M.Raza, M.D.
2023-1031. Review of Neurological and Nervous System-related Disorders Treated at MD Anderson Brain & Spine Center.
Physician Name: Robert North, M.D.
2024-0201.Investigation of vascular diseases in patients with benign or malignant tumors.
Physician Name: Christopher C. Young, M.D., Ph.D.
Clinical Trial Spotlight
Post-Surgical Stereotactic Radiotherapy (SRT) Versus GammaTile
Summary: This Phase 3 trial is a randomized controlled study comparing the efficacy and safety of intraoperative radiation therapy
using GammaTilesTM (GT) versus SRS three-four weeks following metastatic tumor resection, which is the current standard of care for patients with brain metastases (NCCN Guidelines, 2019). GammaTile is an FDA-cleared means of rapid dose delivery of radiation therapy directly to the tumor bed with predictable dosimetry at the immediate time of re-resection, and an intense but localized radiation treatment may confer a reduced risk for radiation necrosis compared to other therapies. It is typically easily placed with minimal additional operative time and limited staff radiation exposure.
Patients with an index lesion meeting the criteria of 2.5cm to 5cm in diameter and appropriate for gross total resection (GTR) are identified. Patients may have up to three other non-resectable lesions and must meet other eligibility criteria to be offered the study.
Enrolled patients are randomized on a 1:1 ratio to the two study arms based on the following stratification factors; age (<60 and ≥60), duration of extracranial disease control (≤3 months vs >3 months), number of metastases (one or two to four), histology (lung and radiation resistant), and the maximal diameter of the index lesion (≤3 cm and >3 cm).
After resection of the index lesion, the surgical bed is treated with adjunct radiation (either GT or SRS). Additional unresected metastatic lesions and and new lesions are treated with SRT alone, which also adheres to standard of care guidelines.