The mission of the Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative (BTTC) is to develop and perform state-of-the-art clinical trials in a collaborative and collegial environment—advancing treatments for patients with brain and spine tumors that merge sound scientific methods with concern for patient well-being.
The BTTC was created in 2003 as a network of professionals who investigate new treatments, allowing patients across the nation to participate in cutting-edge clinical trials that help medical professionals more rapidly determine the benefits of various therapies. The NCI Center for Cancer Research's Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) serves as the BTTC's lead institution and provides administrative infrastructure, clinical databases, and oversight for the collaborative.
The BTTC network also participates in clinical trials led by NCI-CONNECT (Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors), a program that advances our understanding of rare central nervous system (CNS) cancers in adults, in addition to fostering patient-advocacy-provider partnerships. By collaborating with advocacy organizations as well as BTTC doctors and institutions, NCI-CONNECT researchers hope to improve approaches to care and treatment for rare CNS tumors.
Clinical trials are medical research studies conducted to understand whether promising approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are safe and effective in patients. Since its inception, the BTTC has spearheaded unparalleled advancements in the research of brain and spine tumors, and completed many clinical trials that increase survival and improve quality of life.
Completed BTTC Clinical Trials
The BTTC has launched eight clinical trials since its inception in 2003. These clinical trials, listed below, are now closed to accrual.
- GBM Pembrolizumab HSPPC-96 - Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Before Surgery
This Phase II clinical study evaluated the combination of a personalized cancer vaccine made from the patient’s own tumor tissue (HSPPC-96) and PD-1 inhibition (pembrolizumab) in newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients. - Everolimus/Sorafenib Study - Recurrent High-Grade Gliomas
This Phase I/II clinical study evaluated the safety and efficacy of everolimus and sorafenib in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas. - Pazopanib/Topotecan Study - Recurrent Glioblastoma
This Phase II clinical study evaluated whether pazopanib is safe and effective to give in combination with topotecan, and if this pairing can control glioblastoma. - Bevacizumab/Vorinostat Study - Recurrent Glioblastoma
This Phase I/II clinical study evaluated symptoms and their relationship to disease progression in adults with recurrent glioblastoma, as well as tolerance to bevacizumab alone versus bevacizumab plus vorinostat. - Bevacizumab/Erlotinib Study - Newly Diagnosed Malignant Glioma
This Phase II clinical study evaluated the effects and overall survival rates in newly-diagnosed malignant glioma patients who received a combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib after completing radiation therapy with temozolomide. - Temozolomide Combination Study - Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
This Phase II clinical study determined if temozolomide administered alone or in combination with thalidomide, isotretinion, and/or celecoxib was effective in the continued treatment of newly-diagnosed glioblastoma patients after radiation therapy. - Lacosamide Study – High-Grade Gliomas
This clinical study measured how well lacosamide prevented seizures in patients with malignant gliomas. - Vorinostat/Isotretinoin/Temozolomide Study – Recurrent Glioblastoma
This Phase I/II study measured if vorinostat given with isotretinoin and temozolomide helped to control glioblastoma or gliosarcoma. The safety of these drug combinations was also assessed.
Open NCI-CONNECT Clinical Studies
The BTTC network is also participating in two multi-center NCI-CONNECT clinical studies that are currently enrolling.
- Nivolumab Study – Recurrent Rare CNS Tumors
This clinical trial is investigating whether the immunotherapy drug nivolumab is an effective treatment for patients with rare CNS tumors. - Tissue Outcomes and Pregnancy Sub Study – Rare CNS Tumors and Primary Brain Tumors
This study examines tumor tissue from patients with rare CNS tumors and clinical data from patients who were pregnant at diagnosis or became pregnant after diagnosis to determine correlations with outcome.
Updated: September 1, 2022
Published Papers
- A bayesian adaptive randomized phase II multicenter trial of bevacizumab with or without vorinostat in adults with recurrent glioblastoma Neuro-Oncology 2020
- A bayesian adaptive randomized phase II trial of bevacizumab plus vorinostat versus bevacizumab alone in adults with recurrent glioblastoma final results Neuro-Oncology 2018
- Adding immune-based treatments to standard glioblastoma therapy NCI 2017
- Bayesian adaptive randomized phase II trial of bevacizumab plus vorinostat versus bevacizumab alone in adults with recurrent glioblastoma Neuro-Oncology 2015
- A phase II study of bevacizumab and erlotinib after radiation and temozolomide in MGMT unmethylated GBM patients Journal of Neuro-Oncology 2015
- Brain Tumor Trials Collaborative Bayesian Adaptive Randomized Phase II trial of bevacizumab plus vorinostat versus bevacizumab alone in adults with recurrent glioblastoma (BTTC-1102) ASCO 2015
- A phase I trial everolimus and sorafenib in patients with recurrent high-grade gliomas: Brain Tumor Treatment Collaborative trial 09-01 ASCO 2015
- Randomized phase II adjuvant factorial study of dose-dense temozolomide alone and in combination with isotretinoin, celecoxib, and/or thalidomide for glioblastoma Neuro-Oncology 2015
- BTTC08-01: A phase II study of bevacizumab and erlotinib after radiation therapy and temozolomide in patients with newly diagnosed glioblastoma without MGMT promoter methylation ASCO 2013
- Randomized phase II 8-arm factorial study of adjuvant dose-dense temozolomide with permutations of thalidomide, isotretinoin, and/or celecoxib for newly diagnosed glioblastoma ASCO 2012
BTTC Annual Meetings
- 2019: The NCI-CONNECT and BTTC Annual Meetings were held from April 29 to 30, 2019 at the NIH. Learn more >
- 2018: The inaugural NCI-CONNECT Meeting was held in conjunction with the BTTC Annual Meeting from June 11 to 12, 2018 at the NIH. Learn more >
- 2017: The BTTC held its Annual Meeting on March 31, 2017 at the NIH. Learn more >
Updated: September 1, 2022
Each of the participating BTTC and NCI-CONNECT institutions are committed to discovering new and effective therapies for treating brain and spine tumors, while providing compassionate care to enhance patient outcomes and well-being. Contact the NCI Center for Cancer Research's Neuro-Oncology Branch (NOB) if you have questions about BTTC or NCI-CONNECT clinical trials by emailing NCINOBReferrals@mail.nih.gov or calling (240) 760-6010. Learn more about participating institutions and investigators by clicking the markers on the map.
