Clinical trial · Interventional
A Clinical Trial Evaluating the Efficacy of Valganciclovir in Glioblastoma Patients
A Multicenter Randomized Double-blinded Controlled Phase 2 Study Evaluating the Efficacy of Valganciclovir as add-on Therapy in Glioblastoma Patients
- Source
- ClinicalTrials.gov
- Retrieved
- Sep 8, 2026
- Layer
- normalized (units and labels harmonized; values unchanged)
- Run
- ING-CLINICALTRIALS-20260908-000001
Summary
Brief summary (as posted)
This study is a multicenter randomized double-blinded controlled phase 2 study evaluating the efficacy and safety of the anti-CMV drug valganciclovir vs placebo as add-on therapy in patients with glioblastoma. Valganciclovir is approved for treatment of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections, but may also have anti-tumoral effects. Current evidence imply that most glioblastomas are CMV positive and that the virus can affect tumor aggressiveness.
Conditions
Conditions (1)
Free-text conditions as registered, with the CancerIndex entity they were reconciled to and the match type.
| Condition (as posted) | Mapped entity | Match | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glioblastoma Multiforme | Glioblastoma | CURATED_BROADER | 0.80 |
Interventions
Interventions (4)
| Intervention | Type | Mapped drug | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Placebo oral tablet | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Radiotherapy 60 Gy | Radiation | — | UNRESOLVED |
| Temozolomide 120 mg | Drug | Temozolomide | ALIAS |
| Valganciclovir Tablets | Drug | — | UNRESOLVED |
Design
Arms and outcomes
Arms (2)
- type
- PLACEBO_COMPARATOR
- label
- Placebo
- description
- Patients will receive placebo tablets with similar appearance as the active drug. Patients receive two 450 mg tablets twice daily taken per orally for 6 weeks, thereafter two 450 mg tablet once daily for an additional 22.5 months; a total treatment time of 24 months.
- interventionNames
- Drug: Temozolomide 120 mg
- Radiation: Radiotherapy 60 Gy
- Drug: Placebo oral tablet
- type
- ACTIVE_COMPARATOR
- label
- Valganciclovir
- description
- Patients will receive valganciclovir tablets with similar appearance as the placebo tablets. Patients receive two 450 mg valganciclovir tablets twice daily taken per orally for 6 weeks, thereafter two 450 mg valganciclovir tablets once daily for an additional 22.5 months; a total treatment time of 24 months.
- interventionNames
- Drug: Valganciclovir Tablets
- Drug: Temozolomide 120 mg
- Radiation: Radiotherapy 60 Gy
Eligibility
Eligibility (as posted)
- Sex
- All
- Minimum age
- 18 Years
Show eligibility criteria text
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Patients aged 18 years or older 2. Patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, IDH 1 wt, WHO grade IV 3. Radical resection 4. Concomitant treatment with temozolomide and radiation therapy 5. MGMT promoter methylation status 6. Patients with at least KPS 70 , ECOG/WHO 2 7. Patients providing written informed consent 8. Patients cooperative and able to complete all the assessment procedures. 9. Females of child-bearing age must have a negative pregnancy test at screening (all premenopausal women, or in case when menstrual status can not be ascertained in women under the age of 55). Female patient must agree to utilize a highly efficient birth control method throughout the study period (Pearl index \<1, e.g: oral contraception with gestagens, transdermal contraceptives, implants, injectables, intrauterine devices, bilateral tubal occlusion, sexual abstinence or vasectomised partner). The birth control method must be used at least 30 days after treatment end. Pregnancy testing should be performed at monthly intervals due to high teratogenic potential of valganciclovir. Men are recommended to use condoms with female partners during, and for at least 90 days following treatment with Valganciclovir. 10. Patients must be enrolled within 10 weeks after surgery Exclusion Criteria: 1. Patients allergic to, or who do not tolerate Valganciclovir, aciclovir or valaciclovir treatment 2. Patients with decreased cognitive function (below 24 in MMSE test) 3. Pregnant or lactating females 4. Patients not signing informed consent 5. Patient is simultaneously participating in another experimental drug therapy trial 6. Neutrophil count \< 1,5 cells/ 109/L 7. Platelet count \< 150 cells/ 109/L 8. HGB \< 80 g/L 9. Abnormal renal function (GFR \< 30) 10. Secondary glioblastoma, or glioblastoma IDH1 mutated. 11. Unfit for any other reason judged by investigator
References
Publications (6)
- BACKGROUNDPeredo I, Hellden A, Wolmer-Solberg N, Pohanka A, Stragliotto G, Rahbar A, Stahle L, Bellander BM, Soderberg-Naucler C. Ganciclovir concentrations in the cerebral extracellular space after valganciclovir treatment; a case study. BMJ Case Rep. 2015 Dec 15;2015:bcr2014207694. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2014-207694. PMID 26670887
- BACKGROUNDRahbar A, Orrego A, Peredo I, Dzabic M, Wolmer-Solberg N, Straat K, Stragliotto G, Soderberg-Naucler C. Human cytomegalovirus infection levels in glioblastoma multiforme are of prognostic value for survival. J Clin Virol. 2013 May;57(1):36-42. doi: 10.1016/j.jcv.2012.12.018. Epub 2013 Feb 4. PMID 23391370
- BACKGROUNDCobbs CS. Does valganciclovir have a role in glioblastoma therapy? Neuro Oncol. 2014 Mar;16(3):330-1. doi: 10.1093/neuonc/nou009. No abstract available. PMID 24523453
- RESULTStragliotto G, Rahbar A, Solberg NW, Lilja A, Taher C, Orrego A, Bjurman B, Tammik C, Skarman P, Peredo I, Soderberg-Naucler C. Effects of valganciclovir as an add-on therapy in patients with cytomegalovirus-positive glioblastoma: a randomized, double-blind, hypothesis-generating study. Int J Cancer. 2013 Sep 1;133(5):1204-13. doi: 10.1002/ijc.28111. Epub 2013 Mar 13. PMID 23404447
- RESULTSoderberg-Naucler C, Peredo I, Stragliotto G. Valganciclovir in patients with glioblastoma. N Engl J Med. 2013 Nov 21;369(21):2066-7. doi: 10.1056/NEJMc1312413. No abstract available. PMID 24256396
- DERIVEDMerchut-Maya JM, Bartek J Jr, Bartkova J, Galanos P, Pantalone MR, Lee M, Cui HL, Shilling PJ, Brochner CB, Broholm H, Maya-Mendoza A, Soderberg-Naucler C, Bartek J. Human cytomegalovirus hijacks host stress response fueling replication stress and genome instability. Cell Death Differ. 2022 Aug;29(8):1639-1653. doi: 10.1038/s41418-022-00953-w. Epub 2022 Feb 22. PMID 35194187