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 spinal cord tumors, and merging good scientific method with concern for patient well-being and outcome.
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, which helps medical professionals more rapidly determine the benefits of various therapies. The National Cancer Institute's (NCI's) Center for Cancer Research serves as the lead institution and provides the administrative infrastructure, clinical database and oversight for the collaborative.
NCI-CONNECT (Comprehensive Oncology Network Evaluating Rare CNS Tumors) aims to advance the understanding of rare adult central nervous system (CNS) cancers by establishing and fostering patient-advocacy-provider partnerships and networks to improve approaches to care and treatment. The BTTC network participates in NCI-CONNECT clinical studies and trials focused on rare adult brain and spinal cord tumors. By partnering with advocacy organizations and 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 experienced unparalleled advancements in the research of brain and spinal cord tumors and completed many clinical trials that aim to increase survival and improve quality of life.
Completed BTTC Clinical Trials
The BTTC has launched eight clinical trials since inception in 2003. These clinical trials are 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. Learn more… - 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. Learn more… - Pazopanib/Topotecan Study - Recurrent Glioblastoma
This phase II clinical study’s primary objective was to determine if pazopanib when given in combination with topotecan is safe, effective and can control glioblastoma. Learn more… - Bevacizumab/Vorinostat Study - Recurrent Glioblastoma
This phase I-II clinical study evaluated the occurrence of symptoms and their relations to disease progression, as well as the tolerance to the treatment regimen with bevacizumab versus bevacizumab plus vorinostat in adults with recurrent glioblastoma. Learn more… - Bevacizumab/Erlotinib Study - Newly Diagnosed Malignant Glioma
This phase II clinical study evaluated the effects and determined overall survival rates of newly diagnosed malignant glioma patients administered a combination of bevacizumab and erlotinib after completion of radiation therapy with temozolomide. Learn more… - 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. Learn more… - Lacosamide Study – High-Grade Gliomas
This clinical study measured how well lacosamide worked in preventing seizures in patients with malignant gliomas. Learn more… - Vorinostat/Isotretinoin/Temozolomide Study – Recurrent Glioblastoma
This phase I-II study measured if vorinostat when given with isotretinoin and temozolomide helped to control glioblastoma or gliosarcoma. The safety of these drug combinations was also be studied. Learn more…
Open NCI-CONNECT Clinical Studies
The BTTC network is participating in two multi-center NCI-CONNECT clinical studies.
- Nivolumab Study – Recurrent Rare CNS Tumors
This clinical trial is investigating if the immunotherapy drug nivolumab is an effective treatment for patients with rare CNS tumors. Learn more… - Tissue Outcomes and Pregnancy Sub Study – Rare CNS Tumors and Primary Brain Tumors
This study will study tumor tissue from patients with rare CNS tumors and clinical data from patients that were pregnant at diagnosis or became pregnant after diagnosis of a primary brain tumor to determine correlations with outcome. Learn more…
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 Meetings
- BTTC Annual Meeting – The NCI-CONNECT and BTTC Annual Meetings were held on April 29-30, 2019 at NIH.
- BTTC Annual Meeting – The inaugural NCI-CONNECT Meeting was held in conjunction with the BTTC Annual Meeting on June 11-12, 2018 at NIH.
- BTTC Annual Meeting – The BTTC held its Annual Meeting on March 31, 2017 at NIH.
Each of the participating BTTC and NCI-CONNECT institutions are committed to discovering new and effective therapies for the treatment of brain and spinal cord tumors while providing compassionate care to enhance patient outcomes and well-being. Contact the NCI Neuro-Oncology Branch if you have questions about BTTC or NCI-CONNECT clinical trials at NCINOBReferrals@mail.nih.gov or call (240) 760-6010. Learn more about each participating institution and investigator by clicking the markers on the map.
